Creighton University Department of Occupational Therapy

04/27/2026

We asked. They answered. 💙🎤

At our alumni reception, we passed the tiniest mic around and asked one big question: “Why did you choose Creighton?”

Between the laughter, the stories, and yes… a little background noise (we know how to throw a party 🥳), one thing came through loud and clear—this community sticks.

From lifelong friendships to faculty who show up, to opportunities that shape careers… it’s more than a program—it’s a Bluejay family.

🎧 Turn up the volume and catch the vibes.
💙 Once a Bluejay, always a Bluejay.

04/23/2026

Come see us at American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA Conference in Anaheim! 🌴

📍Booth 404

04/22/2026

40+ presentations. Three Roster of Fellows honorees. One Creighton community showing up strong at AOTA Inspire 2026.

This year, Creighton will be represented in 40+ presentations across short courses, workshops, poster sessions, panels, and pre-conference institutes — with faculty, students, and alumni contributing throughout the conference.

We’re also proud to celebrate three Creighton-affiliated AOTA Roster of Fellows honorees:
🏅 Angela Patterson, OTD, OTR/L, FNAP (alumni and current faculty)
🏅 Andrea Thinnes, OTD, OTR/L, FNAP, PMH-C (alumni and current faculty)
🏅 Christina Douglas, OTD, MOT, OTR, NTMTC (alumni)

And there’s more to look forward to:
🎓 Fellowship Friday at the Creighton Booth #404
Gerontology (10–12 PT) | Neurology (12–2 PT) | Pediatrics (2–4 PT)

☕ Creighton Alumni Reception
Friday, April 24 | 8:00 PM PT
Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort
Join us for late-night coffee, cordials, and cakes as we reconnect with alumni, faculty, students, and friends of the program.

📍 Stop by the Creighton Booth #404 to connect with us, learn more about Creighton's programs, and win some awesome swag.

If you’re heading to Anaheim, come find us — we’d love to connect.

04/21/2026

Interprofessional collaboration in action 💙

Each year, our Omaha OT students partner with SLP students from UNO through the IPE Passport program to support the Autism Fun Fest — a community event focused on connection, inclusion, and FUN for children with autism and their families.

We had an amazing turnout at last year’s orientation and event (see those smiles?!), and we’re excited to continue growing this partnership!

📅 Save the date: May 2, 2026

Stay tuned for more highlights!

04/18/2026

Celebrating a meaningful day at the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association - NOTA, Inc. Conference in Kearney!

Today, we were proud to see both Creighton faculty, students, and alumni represented through scholarship, collaboration, and service at NOTA Conference!

Our faculty and students presented four posters:

▫️ Advancing Stroke Care in Rural Nebraska
Presented by Carly Brown, OTS and Rebecca Kinnison, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR

▫️ The Role of Occupational Therapy in Adult Aquatic Rehabilitation
Presented by Erin Nahas, OTS

▫️ The Impact of Sensory Modulation on ADLs and Leisure in Acute Psychiatric Care
Presented by Catheryn Keith, OTS

▫️ OTPs’ Role in Addressing Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services for Individuals with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
Presented by Alyssa Aldrian, OTS, Isaac Jahn, OTS, and Amanda Wise, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, NBC-HWC

We were also especially proud to celebrate Amanda Wise, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, NBC-HWC, who received the NOTA Contributor of the Year Award. This is a well-deserved recognition of her leadership, advocacy, and service to occupational therapy in Nebraska and beyond. 🎉

04/18/2026

💙🤍💙🤍

We’re proud to share that Creighton University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program has been recognized among the Top 20 programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, ranked alongside more than 280 OT programs nationwide. 💙

This recognition reflects the dedication of our faculty, students, staff and alumni who continue to advance excellence in education, research and patient-centered care.

Thank you to our incredible OT community for continuing to lead, serve and shape the future of the profession.

04/16/2026

We’re proud to highlight interprofessional scholarship from Creighton faculty!

Dr. Lou Jensen served as lead author and presenter at the Higher Learning Commission Conference this spring, delivering a peer-reviewed presentation titled From Checkboxes to Meaningful Change: Faculty Development for Assessment.

This work represents a collaborative, interprofessional effort alongside Creighton Physical Therapy faculty Gail Jensen and Guy McHenry, Director of the Magis Core Curriculum—demonstrating the power of partnership in advancing teaching and learning.

04/12/2026

🎉 2026 Distinguished Lecture Recap 🎉
Thank you to Dr. Amanda Giles, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA for an engaging and thought-provoking lecture on “The Clinician as an Educator: Applying Evidence-Based Teaching to Occupational Therapy.”

This session was a powerful reminder that all occupational therapy practitioners are educators — shaping learning through every interaction with clients, students, and colleagues.
We are grateful to all who joined us for this evening of professional growth and connection. 💙

04/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Spellman! 🎉

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Spellman on achieving her Board Certification in Gerontology (BCG) through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This accomplishment reflects her dedication to excellence, lifelong learning, and advancing high‑quality care for older adults.

Congratulations on this well‑deserved achievement and on reaching an important professional milestone! 🌟

04/09/2026

We are grateful to Limb Lab for hosting our occupational therapy students earlier this semester for an incredible hands-on learning experience!

Students had the opportunity to learn from Orthotists and Prosthetists about:
✔️ Care of the residual limb
✔️ Types and components of prosthetics
✔️ Navigating the complexities of insurance
✔️ The vital partnership between OT and O&P to support optimal, client-centered outcomes

A special thank you to Elliott and his mom, Cassy, for sharing their lived experience. Your story brought powerful meaning to today’s learning and reminded us why this work matters.

Experiences like this strengthen our commitment to preparing future practitioners who collaborate, advocate, and deliver comprehensive care. 💙

04/08/2026

Congratulations to Lisa Bader, one of our fantastic Pediatric Fellowship clinical mentors! 👏🏻

04/06/2026

Way to go, Blake!