UNC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

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UNC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

http://tinyurl.com/sotaspringapparel This is the official page for the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at UNC Chapel Hill.

For questions about the MSOT admissions process, please post your inquiry under the "Discussions" tab on this page or email [email protected]. Please note that questions containing private information should be sent via email rather than posted on the discussion board. It is recommended that prospective applicants read the admissions page and all the related links for before contacting the division for information. Admissions Page:
http://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/ocsci/degree-programs/ms-admissions

08/28/2026

🎉Congratulations, Dr. Rebecca Parkin!🎉

We are thrilled to celebrate Rebecca on the completion of her PhD in Occupational Science & her graduation from the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.

Throughout her doctoral journey, Rebecca has brought thoughtfulness, intellectual curiosity & a critical perspective to her scholarship. We are incredibly proud of all she has accomplished & grateful for the contributions she has made to our community.

As she begins her next chapter as a postdoctoral fellow at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, we can't wait to see where her scholarship & leadership will take her next.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Parkin & wishing her all the best on this exciting new adventure!

08/20/2026

UNC MSOT students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, such as the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA).

Meet the 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣-2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣7️⃣ team members & check out the first meeting of the year:

📪Current UNC MSOT students
📅Aug. 25
🕛12 p.m.
📍Bondurant G010

We hope to see you there!

08/17/2026

You only have your UNC MSOT First Day of Class (FDOC), once!

✨Welcome, UNC MSOT c/o 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣8️⃣!✨

We can't wait to see what you will do💕

08/13/2026

Plot twist: It's still us🩵

The Division of OS/OT faculty & staff updates include awards, title changes & publications. Check out the latest & greatest:

🩵Dr. Kathryn "Katie" Sorensen named to North Carolina Governor's Commission on Accessibility
🩵Dr. Lauren Selingo awarded Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) Faculty of the year by the COTAD Education Committee
🩵Sara Peña will serve as MSOT Admissions Coordinator; Dr. Micheal Sandbank will serve as MSOT Program Coordinator

Publications
📝Mitchell, S. (PhD student), Syu, Y.-C., Li, Z., Vaughn, R. M., Kawabata, S. (2026 PhD graduate), Ridlehoover, M. (PhD student), & Bagatell, N. (Division Director).(2026). "Considering keywords: A secondary analysis of occupational science publications in English from January 2007–June 2022." Journal of Occupational Science

📝Johnson, K. R. (faculty), Bagatell, N. (Division Director), Naber, A. J., & Rothman, E. F. (2026). "Qualitative research in occupational therapy: Toward a more rigorous and reflexive praxis." American Journal of Occupational Therapy

📝Carlson-Giving, B., Fox, L., Brandsen, S., Brandsen, M., Evita, D., Hamed, R., Johnson, K.R. (faculty), Kafai, S., Saia, T., Vine, G., Yao, D.. (2026). "Disability justice" In B. Carlson-Giving, editor, Neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy: Empowering approaches to foster neurodivergent participation

📝Mitchell, S. (PhD student), Lavalley, R. (faculty), Schiller, S., Johnson, K.R. (faculty). (2026). "Interrogating neoliberal influences: Reflections on the praxis of occupation-based social transformation." Journal of Occupational Science

📝Johnson, K.R. (faculty), Annis I, Thomas K. (2026). "Structural racism, neighborhood segregation, and health services use among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities." American Journal of Occupational Therapy

📝Johnson, K.R. (faculty), Annis, I., Thomas, K.. (2026). "Measuring the association of race, neighborhood segregation, hospital and outpatient care among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities." American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

08/12/2026

🎉Congratulations, Dr. Khalilah Johnson!🎉

We are excited to celebrate Dr. Johnson’s promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure in recognition of her impactful scholarship, numerous accolades, commitment to community, and service to the profession.

Dr. Johnson is a graduate of the PhD in Occupational Science PhD program & has been part of the Division since July 2019.

07/28/2026

We're glad that you all had a break, but we're also REALLY happy you're back 🥰

In the UNC MSOT program, second year students have a "mini-mester" that runs for 7.5 weeks. After the mini-mester, second year students start full-time fieldwork level 2 for the remainder of the Fall semester.

Cheers to you all, you got this!

07/23/2026

What do you get when you combine a TRIPLE Tar Heel (🩵Undergraduate, 🩵Graduate &🩵PhD), creativity, passionate educator, author on numerous publications, little kid whisperer, unmatched wit & 28 years of service to the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy?

You get a one-of-a-kind person, Dr. Linn Wakeford.

Congratulations on a tremendous career, that includes (but definitely not limited to): Admissions Coordinator (since 2013), Distinguished Teaching Award honors (2022-2023), UNC School of Medicine Academy of Educators inductee (2019), & Innovation Grant recipient (2019).

Linn is the epitome of a scholar, educator, & clinician. Chances are if you interacted with her through admissions or in a formal class setting, laughs & fun followed.

🎆Congratulations, Linn!🎆 So excited for your next season!

07/22/2026

🌟Student organization spotlight🌟

UNC MSOT students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, such as our COTAD chapter.

The Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) "works to dismantle systemic barriers, elevate marginalized voices, & empower emerging & established OT leaders to transform the profession & move toward a more just & liberated future (https://www.cotad.org/, 2026)."

COTAD Chairs (from left to right):
Berit Boyle, UNC MSOT c/o 2027
Sophia Bone, UNC MSOT c/o 2027
Kailey Aken, UNC MSOT c/o 2027

06/23/2026

🐾Fur-ever our favorite 🐾

Meet the Friends of the Division of OS/OT! Photos courtesy of UNC MSOT c/o 2027 & 2028, PhD, & Division faculty/staff pet parents. The academic year can get so hectic, & pets are a good reminder to "paws"😉 & enjoy the journey.

What gives you "paws?"

06/13/2026

PhD student end of semester check list:

💡Meet deadlines
📚 Cite sources
📍 Present in Prague

In Spring 2026, Division of OS/OT faculty member Dr. Micheal Sandbank and two PhD students, Gabi Faustino & Elyse Jenkins, attended the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) in Prague, Czech Republic.

Presentations included:

📊Panel, "Examining the Impact of Intensity in Early Intervention: New Findings and Future Research Needs" with Dr. Micheal Sandbank
📊Poster, "Predatory Publishing and Fraudulent Peer Review in Autism Early Intervention Research," with Dr. Micheal Sandbank, PhD students Gabi Faustino & Elyse Jenkins, and Layal Lawandos.

Address

CB #7122 UNC-CH Bondurant Hall
Chapel Hill, NC
27599

Website

http://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/ocsci

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