Pickett Lab – SMIL Info

Kristen Pickett, PH.D.

Dr. Kristen Pickett is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She completed her B.S. in Biology at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville and her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. After focusing doctoral work on the use of f-MRI to examine individuals with idiopathic focal hand dystonia, she continued on to the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, and completed a postdoctoral experience in the Program in Physical Therapy and the Movement Disorders section of the Department of Neurology. During her postdoc, she focused on exercise interventions for individuals with Parkinson disease and gait and balance characteristics of young people with Wolfram syndrome. Her current focus is on the use of collaborative and community-based research methods aimed at positively impacting meaningful health outcomes for older adults, especially those with Parkinson disease, who have limited access to effective forms of physical activity.

Sarah Zurawski, OTD, OTR/L

Sarah teaches in the UW-Madison’s Occupational Therapy program, focusing on pediatrics and professional skills. She received her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy from UW-Madison in 2002 and her master’s in special education from UW-Whitewater in 2010. Sarah spent most of her clinical career working as a school-based occupational therapist where she provided services designed to support children’s participation in school related activities. Sarah has worked at the Waisman Center in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic and in home health care. She has a lifelong passion for working with people of all ages, and has been a personal care assistant to over ten elderly clients over the course of twenty years.
Sarah received her post professional doctorate degree in occupational therapy from UW-Madison in 2020. She joined Dr. Pickett’s Sensory Motor Integration Lab to explore occupational therapy’s role in supporting the psychosocial, well-being, and mental health needs of individuals living with Parkinson disease.
She lives outside of Madison with her two children and husband. She is a huge Badger fan!

Anne is a research specialist/lab manager in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and has continued to her learning via numerous graduate level courses through St Thomas University, Silver Lake College, University of North Dakota and Colorado State. Anne joined the SMIL team in 2021 and has a passion for connecting with participants and assisting the SMIL team with their efforts to make a positive impact on the daily lives of rural, elderly, and those with Parkinson disease. She lives in Madison and has three grown daughters. In her free time, she loves to be outdoors, gather with friends and family, attend events at Overture Center for the Arts, and watch Badger and Packer football.

Sondra is a full-time Research Specialist working on the MyActivity study.  She completed her master’s degree in Kinesiology from UW-Milwaukee in 2012 and was employed full-time as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Diagnostics until joining UW-Madison in 2022.  She is also a certified wellness coach and has held adjunct Kinesiology instructor positions with UW-Milwaukee.  Most of her spare time is spent enjoying outdoor adventure activities, including cycling, hiking, running, camping, and backpacking.  She enjoys spending time with her husband Oscar, two cats, and two beautiful nieces and volunteering with the local Girls on the Run program.

Laura received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. After many years as a researcher and lab manager in a variety of fields including genetics, epidemiology, and microbiology, she went on to complete her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from UW-Madison in 2019. In 2021 she joined the Physical Activity Epidemiology Lab in the UW Kinesiology Department assisting with a study seeking to promote physical activity in breast and endometrial cancer survivors. Her work on this study now continues in the SMIL lab. Having herself grown up in rural Wisconsin, she looks forward to contributing to work in the SMIL lab that seeks to improve access to physical activity interventions and positively impact health outcomes of rural communities. Outside the lab, Laura volunteers as a crisis counselor for the Trevor Project, sings with the Madison Opera, drums with the Handphibians, and is always seeking new ways to make her baby giggle (currently it’s belly raspberries).

Vanessa is a part time research staff member working in the Physical Activity Epidemiology and the Sensory Motor Integration Labs. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from UW-Madison in 2007 and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor. Vanessa’s career started in community mental health, so she is particularly interested in serving individuals to help forge resources, achieve life satisfaction and build a sense of belonging in their community. Outside of the lab, Vanessa owns a private mental health practice and works as a psychotherapist, case manager, and clinical supervisor. Her primary service is to older adults and individuals with chronic illness or disabilities, utilizing telehealth to access adults living in rural areas throughout the state of Wisconsin. Vanessa’s research interests include advocating for improved healthcare access and treatment for vulnerable adults living in under-resourced communities. Other research interests include whole body wellness including the connection among nutrition, physical activity, mental health and overall wellbeing.

Abby Bradfield

Abby is a PhD student with Dr. Pickett in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab (SMIL) within the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her undergraduate degree and master’s degree at UW-Madison in rehabilitation psychology and kinesiology respectively. In 2018, she began working with Dr. Pickett and the SMIL team and loved the work so much that she never left! Her interests revolve around physical activity interventions, and how they can improve the quality of life in geriatric populations, more specifically underrepresented populations. Her career goals include completing her PhD in Kinesiology in the Occupational Science Track and completing her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy within the coming years.

Abdullah Alsaeed

Abdullah Alsaeed is a Ph.D. student in the Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He completed his bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy at King Saud University in June 2013 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He received his master’s degree in health and rehabilitation science with a concentration in occupational therapy in April 2019 from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The broad scoop of Abdullah’s research with Dr. Pickett at the SMIL focuses on how occupational therapists can benefit individuals with Parkinson Disease (PD). Also, he focuses on the factors that predict fall and the programs that promote quality of life among older adults and their families, specifically individuals with PD. Abdullah admires Dr. Pickett’s efforts in answering the questions that remain unanswered in PD research. He believes that working in the lab will be valuable to him while he works on his dissertation and as he continues into his own independent research career.

Megan Agnew

Megan is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Population Health Sciences. Before joining the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she worked in the field of cancer research for several years and received her MPH in Epidemiology at Indiana University-Bloomington. Megan’s research aims to better understand the unmet needs of people living with cancer. She is interested in the role of supportive care programming, and specifically physical activity, to better the health and well-being of people living with cancer. She loves being outside and hiking with my dog and husband. She has also recently picked up cyclocross, which has been a great way to meet new folks in Madison and learn better bike handling skills.

Christian Schmidt

Christian is currently a PhD student and has an MS in epidemiology from UW–Madison. He has previously assisted in cardiology research at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and Lindner Research Center at The Christ Hospital. Christian is interested in the role of physical activity in preventative and behavioral medicine with a specific focus on chronic disease, organ transplant, and multimorbidity. Outside of class and the lab he enjoys trail running, canoeing, camping, or playing and watching sports.

Ashton Spritka

Ashton is a student in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies and a certificate in Education and Educational Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since joining the program, she has stepped into the role of secretary of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and is enjoying this leadership opportunity. She is excited to be a part of SMIL and looks forward to all of the learning experiences it will bring. Activities that she enjoys include spending time with her friends and family, discovering new restaurants, reading, and watching a good movie.

Kyra Neuser

Kyra is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and recently joined the SMIL team. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in 2020. Since joining the OTD program at UW – Madison, she has been involved with the student organization “Diverse-OT” as co-president. Upon graduation from the OTD program, she is hoping to practice in either an inpatient neuro or hands specialty setting. She is thrilled to begin getting involved in the research side of OT with the SMIL. Outside of graduate school, Kyra loves to explore new hiking trails, find new recipes to cook, watch movies with family and friends, and attempt crafty DIY projects.

Jessica Schmidt

Jessica Schmidt started as a volunteer in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab as an undergraduate in rehabilitation psychology and is now an occupational therapy doctorate student. She grew up in Viroqua, WI and initially became connected with the lab through her desire to better serve rural, older adult communities. From that point on she has been involved in various lab projects encouraging exercise for rural older adults and individuals with Parkinson disease. More recently, she has become interested in understanding caregiver experiences for people with Parkinson disease and providing caregivers with increased opportunities for support. Down the road, Jess envisions herself working as an occupational therapist in an acute or inpatient setting with neurological diagnoses but also staying connected to research through clinical partnership in the future. Outside of the lab, Jess is a devoted Badger football fan and enjoys playing competitive sports or being outdoors whenever she has the chance.

Paige Gresens

Paige is an Occupational Therapy doctoral student that became interested in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab because of its impact on rural communities and filling the gap in research for OTs role in Parkinson disease. Paige is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin. In May of 2021, she graduated from UW- Milwaukee with a major in occupational science & technology and a minor in psychology. She is the professional development coordinator for a student-led organization on campus known as Diverse-OT. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her niece and nephew in Sun Prairie. Some interesting facts about her is that she is vegan, studied abroad in Botswana, and loves her dog, Meeka!

Aviva Hirsch

Aviva comes to the SMIL lab and the Occupational Therapy department with knowledge and experience as a certified therapeutic yoga instructor, an environmental educator, and work in substance abuse and suicide prevention. They graduated from Alaska Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and has a unique understanding of the way Person, Occupation and Environment coalesce in an individual’s life. They are fascinated by the brain, how the brain and body function together, and how to apply research functionally to people with neurological needs. Aviva is from Homer, Alaska, and has lived many places contributing to their passion for learning, asking questions, and diverse community. Aviva loves partner-dancing, snow, sunrises and playing with their little dog, Juniper.

Becca Freitag

Becca is an Occupational Therapy doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is returning to school after receiving her undergraduate degree at UW-Madison in psychology in 2017. Becca is interested in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab because of her interest in telehealth and better serving rural communities. She is also very excited for the opportunity to be in a lab that is essentially leading the way in understanding the benefits of OT for individuals with Parkinson disease. Becca is also involved with Diverse-OT as co-president and serving as the WOTA representative on the SOTA board. When she graduates, Becca is currently thinking she would like to work in school-based OT, but she is open to having her mind changed and is seeking as many different opportunities as possible! In her free time, Becca enjoys spending time with family, playing board games with friends, and spending time outdoors.

Alex is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alex is from Davis, California. He has experience teaching history and supporting diverse student populations in their academic endeavors. Occupational therapy experience is primarily with the pediatric popuation and he looks forward to exploring other areas of Occupational Therapy such as Veteran’s health. Alex became a member of SMIL team in the Fall of ‘22 and is involved in promoting exercise for rural older adults and individuals with Parkinson Disease. Alex enjoys hiking, wildlife photography, board gaming, and is an avid volleyball player.

Kendra is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She also earned her undergraduate degree at UW-Madison in Human Development and Family Studies.  Kendra was drawn to the SMIL lab due to the adult focused research.  She had previous research experience in pediatric autism but was very interested in getting into adult neurodivergent research.  Kendra became a member of Dr. Pickett’s SMIL team in the Fall of ‘22.   In the future she is not sure what areas of Occupational Therapy she plans to work in but she is interested in adult focused care, and specifically in areas of mental health or pelvic floor therapy. Outside of the classroom or research lab, Kendra loves to spend her time outdoors, cooking new recipes, and enjoying her family and friend’s company.  

Ashley is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her B.S. in Kinesiology and her B.A. in Spanish Studies at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Ashley is from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Since joining the program, she has been a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA). She is excited to have this opportunity for hands-on research experience with the SMIL and looks forward to watching current projects continue to develop. Ashley has had a variety of experiences working with older adults, and is passionate about being involved in research that promotes wellness throughout the lifespan. While in school, she looks forward to exploring the different areas of practice in occupational therapy. Outside of the lab Ashley enjoys traveling, doing puzzles, dancing, and cooking.

Emily is a student in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Chicago at North Park University in Exercise Science – Kinesiology in 2022. Since starting the OTD program, she has taken on the role of secretary of Diverse-OT and is involved in the Student Occupational Therapy Association. Emily joined the SMIL lab in the Fall of 2022 and is excited to keep working on the current projects. In the future, Emily is unsure of which area of Occupational Therapy she wants to focus on but is thankful to be a part of a lab where she can learn more about Parkinson Disease and working with an adult population as most of her previous experience has been in pediatrics. Some of Emily’s favorite occupations include reading, playing volleyball, discovering new coffee shops and spending time with friends and family.

Lesley is an Occupational Therapy Doctorate student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She has had experience working with the geriatrics population. Lesley is the second author to a systematic review looking at the needs of dementia caregivers across care settings. She is excited to explore the various fields and specialties that occupational therapy has to offer. Currently, Lesley wants to enhance her understanding of those with Parkinson disease to best assist them as a future practitioner. She looks forward to collaborating on projects within the Sensory Motor Integration Lab. Some of Lesley’s favorite occupations include doing digital art, journaling, playing on her ukelele or kalimba, and playing with her puppy, Eira.

Delaney Smith

Delaney is an undergraduate student studying Human Development & Family Studies with a complimentary certificate in Global Health. Following graduation, she hopes to pursue her academic interests as a surgical physician assistant. She is excited to be working in the Physical Activity Epidemiology Lab this year to delve deeper into learning about the impact of physical activity on individuals’ health and well-being. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time at her cottage, discovering new music, reading, and going for long walks.

Erin Oakley

Erin is an undergraduate student from Evanston, Illinois. She is pursuing a degree in Kinesiology and a certificate in Chicana/o & Latina/o studies. Erin has always been passionate about physical activity. Outside of school, she works as a certified personal trainer and Zumba instructor. She enjoys advancing her knowledge on this topic, and its relation to health and well-being, through her position as an undergraduate research assistant.

Fiona Fennelly

Fiona is an undergraduate student majoring in neurobiology with a certificate in global health at UW-Madison. Following graduation, she plans to pursue her master’s degree in applied statistics and data science. Fiona hopes to work within the public health sector in the future. She is excited to be a member of the Wisconsin Physical Activity Epidemiology Lab as she enjoys working hands on with participants and researching how physical activity can improve their overall quality of life and personal well-being. Outside of class, she enjoy thrifting, crocheting, and graphic design.

Izzy Hartel

Izzy is an undergraduate student studying Neurobiology at UW! After completing her undergraduate degree, Izzy hopes to continue her educational career and receive my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. From there, she hopes to complete a residency program and pursue a career as a neurologic physical therapist. She is very excited to be working in the PA Epidemiology lab, for she hopes to gain a better understanding of research techniques and the rehabilitative power of physical activity! Izzy is also excited to connect and work with such an amazing research team! Outside of the lab, she loves to spend time with friends, read, and be outdoors!

Yukie Xiong

Yukie is an undergraduate majoring in Health Promotion and Health Equity while also fulfilling certificates in Gender & Women Studies and Health Policy. Her plan for post-undergrad is to pursue a doctorate program in occupational therapy. As an undergrad researcher helping with the MyActivity Study, she loves hearing feedback from participants of the beneficiary effects of physical activity throughout the duration of the study. Through the lab, Yukie looks forward to continuing to learn about the different research components and effects of physical activity on a person’s well-being. Outside of school, she likes reading, trying new recipes, doing yoga, and spending time with friends and family.

Maren Schimek

Maren is an undergraduate student double majoring in Neurobiology and Health Promotion and Health Equity. After graduating, Maren is hoping to pursue graduate school in some realm of Public Health. Being a part of the PA Epi lab has helped her better understand which areas of public health she is interested in pursuing a career in and has helped reignite her love for physical activity. Outside of school, she enjoys exploring National and State parks, spending time with family and friends, and cuddling my cat.

Marla Ruzicka

Marla is an undergraduate studying Neurobiology at UW-Madison. After she earns her undergraduate degree, Maren would like to continue her education and go to Graduate School. Being a part of the PA Epidemiology Lab has introduced her to many aspects of research and helped her gain experience. She is interested in how physical activity affects our daily lives, specifically looking at brain activity. She has been able to connect the things she learned in the classroom to many lab experiences. Outside of school, she enjoys swimming, watching UW sports teams, and playing with her dog.

Sarah Fagan

Sarah is an undergraduate student at UW-Madison majoring in Kinesiology with a certificate in Athletic Healthcare. After graduation, she will begin physical therapy school with the intention of working with children. Sarah enjoys being a part of the Physical Activity Epidemiology lab because she gets to work with a great team along with researching exercise interventions for the population. Outside of school, she enjoys playing tennis and pickle ball, spending time with her friends, and traveling.

Seth Kendall

Seth is an undergraduate at UW-Madison majoring in Nutritional Sciences with a certificate in Athletic Healthcare. After graduation, he intends to go to med school in pursuit of becoming either a pediatrician or a trauma doctor. Seth enjoys being a part of the Physical Therapy Epidemiology Lab because he gets to work directly with participants and learn how physical activity can improve the longevity of life and overall well-being. Outside of class, he likes to spend his time hanging out with friends, exercising, and playing basketball.

Skylar Gothelf

Skylar is an undergraduate student majoring in Global Health with a certificate in Science Communications. After completing her degree here at UW, she hopes to attend PA school in the hopes of becoming a Physician’s Assistant specializing in pediatrics. As a member of the PA-Epi lab, Skylar has enjoyed researching the impacts of physical activity on individuals’ mental health and recovery rates from advanced illnesses. In her free time, Skylar enjoys going on walks along Lake Mendota, listening to live music, playing with her dog, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Michaela Gombar

Michaela graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018 with degrees in Psychology and Spanish and certificates in Gender and Women’s Studies and Global Health. She currently works full time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health as a Graduate Medical Education Program Manager. Being involved in this lab is an amazing opportunity for her and combines her potential career interests of patient facing health occupations as well as health services research and data analysis. In her free time, Michaela enjoys volunteering with Agrace Hospice, serving as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, spending Wisconsin summers outdoors, and hanging out with her cats.

Julia Addis, Anastasia Bormann, Pete Brown, Monica Daleccio, Kecia Doyle, Sammie Gannon, Shanda Geil, Nina Hartsel, Kenny Kemp, Conner Marshall Helen Matsoff, Maria Mertzenich, McKenzie Meyer, Emily Noldin, Alicia Oestreich, Max Toepfer, Heidi Wagner, Allison Yingst