Introducing New Speaker: PT Mary Ann Sharkey

Mary Ann Sharkey[/caption]

We are very excited to have distinguished speaker, Mary Ann Sharkey join our faculty.

Mary Ann Sharkey, PhD, MS, PT, C/NDT was named the 2011 Distinguished Educator by the American Physical Therapy Association, Education Section. She has presented preconferences most recently at the past two Combined Sections Meetings for the APTA. She has a doctoral degree in anatomy with a specialty in neuroscience and a master’s in allied health education. She has treated from the neonatal intensive care unit to older children with neurological involvement and been employed in diverse geographical settings from Ohio, California, South Carolina, New Mexico, Washington and most recently North Carolina. She has taught in physical therapy programs and taught in NDT courses and conferences. Her diverse experience has lead her
to believe that we need to be inclusive of numerous strategies to treat children. The strategies used are all related and dependent on the diagnosis of the impairment inhibiting the child’s functional limitation. This clinical expertise is highlighted by her passion for neuroscience and its implications for intervention and her critical review of evidence as it relates to therapy.  

She is teaching:
The Child’s Developing Brain: Emerging Neuroscience and its Therapeutic Implications

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Occupational Therapists Assist Boston Marathon Victims Return Home

The inspiring Boston Marathon victim stories keep coming in –  The Boston Globe has a great article (and video) of an occupational therapist working with the newly established “The Boston Survivors Accessibility Alliance” helping a woman return home. 

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/07/21/marathon-victims-return-home-aided-free-accessibility-repairs/VUVwKF97NedK0PiHo1N74M/story.html

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Autism Detected Early in Infancy with MRI

“Researchers from the University of California, Davis MIND Institute have found that scans of the brains of infants may help to diagnose the condition earlier.

The study was originally designed to follow the brain growth trajectories of children and determine if there was a difference in brain growth of children later diagnosed with ASD. By backtracking the data to early time points, the researchers found that children who later develop ASD have excessive cerebrospinal fluid, the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, cushioning it and ferrying toxins away. The researchers also found that infants who later go on to be diagnosed with ASD have larger brains than other children, when they are infants. The test is performed by a safe and non-invasive MRI scan.”

For the full article visit Advance Magazine: http://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/News/In-The-News/Autism-Detected-Early-In-Infancy-With-MRI.aspx

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What is the best part about being a therapist?

Education ResourcesWhat do you find to be the most fulfilling part of your therapy work?

Please share with us and your colleagues, the best part of your work. Post a scenario that was a rewarding experience, or tell us about your everyday experiences that make your career so worthwhile.

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Introducing OT June Smith as an ERI Faculty member

 

June Smith OT June Smith[/caption]

We would like to introduce June Smith OTR/L, and are thrilled to add her to our distinguished list of Faculty members.
June is a dynamic and engaging instructor, is an Occupational Therapist and licensed Brain Gym®Instructor. She has certifications in Sensory Integration, SIPT and Neurodevelopmental Treatment. She brings a wealth of experience from varied setting including her current position as Supervisor of OT Services at a residential/day program with adults /children with developmental challenges and as a consultant/clinician at South Shore Therapies SI clinic. June has more than thirty-five years of experience in the field of O.T. working with individuals who present with a variety of physical, cognitive and behavioral challenges that impact learning. She is certified to teach both basic and advanced courses entitled “Brain Gym® for children who have Special Needs”. She has taught numerous Brain Gym® courses and is a member of the Educational Kinesiology Foundation. In addition, June also works closely with Developmental Optometrists, and collaboratively established a vision clinic to promote visual efficiency.

June is presenting:
Integrating Movement-based Learning into Treatment: An Evidence Based Approach
Please click on the link for a listing of her dates, venues, course description and a brochure. 

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