Students

Current Students

Doctoral Students

I-Ting Hwang is a fifth year doctoral student and research assistant for Project TEAM. Prior to beginning her doctorate, I-Ting worked as an occupational therapist focusing on pediatric rehabilitation, physical disabilities, and long-term care in different settings. I-Ting’s primary research interest is related to parents of youth with disabilities and theory-driven intervention development. See I-Ting’s CV (PDF) to learn more about her work.

Ariel Schwartz is a fourth year doctoral student and research assistant for the PEDI-PRO. Her research interests include identifying and optimizing participatory action research processes to support the engagement of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is also working on the development of a peer mentoring intervention for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. As a master’s student, Ariel completed a thesis exploring changes in self-determination of Project TEAM participants. See Ariel’s CV to learn more about her work.

Current Research Assistants and UROP Students

Kim Greenberg is a first-year OTD student. As a research assistant, she is helping with the development of the PEDI-PRO. She received a Bachelor of Art in Biology and Spanish from Amherst College. On the weekends she enjoys running and playing soccer.

Morgan Whaley is a master of public health candidate studying health communication and promotion and maternal and child health. She works on the PCORI project building a national partnership to identify the mental health priorities of young adults with I/DD. Her professional interests include complementary care, health literacy, and self-advocacy in health care settings, with a focus on adolescent and transition age youth. She received a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Boston University.

Allison Barrett is a Behavior and Health major in the class of 2020. She joined the YELL lab her freshman year and plans to attend BU for her Occupational Therapy doctorate. She is interested in working with children in a school or private practice setting. In her free time she enjoys an aerial silks class at the BU FitRec. 

Brice Hounshel is a senior studying Behavior and Health. Extracurricularly, she is involved in BU’s Community Service Center where she has served for two years as an Alternative Service Break Coordinator. Educationally, she is interested in programs that teach social and emotional intelligence to elementary aged children. Ideally, she hopes to work on developing curriculum and interventions that help at-risk youth develop self-efficacy and resilience. 

Alumni

Students who Completed Theses and Independent Studies

Adam Swatt completed an independent study evaluating youths’ perceptions of the construct of responsibility. His research contributed to the lab’s understanding of how this construct may be measured by the PEDI-PRO in the future. Adam also worked as a research assistant for the PEDI-PRO and worked on a customer discovery process to learn more about how market demands may impact adoption of the PEDI-PRO.

Catie Ryan’s master’s thesis explored the self-disclosure process in peer mentoring relationships. Catie also worked as a research assistant for the PEDI-PRO. Catie is now an occupational therapist at the Bridge of Central Massachusetts where she is responsible for program development of wraparound services in a residential setting for young adults with mental health support needs. Ryan, C. T., Kramer, J. M., & Cohn, E. S. (2016). Exploring the self-disclosure process in peer mentoring relationships for transition-age youth with developmental disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 54(4), 245-259.

Romeissa Selmane’s master’s thesis explored the relationship between readiness for advocacy and attainment of participation and advocacy goals in Project TEAM. Romeissa also worked as a research assistant for Project TEAM. Romeissa is currently an occupational therapist and supervisor at the Home for Little Wanderers, where she developed their first occupational therapy department.

Rachel Moore’s master’s thesis explored the feasibility of Project TEAM peer mentoring. She is currently an occupational therapist at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. She has been working on developing a early mobilization program on the ICU.

Joy Carveth‘s undergraduate thesis explored the relationship between participation outcomes and peer-mentoring relationship quality in Project TEAM. She is now working at the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program as an Administrative Assistant in the Respite Department.

Rosa Walker’s master’s thesis evaluated therapists’ perceptions of the impact of the Children’s Occupational Self-Assessment.

Former Master’s Student Research Assistants

Alana Casey was a research assistant in the YELL Lab. She is currently working as an occupational therapist.

Breanna Landry worked as a research assistant for Project TEAM. She created fidelity documentation forms, analyzed fidelity data, and created instructional implementation videos. Her work involved compiling video data, fidelity information from two reviewers and the facilitator, and training and coordinating with secondary reviewers. She is currently at occupational therapist at Hawaii Hands & Rehabilitation.

Ereann Kilpatrick is a OTD student. She was a research assistant for Project TEAM. She received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Science at Furman University. She is interested in working in pediatric rehabilitation when she graduates from school. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, reading, and trying new foods.

Clare Brabson is currently completing her Level II occupational therapy fieldwork. She was a Albert Schweitzer Fellow and developed a dementia-focused group therapy program for older adults living in the community in collaboration with Upham’s Elder Service Plan.

Diana Smith worked as a peer mentor supporter for Project TEAM and as a research assistant for both Project TEAM and the PEDI-PRO. She is an occupational therapist at Sesame Sprout Integrated Preschool. She recently developed materials for parents to promote carryover of occupational therapy services.

Elizabeth Cross was a research assistant for Project TEAM. She is currently working as an occupational therapist.

James Suridis was a research assistant for Project TEAM. He is now an occupational therapist at OT at Kidz Therapy in Long Island.

Jonathan Hairell was a research assistant for the PEDI-PRO. He is now an occupational therapist at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation.

Kat Rusnak was a research assistant for Project TEAM and helped develop and run Project TEAM peer mentoring. She is now an occupational therapist at The Home for Little Wanderers, Longview Farm.

Kim Barrett was a research assistant for Project TEAM. She is now an occupational therapist at Solace Healthcare.

Kristin Heinze is currently
work in a skilled nursing facility (Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare) in Alexandria, VA, where she works with a variety of adults with short-term and long-term rehab needs.

Melissa Regan was a Project TEAM peer mentor supporter and a research assistant for the PEDI-PRO. She is now an occupational therapist for Care Tenders and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

Samantha Fonseca-Moreira was a research assistant for Project TEAM. She is now an occupational therapist for Cambridge Public Schools.

Samantha Lederfine Paskal was a research assistant for Project TEAM. She is now an occupational therapist at Personalized Therapy, LLC.

Sarah Kreditor works full time at the Learning Prep School, a school for children with language and learning disabilities and per diem at South Shore Therapies, a sensory based outpatient pediatric clinic.

Sarah Olsen works at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Jacksonville, FL on the Brain Injury and Pediatric Unit.

Julia Shin is a pediatric occupational therapist at Neurological and Physical Rehabilitation (NAPA) Center in Los Angeles CA, providing traditional and intensive therapy services for children with moderate to severe neurological, developmental, and sensory difficulties.

Nela Tatur spent a gap year serving in AmeriCorps at a youth addiction recovery community and this past June was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy and began medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Former UROP students

Cara Moyer is a DPT student at Sargent College. She was participating in the YELL lab because it aligns with her main goal in life: to become a physical therapist to help enhance the movement and life of children with disabilities.

Linsey Andrews is a Human Physiology major. She has helped develop and organize a resource folder for parents and youth with developmental disabilities. She also assists with Project TEAM and PREPARED.

Heather Buckley was a Health Sciences major. She is interested in pursuing occupational therapy with a pediatric specialty.

Chelsea Nicholas was a Health Sciences major. She can currently be found working with non-profit organizations such as UNICEF, Timmy Global Health, YWCA, and Global Health Brigades. She is working towards a career in the medical field.

Rosie Eiduson was a Biology major. She is eventually interested in working in maternal and child health and in focus areas such as disability program and advocacy, adolescent sexual health, and mental health.

Julia McAndrew was a Psychology and Philosophy major. Her interests are in helping children. She hopes to be a child advocate lawyer.

Starlyn Adams was a Health Sciences major. He is currently studying Occupational Therapy at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Taylor Resteghini was a International Relations major with Public Health minor.

Sophie Rinkoff-Murland was a Behavior and Health major and Deaf Studies minor. She plans to go to nursing school and become a pediatric nurse, potentially working with kids with special needs. Outside of school she also is on a Hip Hop Dance Team called Fusion and additionally work as an EMT.

Amanda Carlos was a Biology major. She has helped develop and organize a resource folder for parents and youth with developmental disabilities. She also assisted with Project TEAM and PREPARED.