Albemarle – ��ר��

��ר�� Welcomes Physician Assistant Class of 2028

��ר�� — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:19:55 +0000

��ר�� is proud to introduce our most recent Physician Assistant (PA) Class of 2028, a highly accomplished and diverse cohort that reflects the program’s academic excellence and commitment to preparing compassionate healthcare professionals.

Students enter the program with an average of 3,125 direct patient care hours, acquired through positions including medical assistant, scribe, EMT/paramedic, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, patient care technician, and athletic trainer. The cohort also averaged 180 physician assistant shadowing hours.

Students range in age from 22 to 31, with anaverage age of 25. The class is 72% female and 28% maleand includes six first-generation college students. One student is a ��ר�� graduate.

The cohort reflects both strong in-state representation and national reach. Twenty-three of the 28 students are North Carolina residents, with others coming from California, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan. Twenty students earned undergraduate degrees from North Carolina institutions, and the program received applications from 40 of the 50 U.S. states during the most recent admissions cycle.

Common undergraduate majors include Biology, Health Science, Exercise Science, Biological Sciences, and Psychology, with one student entering the program holding a master’s degree. Top feeder institutions represented include UNC–Chapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, East Carolina University, and UNC Wilmington. UNC Charlotte has historically been the program’s leading feeder institution.

Caylee Clayton, from Norwood, NC, and a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, stated, “I chose ��ר��’s Physician Assistant program for its strong community and excellence in PA education, and I look forward to expanding my clinical knowledge as I grow to become a capable and compassionate provider for my future patients”

“This class reflects the academic strength, depth of character, clinical readiness, and commitment to service that defines Pfeiffer’s Physician Assistant Program,” said Dr. Christopher Boe, Dean of the Graduate School. “We are proud to welcome these students and look forward to supporting them as they prepare to serve patients in and around the community.” The ��ר�� Physician Assistant Program is based in Albemarle, NC, at the Center for Health Sciences, and prepares graduates for patient-centered clinical practice through rigorous academics, hands-on training, and a mission-driven approach to healthcare education.

A Legacy of Learning: Dr. Norman Rose Concludes 65 Years of Shaping Clinicians

Ken Keuffel — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:42:47 +0000

Dr. Norman Rose D.O. FACOS, FICS, DFACOS announced recently that he was winding up his career in medical education, having logged “65 years of teaching over 25 thousand medical and PA students as well as 110 surgical residents.”

Rose, 86, joined the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS-PAS) program faculty at ��ר�� in 2023. At the time, he and his wife Dee Ann had recently moved to North Carolina from Florida, where Rose was working as a Clinical Professor of Surgery at . Even though he has now officially retired from his faculty position, having completed his last Pfeiffer class in December, he will continue to be a guest faculty member for MS-PAS program simulation events.

Rose has taught medical physiology and the pathophysiology of disease series at Pfeiffer, along with enriching student learning by connecting theory to practice in the Bramlett-Starnes Center for Advanced Clinical Simulation Education at the University’s Center for Health Sciences. His teaching career began during his second year at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, now called , from which he graduated in 1963. He became a lab assistant in the College’s pathology department, a role that , which he instantly came to enjoy.

Rose would develop many interests over the course of his career. As wide-ranging as they come, his pursuits included pioneering work for , described as “a whole-person approach to hands-on care”; working in surgical practice; serving both as a Medical Director and as a PA Program Director/Founder (Miami Dade College); and training both osteopathic surgeons and physician assistants.

All this and more amounted to a formidable resume – a fact not lost on Dr. Scott Fisher, an Associate Professor in Pfeiffer’s MS-PAS program who also serves as its Program Director. “I’m very glad Dr. Rose joined and served as a member of our team,” he said.

“We are deeply grateful that Dr. Rose chose the ��ר�� PA Program as the place to conclude his distinguished career as a full‑time educator,” Fisher said. “He generously shared his lifelong knowledge and experience with faculty, staff, and students. His impact on our program and our students will be felt for many years to come.”

Fisher added that Rose teaches with “clarity, passion, and depth” and that his work in the Bramlett-Starnes Center drew on his “immense clinical background.”

Two students of Rose’s at Pfeiffer echoed these sentiments. Mackenzie Webster ’27 of Misenheimer, N.C. called Rose’s experience “one of his most valuable assets as a teacher.” She added that Rose “shared real-world experience through decades of evolution of medical standards in general surgery and medicine as he applied them to his own practice.”

Danielle “Dani” Dease ’27 of Rock Hill, S.C. said that Rose made class “fun and exciting.”

“He brought decades of real-world experience to each class,” she said. “He was a fair teacher who genuinely wanted his students to learn and understand. He always found a way to allow each student to learn each topic. Dr. Rose loved what he did, and it showed.”

The way that Rose acts outside the classroom at Pfeiffer would set an example that his students will always follow. Webster experienced that first-hand when she returned to class grieving her grandfather’s death.

“Dr. Rose met me outside and gave me a hug and told me he was sorry and that difficult things happen, especially in medicine, but that I would be okay,” Webster recalled. “Not only will I take his example of compassion with me into clinical practice and apply that to patients and colleagues, but I’ll remember that even when the job gets hard, I’ll be okay.”

As Rose enters the next chapter of his life, he’ll take fond memories of his time at Pfeiffer with him. He praised the supporters of the MS-PAS program, saying they “love the program and are 100 percent behind it.” And he expressed admiration for the Pfeiffer instructors and students with whom he worked: “They have the nicest, most compassionate people. I can see God in them.”

“I have been blessed to have a wonderful career of teaching and service to my profession,” Rose wrote on LinkedIn in his retirement announcement.

��ר�� has been deeply blessed to be among the institutions where he mentored students and strengthened the academic community.

OT Grads Receive Special Mentoring from Pfeiffer Professor

Ken Keuffel — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:09:47 +0000

Grant Burleson and his wife, Rachel Strom Burleson, aspire to become , both having graduated from ��ר��’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program in 2023. It’s a daunting task.

They each need to have practiced as OTs for at least three years and logged a minimum of 4,000 hours treating patients with hand and upper extremity disorders. After that, they must pass a comprehensive exam. What’s more, the material they need to master for certification isn’t learned in formal classroom settings, but largely via on-the-job experience and by staying up to date with the latest research and treatment innovations.

Fortunately, one unusual resource for the Burlesons (and other OT alumni at Pfeiffer who want to become hand therapists) has emerged in the free assistance provided to them by one of their former professors at Pfeiffer, , an Assistant OT Professor at Pfeiffer since 2021.

For about a year, Bartholdi, a Certified Hand Therapist since 2003, has been leading his former students through several online and in-person meetings of a “journal club.” He goes over the latest research in publications devoted to hand therapy. He also helps surmount challenges of the more difficult cases that the club’s participants are working on, and he reviews the latest treatment techniques. He acquaints or reacquaints the club’s participants with best practices.

“In a lot of clinics where these students work, they may be the only hand therapist on staff,” said Bartholdi, explaining why he formed the club. “So, they really don’t have a lot of mentorship out there to help them through some of these cases. I have become a resource for them.”

Grant Burleson said he has found the sessions “very beneficial.”

“If we have difficulty treating a patient, are stuck somewhere, or we want some help, it’s good to bounce ideas off of each other as fellow clinicians to be able to help treat patients. It’s also good to study analysis tools like risk kinematics or less commonly treated elbow structures, or to consider how the body works here or how I can help this person there.”

Bartholdi described a myriad of topics covered in the club sessions. Recently, for example, he illuminated different “provocative testing techniques and strengthening and treatment techniques revolving around the wrist and injuries associated with the wrist.” He’s also having his group explore “how we can use casting to improve mobility and function with (patients’) hands.” He’s planning to share ways to discern the source of pain and injury in undiagnosed conditions in the upper extremities, which he learned about at a recent conference.

Word about the club has gotten around — to the point where grads from other OT programs have begun joining it as well.

Bartholdi said the kind of mentorship he’s offering through the club “doesn’t traditionally happen” with professors at other programs, and Rachel Burleson praised her former professor for making it happen.

“It just shows his character and how much he really does care for his students,” she said. “A lot of professors could easily just let us graduate, let us go on our way, but you can tell he honestly cares about his students and wants them to be successful.”

Disruptive Innovation is MHA Collaboration Focus

Emma Kate West — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:30:00 +0000

��ר��’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program has expanded rapidly since its founding in 1990. The program has grown into a flourishing community of more than 1,200 alumni and students who serve in key leadership positions for every major North and South Carolina health system, making Pfeiffer’s MHA program the largest in the region.

On November 8, 2023, the program hosted its second annual Master of Health Administration Subject Matter Experts (SME) event — Disruptive Innovation in Healthcare Delivery: Virtual Roundtable Discussion with Decision Analytics Subject Matter Experts — which was held in collaboration with the Greater Charlotte Healthcare Executive Group (GCHEG). A panel of healthcare industry experts focused on the role of innovation in the medical marketplace and examples of disruptive innovations that will change lives in health care.

��ר��’s own Dr. Howard Beatty, Professor of Health Information Management and IT Director at Atrium Health, moderated the event. Panelists included:

Hector Joseph, Assistant Vice President and Enterprise Chief Architect for Advocate Health, is responsible for shaping the strategic vision from a technological perspective and ensuring alignment with the overall strategy of Advocate Health business needs.
Bryan Foston, Assistant Vice President of Information & Analytical Services at Atrium Health, works with technology teams and business leaders to deliver major projects and programs across the organization. He has built and led highly engaged teams in healthcare IT for most of his career, supporting sales, IT strategy, development and operations for biotech, and pharmaceutical and hospital systems.
Daniel James, as IT Director with Atrium Health, oversees the multi-tier IT service center, field services, embedded support, IT facilities project coordination, as well as other related functions. He has served 22 years in various IT roles including infrastructure operations and assistant CIO.

Disruptive innovation, a term coined by Harvard University professor Clayton M. Christensen, references a disruptive business model that leverages technology to help make products and services more accessible and affordable. Disruptive innovations in the field of health care include advances such as telemedicine, wearable devices and phone apps, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and electronic heath records. Other current disruptive innovations include retail clinics and point-of-care medical payments that are making a difference in how health care is delivered.

Many of the ��ר�� MHA program’s graduate students are adult learners, employed in the healthcare industry and looking to further their careers as life-long learners. The SME event series presents learning and networking opportunities with Charlotte’s leading healthcare innovators and is a valuable opportunity for students to apply lessons from leading research and innovations in health care to their work. The SME series’ collaboration with GCHEG takes place annually and seeks to engage thought leadership in various aspects of the field of health care. Attendees include Pfeiffer’s MHA students and faculty, as well as healthcare industry leaders of the greater Charlotte area.

“By participating in interactive, engaging discussions with experienced healthcare workers, students are better prepared for health care outside of the classroom. Students engage in conversations, research, and projects directly impacting the healthcare industry,” said Dr. Elisa Melvin, director of the Master of Health Administration program and Professor of Health Administration.

“As faculty, we encourage our MHA students to work on novel and innovative ideas that bring value to healthcare organizations. The SME series is a wonderful way to think together with experts about new and exciting ways to positively impact healthcare delivery,” she said.

Nursing Student Receives Prestigious Scholarship

Ken Keuffel — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 18:16:12 +0000

Sydney Hall ’24 is preparing to receive a B.S. degree in Nursing from ��ר�� in May. She hasn’t decided on a specialty yet, but she is considering working in operating rooms and, eventually, as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

As a student in Pfeiffer’s program, Hall is receiving an excellent preparation for these goals. One hundred percent of the 2023 graduates recently passed the national licensure examination on the first attempt, placing Pfeiffer’s program among the top ten in North Carolina for another year. On Oct. 7, she received a strong vote of confidence when the of the awarded her a Great 100 Nurses’ Scholarship at its annual gala in Raleigh, N.C.

“When I first got the email telling me I’d received the scholarship, I was shocked,” Hall said. “But it felt great. It felt amazing.”

The Great 100 Nurses’ Scholarship provides $1k, which Hall will use for saving, purchasing scrubs, or filling the tank of the car she uses to commute to Pfeiffer’s Misenheimer campus from her hometown in Badin, N.C. Her participation in the Great 100 gala also afforded her an invaluable opportunity to network with future nursing colleagues.

Since its founding 37 years ago, the Great 100 has honored excellent nurses at awards ceremonies in several southern states, including North Carolina. The organization also makes scholarship funds available to nursing programs at colleges and universities, which, in turn, choose the recipients of scholarships.

The criteria for a Great 100 Nurses’ Scholarship award include academic achievement, the potential to make contributions to the nursing profession, and good character. A recipient must also have plans to work in North Carolina after graduation.

“Sydney certainly fulfilled all of these criteria,” said Dr. Martha Bramlett, an associate professor who chairs the Department of Nursing at Pfeiffer. “Upon graduation, she will definitely make a positive contribution to the health of the residents of this area. We are so proud of her.”

Hall will also seek to emulate the professionalism and friendly bedside manner of nurses she encountered before enrolling at Pfeiffer, where her father, Ray, has worked in plant operations for some time. The local hospital nurses, whom she observed when they cared for two members of her family, inspired Hall’s interest in nursing.

Hall will also plug the small-is-beautiful culture of Pfeiffer’s nursing program. “The professors are always there for you,” she said. “They’re so supportive.”

PA Students Score Exceptional Pass Rate on Licensure Exam

Ken Keuffel — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 16:51:59 +0000

Thirty-three recent graduates of the ��ר�� Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS-PAS) program are certified for employment as PAs and ready to help support the increased demand for primary and specialty care providers.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physician assistants is projected to grow by 28 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Further, an average of about 12,000 openings for physician assistants are projected each year, over the decade. This projected increase represents the overall growth of the PA profession and its role in the response to an increasing need to bolster the clinician workforce in underserved areas.

Pfeiffer is pleased to announce that each member of its 2023 cohort has passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), and 97 percent of them passed on their first try. Pfeiffer’s first-time pass rate for PANCE now surpasses the national average of 93 percent.

Dr. Scott Fisher, Associate Professor of PA Studies who serves as the Chair and Program Director of MS-PAS at Pfeiffer, credited several factors for the great PANCE results.

“Our students worked exceptionally hard to prepare themselves for the exam,” he said. “Their commitment was supported by outstanding clinical partners and faculty, as well as a state-of-the-art learning facility.

Additionally, we had wonderful support from members of the Albemarle community who acted as standardized patients for simulated patient encounters and from the University, which made sure we complied with accreditation standards.”

Eli Hatley ’23 MS-PAS echoed Fisher’s sentiments: “Because our class was very close knit, we helped each other throughout the entire process of PA school. We were just able to find ways to help each other get through.”

Candace Locklear ’23 MS-PAS said that Pfeiffer’s PA program placed a premium on imparting the most current evidence-based knowledge in lectures — which came in handy during the PANCE exam.

She also welcomed the challenging tests that followed each clinical rotation: “If you didn’t pass, you’d have to remediate. And if you had to remediate, you literally had to take a day off from your clinicals to come back to the school to retake it. You were pushed to make sure you passed.”

Locklear, once an Emergency Medical Technician who also substitute-taught in the public schools of Robeson (N.C.) County, says she’s utilizing her background as an educator “to help empower patients through healthcare education.”

She also wants to be “a voice and advocate for patients’ rights in regard to receiving the healthcare they need and want for themselves.” Pfeiffer paved the way for her to do just that: Since August, she’s held the title of Physician Assistant Certified at ., which serves non-insured and underinsured patients. As such, she’s fulfilling the terms of a full-ride scholarship provided by the , which requires its scholarship recipients to serve in a “federally qualified health center.”

Locklear said she loves her job and may well stay with it for the long haul: “We’re genuinely helping people that may not have insurance or are low-income. We’re doing all we can to help these patients.”

Hatley is equally happy with the work he landed after graduation. Since July, he’s worked as a Certified Physician Assistant at , having been contracted through to provide ER coverage.

“I enjoy the fast-paced nature of my job along with the collaboration amongst my colleagues to ensure excellent patient care,” he said. “I also enjoy my schedule, which consists of three to four 10-hour shifts a week.”

Hatley credits Pfeiffer’s MS-PAS program for his current success: “They gave me tools to ensure that I had the knowledge needed to competently provide patient care to those in need. The quality instructors that sculpted my educational experience provided me with evidence-based medical knowledge and allowed me to develop my critical thinking skills to a higher degree.”

Professors Dance with the Stars for Butterfly House

Ken Keuffel — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 12:25:04 +0000

Professors Dance with the Stars for Butterfly House

On Sept. 9, two professors in ��ר��’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program looked ready for Carnival of Brazil, having donned colorful tight pants and tops adorned with feathers.

Dr. Paula Graham and Dr. Crystal Gaddy, also MSOT’s Program Director, showcased their samba skills as a duo in the annual fundraiser that benefits the of Atrium Health Stanly. As is the case with the “Dancing” shows on television, the professors aimed to win over a panel of three judges who would eventually pick a winning act.

“We’re always telling our students that they have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Graham said before she and Gaddy appeared in the “Dancing” presentation, which took place at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. “We’re leading here. We’re leading the way.”

Discomfort was not apparent when Graham, a enthusiast, and Gaddy, who often makes Zumba a part of her exercise routine, executed steps with precision and energy. Maddie Cook ’23 MSOT had choreographed the duo’s routine, drawing on her experience as a dance professional. Gaddy and Graham, also MSOT’s Community Clinic Coordinator and Lab Assistant, praised Cook for empowering them with positive feedback during rehearsals.

The Graham-Gaddy duo moved to the catchy music of a Portuguese-language pop tune as pictures of Rio De Janiero flashed on a large screen behind them. All this was in keeping with “Come Fly with Me,” the theme of the 2023 “Stanly County Dancing with the Stars” presentation, in which contestants sought to transport the audience to distant places.

“I do like to dance,” Gaddy said. “It’s one of my hobbies I do when I’m not teaching and directing the OT program. I said, ‘Why not?’ We also helped raise awareness of the OT program at Pfeiffer and the role it plays in Stanly County.”

Gaddy and Graham’s participation in “Dancing with the Stars” sparked a hoped-for servant leadership among the OT students, who sponsored the Gaddy-Graham team by raising over $350 in its name. That was the largest share of the $2,000 in total sponsorship money raised for the duo.

Pfeiffer’s appearance in “Dancing with the Stars” underscores the closer ties that its MSOT program is forging with Butterfly House. It is Gaddy’s aim to formalize an arrangement that would enable Pfeiffer’s MSOT students to engage in fieldwork there.

“The students will learn how they can advocate for and serve children who have experienced adverse situations,” she said. “They’ll also educate Butterfly House’s stakeholders on the role that OT can play in healing these children and returning them to lives of normalcy.”

First Scholarship to Support Pfeiffer OT Students Established

Ken Keuffel — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:16:40 +0000

Albemarle, N.C. (June 22, 2023) – The Ellen M. Snyder Endowed Scholarship, the first scholarship fund established to assist students of ��ר��’s (MSOT) program, will issue inaugural awards this fall.

Albemarle’s Michael E. Snyder (who goes by Mike) and his wife, Karen, created the fund with a gift of $125,000 via the Michael E. Snyder Family Foundation. The Snyders are encouraging others to add to the scholarship or establish scholarship funds of their own in support of Pfeiffer’s MSOT students. The MSOT program has operated in the Center for Health Sciences (CHS) on East Main Street in downtown Albemarle since 2020 and recently became fully accredited through 2030.

“It is an honor to have such a wonderful scholarship to further the growth of the occupational therapy profession by providing future OT practitioners with resources and support financially,” said Dr. Crystal C. Gaddy, an assistant professor in the MSOT program who serves as its Interim Program Director.

“The Ellen M. Snyder Endowed Scholarship will greatly benefit ��ר��’s occupational therapy master’s program in that it will maximize and provide scholarship assistance to passionate, incoming occupational therapy students. It will enable awarded students attending this graduate program to focus and thrive on their journey in leading productive and purposeful lives in their service to others within health care.”

Mike Snyder strongly supports Pfeiffer’s efforts to train occupational therapists, having recognized that there’s a real need for them, particularly in the largely rural areas in and around Stanly County. He has been actively involved in the fundraising committee for the CHS since the group was formed in 2019. He named The Edward J. Snyder, Sr. Community Room in the CHS in memory of his father (d. 1969), who ran E.J. Snyder & Company, Inc., a textile dying and finishing company that operated on Snuggs Street from 1956 until its closure in 2005. Mike Snyder and his two brothers, now deceased, took over leadership of the company after their father stepped down.

Ellen Snyder, Mike’s daughter, has been an adult and geriatric nurse practitioner at since 2016. Between 1997 and 2016, she served as the Director of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Stanly Regional Medical Center in Albemarle. In this role, she developed and implemented a cardiac rehab program in 1998 and she developed and implemented a pulmonary rehab program in 2011.

“Ellen has done a lot of great work in the community,” Mike Snyder said. “She’s been very, very good at what she does, and I thought it would be appropriate to honor her and her achievements with a scholarship in her name.”

Ellen Snyder said she was “extremely honored” that a scholarship was named for her.

“I’ve been involved in healthcare in a number of ways for many years,” she said. “I’m very proud to be associated with ��ר�� and with efforts to help anyone who wants to pursue a career in occupational therapy. I think this is wonderful.”

The Ellen M. Snyder Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to students who excel in their studies, show financial need, and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The scholarship is renewable as long as the recipient continues to meet the award criteria. First preference will be given to students of the MSOT program who have financial need. If multiple applicants have equal financial need, then preference will be given to candidates who are originally from Stanly County.

To contribute to the Ellen M. Snyder Endowed Scholarship or to start a scholarship benefitting ��ר��’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program, contact Jo Ellen Newsome, VP of Institutional Advancement at 704-463-3222 or joellen.newsome@pfeiffer.edu.

OT Program Fully Accredited Through 2030

Ken Keuffel — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 19:41:24 +0000

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program at ��ר�� is now fully accredited for the next seven years, having achieved that all-important milestone last month.

In addition, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), which granted the accreditation, noted no concerns or areas of non-compliance in its on-site review. The council did not make any suggestions for ways that MSOT might improve.

“It was a glowing report,” said Dr. Elizabeth Fain, the founding director of MSOT. “We essentially scored a 100.”

Pfeiffer’s first cohort of MSOT graduates are now eligible to sit for a national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Passage of the exam confers the title of Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

All told, Pfeiffer’s MSOT program had to meet ACOTE’s standards in more than 120 areas, a process that took about two years to complete. The program began operating in the spring of 2020, having been granted “candidacy status” by ACOTE, which is the initial phase of a developing program.

ACOTE highlighted several strengths of the University’s program. These include a high level of awareness of Pfeiffer and the occupational therapy program in and around Stanly County, N.C. as well as the advocacy and service that the program is offering the community.

The MSOT program was also applauded for its experiential learning opportunities, and it was acknowledged for its diverse student body. ACOTE commended the program for having a “shared vision with the community and ��ר��” and “for students expressing confidence in the OT program.”

One of the students is Kenneth Drysdale, who relocated from Florida to attend the MSOT program. Drysdale, who’s scheduled to graduate next December with the 2023 cohort, said he was thrilled to learn of the accreditation.

“MSOT promotes student feedback to cultivate an enhanced learning experience,” he said. “The prospect of becoming the next generation to deliver evidence-based services to patients creates enthusiasm for the journey we face each day.” Drysdale also praised the clinical experience of the MSOT professors, and he said that each “is available as a mentor.”

Madeline Cook, an MSOT student scheduled to graduate with Drysdale, noted several aspects of the program that utilized experiential learning.

“I can confidently say how impactful that experience was for me and how much I grew as a student and future practitioner. Learning hands-on gave me a newfound appreciation for the human body and how all body structures work together to impact movement,” she said.

Cook also praised efforts by Pfeiffer’s MSOT program to bring in guest speakers. These have ranged from clients who’ve been positively impacted by OT to occupational therapists who have talked about the settings they work in and how they are advocating for their profession.

Cook, who lives in Huntersville, N.C., has benefited from the personal, individualized approach at the heart of Pfeiffer’s MSOT program. She was paired with a “Pfeiffer friend,” who has helped her forge connections in the community and even fortified her with baked goods before exams.

Finally, Cook called the faculty of Pfeiffer’s MSOT program a huge strength.

“I have always felt that I can go ask any of my professors for help or talk to them if I am struggling with something,” she said. “I am grateful to the faculty for all they do and love to learn from them since they all come from unique and diverse backgrounds.”

OT Students Claim 1st Place at Competition

Ken Keuffel — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:31:30 +0000

Four students in ��ר��’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program have become award-winning creators of an assistive device that makes life easier for shoppers in wheelchairs and those who help them.

The device, called “Roll with Me,” connects a wheelchair to a shopping cart. It won first place in a student design competition sponsored by the at its fall conference earlier this month in Raleigh, N.C. The competition encouraged new ideas for assistive technology and adaptive equipment.

“Roll with Me” is “helpful for a caregiver of an individual who uses a wheelchair because they don’t have to pull the wheelchair and also push a shopping cart,” said Mackenzie Gibbon ’23 MSOT, one of four students who created the device. She added that “Roll with Me” is also beneficial for someone who can maneuver their wheelchair without assistance: “When they push their wheelchair, they also push the cart without having to place a hand on the cart.”

The creative team behind “Roll with Me” also included Alexis Mikulewich, Sarah Benson, and Meredith Applegate, all of whom, like Gibbon, are scheduled to complete the MSOT program in 2023.

Benson said that “Roll with Me” removes the need for transferring someone with special needs into one of a limited number of special carts or wheelchairs provided by some stores, a procedure that can lead to injury and leave the user with small baskets that fill up quickly. The device also enables individuals in wheelchairs to participate actively in food shopping; this is especially beneficial to children “because it allows them to be in the store and learn a life skill,” Benson said.

Gibbon first conceived of “Roll with Me” when, back home in Cary, N.C., she realized that one of her friends uses a wheelchair when he leaves his home but is unable to move it himself. That task falls to his mother, from whom Gibbon learned that going to the grocery store was “always so hard because she would have to pull him in his wheelchair while also having to push a shopping cart.”

Winning the competition “feels really good because we really do care and believe in our idea, and we truly want to help a lot of people,” Gibbon said. “The recognition means other people saw the meaning behind the device and all it can do. However, even over winning, just having people at the conference say that they have been looking for something like this was even more exciting.”

The “Roll with Me” creative team took “Technologies in OT,” a course taught by Amanda Davis, an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Pfeiffer. Among other things, course participants review all kinds of adaptive equipment, including special-order items with unique features. Students look at modifiable aspects of mainstream technologies and consider how they may be used for everyday tasks. They learn about barriers to obtaining equipment, and they learn that it’s often necessary to improve or come up with alternatives to what’s available.

The creative team behind another competition entry also originated in the course: Madison Lankford, Landon Jennings, and Kassie Williams. They developed the Lankford-conceived “Sensi-Hoodie,” a tag-less hoodie with customizable fabrics sewn into its pocket. This is an item that could be helpful to what Lankford describes as “the pediatric community, especially those who are diagnosed with autism.”

The hoodie is similar to a fabric swatch that those who are sensory-seeking are often given, but it “is more discrete and personal to the person using it,” Lankford said. The hoodie can also benefit those who are sensory-avoiding by using just one or two fabrics that can sooth the person.

Davis wants her students to continue participating in design competitions sponsored by the association. “They set up in an exhibit hall and engage with attendees, who are mostly experienced occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and other students,” she said. “This event engages students in being creative, and it promotes dialogue among OT professionals about common challenges people may face and possible solutions. It is my hope that this opportunity helps students grow their understanding, confidence, and ideas.”

Albemarle – ����ר��

����ר�� Welcomes Physician Assistant Class of 2028