Mirtha Montejo Whaley, PhD, MPH, OTR/L Assistant Professor & Director of Academic Affairs Qualification Statement: As Assistant Professor and Director of Academic Affairs, Dr. Whaley is part of the founding faculty for the Entry Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program in Tampa. Dr. Whaley brings to NSU extensive experience in psychiatric occupational therapy in inpatient, outpatient, and day treatment programs; geriatric rehabilitation; and occupational therapy services for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Additionally, Dr. Whaley s graduate education in public health provides her with a unique perspective of occupational therapy practice, and she infuses this knowledge and experience in her courses. Dr. Whaley was instrumental in the addition of occupational therapy services at the USF Health Johnny Byrd Alzheimer s Institute, and through years of pro-bono consultation helped develop a state of the art functional assessment unit. She continues this relationship through volunteer work with her students during fall prevention and other events. Through her community service, she has developed relationships with local mental health centers to improve the provision of services to clients with severe and persistent mental illness. Dr. Whaley also serves as Chair of the Mental Health Special Interest Section of the Florida Occupational Therapy Association. Name: Mirtha Montejo Whaley, PhD, MPH, OTR/L Rank and Position: Assistant Professor & Director of Academic Affairs Education and Training: Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health, Concentrations in Social and Behavioral Health and Community and Family Health Education College of Public Health University of South Florida Tampa, FL, 2007 1
Master of Public Health, Community and Family Health Education College of Public Health University of South Florida Tampa, FL, 1993 Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy College of Health Related Professions University of Florida Gainesville, FL, 1968 Professional Positions: Marshall I. Pickens Mental Health Center and Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Institute, 1970 1974 Greenville, SC. Helen Ross McNabb Mental Health Center, Senior Occupational Therapist, Day Treatment Program, 1976-1981, Knoxville, TN St. Joseph Hospital Mental Health Center, Senior Occupational Therapist, 1981 1983, Tampa, FL James A. Haley VAMC Psychiatric Partial Hospitalization Program, Staff Therapist, 1983 1989 Northside Psychiatric Center, Director of Occupational Therapy and Activity Services, 1989-1992 James A. Haley VA Medical Center, Staff Therapist, Nursing Home Care Unit, 1992-1994, Tampa, FL Hillhaven Rehabilitation Center, Director of Occupational Therapy, 1994-1995, Tampa, FL Arbors Rehabilitation Center, Director of Occupational Therapy, 1995 1999, Tampa, FL Genesis Rehabilitation Services, Occupational Therapist, 2010-2011 Award and Honors: Service Award: Project Return Florida, Inc., (1987). In recognition of dedication and commitment to mental health consumers, efforts and dedication to help people help themselves. USF College of Public Health 2005 Lee Leavengood Senior Programs Endowed Scholarship Allen Cognitive Network (2010). In recognition of the promotion of the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model through teaching and mentoring. Elected Faculty Member, Alpha Eta Honor Society (2014). Nova Southeastern University Nu Sigma Epsilon Chapter. 2
Selected Peer Reviewed Publications: Whaley, M. & Paul-Ward, Amy. (2011). Keeping Close to Home: The Ritual of Domino Playing Among Older Cuban Immigrants in Miami s Little Havana. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 35(3): pp 22-27. Thompson, M., Evitt, C., Whaley, M. (2010). Screening for Falls and Osteoporosis: Prevention Practice for the Hand Therapist. Journal of Hand Therapy, 23(2): pp 212-229. Whaley, M. (2009). A Study of Occupational Therapy Students Beliefs and Attitudes Regarding Gerontological Practice. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 25(3): pp 265-270. Whaley, M. (2008). Effects of Personal and Practice Contexts on Occupational Therapists Assessment Practices in Geriatric Rehabilitation. Retrieved from ProQuest Digital Dissertations. (3292586). Henderson, J. Whaley, M. 1997. Cultural Factors in Geriatric Rehabilitation: Ethnic- Specific Generational Cultures. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 12(3): pp 1-9. Selected Non-peer Review Publications: Conference Proceedings Whaley, M. 2002. Successful Aging: Commodity, or Attainable Goal for Institutionalized Elderly? Proceedings from the Women's Health Conference, Custom Copies, Inc. Gainesville, FL Books, Chapters & Training Manuals: Briller, S., Paul Ward, A., & Whaley, M. (in press). Long Term Care: Educating Occupational Therapists for Transformative Practice. In Karen Barney & Margaret Perkinson (Eds.), Geriatric Occupational Therapy: Supporting Meaningful Living Through Collaborative Practice (pp ). St Louis, MO: Elsevier Health Sciences. Whaley, M. & Lancaster-Barber, Danielle. 2011. The Process of Aging. In Connon, S., Lohman, H., and Padilla, R. Occupational Therapy with Elders: Strategies for the COTA (3 rd ed.). Elsevier-Mosby, Publishers. Professional, Institutional, Government, & Community Responsibilities: Professional: Chair, Mental Health Special Interest Section, Florida Occupational Therapy Institutional: Chair, Curriculum Committee, OTD Program, Tampa Member, CHCS Curriculum Committee, NSU Chair, Committee on Student Progress, OTD Program, Tampa\ Member, Committee on Student Progress, DPT Program, Tampa Member, Executive Council Alpha Eta Honor Society, NSU Community: 3
Pro-bono consultation with Access House and supervised housing of Northside Mental Health Centers Pro-bono instructor of Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model for occupational therapy staff at local nursing facilities Research Interests: Mental health; disability and participation of the ageing, individuals who have dementia, and individuals with mental illness; aging in place; cognitive impairment in geriatric practice; therapists attitudes and knowledge of factors affecting cognition in adults and older clients; participation, occupational disruptions, and wellbeing of caregivers. Research & Training Grants Awarded: Whaley, M. PhD, PI, Exploring Clinical Reasoning: A Pilot Study of Occupational Therapy Students Awareness of Risk Factors and Behavioral Indicators of Cognitive Impairment, Seed Grant funding from College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Florida International University, originally funded for July 2008 June 2009, extended to June 2010, $5,000.00. Refereed & Invitational International, National, Regional, State & Local Presentations & Lectureships: Refereed Presentations Use of Self and the Intentional Relationship. Whaley, M., and Peirce, Catherine. Four hour Pre-Conference Institute. Florida Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers November, 2014. Student and Faculty Experiences Linking Generational Cohorts with Occupational Science in a Blended (Hybrid) Curriculum. Whaley, M., and Carrasco, R. Short Course, Florida Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers November, 2014. Vision to Fruition: Reflections on Applying the OT Model Curriculum to an Entry-Level Doctoral Program. Carrasco, R., Arnold, T., Davenport, R., Longpré, S., Reinoso, G., McCarthy, D., and Whaley, M. Workshop presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association s Annual Conference, April, 2014. An Occupational Therapy Model for Promoting Occupational Engagement and Preventing Excess Disability in Dementia Care. Whaley, M. APHA Annual Conference, October 2012, San Francisco, California. Occupational Therapy in Dementia Care in the Community, FOTA Fall Conference, November 2012, Tampa, Florida. Whaley, M., and Dorne, R. Invited four-hour preconference institute 4
Considering Health Disparities in Nursing Homes: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Reducing Excess Disability. Briller, S., Paul-Ward, A., Whaley, M. Invited Panel presentation. Society for Medical Anthropology Conference, New Haven, Connecticut, September 27, 2009. A Study of the Beliefs and Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Students Regarding Working with Older Patients. Whaley, M., and MS II Project Development and Implementation Students. Poster presentation. Florida Occupational Therapy Association Winter Conference, Gainesville, FL, February 29, 2008. Effect of Personal and Practice Contexts on Occupational Therapists Assessment Practices in Geriatric Rehabilitation, Whaley, M. Poster presentation. Annual Conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association, St, Louis, MO, April 20, 2007. Non-refereed & Invitational Presentations An Occupational Therapy Model for Promoting Occupational Engagement and Preventing Excess Disability in Dementia Care. Whaley, M. APHA Annual Conference, October 2012, San Francisco, California. Living Life to the Fullest: Occupational Therapy Beyond ADLs and Rehabilitation. Whaley, M. Invited presentation, USF Health Byrd Alzheimer s Institute s Summer Conference, Tampa, FL, June 19, 2012. Addressing the Challenges and Improving Outcomes in Dementia Care II. Whaley, M. Invited presentation, Winter Haven Hospital presentation, Winter Haven, FL, March 15, 2012. The Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model: Addressing the Challenges and Improving Outcomes in Dementia Care. Whaley, M. Invited presentation, USF Health Byrd Alzheimer s Institute s Geriatric Conference, The Challenges of Geriatric Care, June 22, 2011, Tampa, FL. Occupation, Quality of Life and Dementia. Whaley, M. Invited presentation, Easter Seals Alzheimer s Conference, Miami, FL, June 19, 2010. Alert, Oriented and at Risk. Whaley, M. Invited presentation, Allen Cognitive Network Symposium, November 2010, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Presentation. The Meaning of Occupation in Later Life. Whaley, M. Invited presentation, Alliance for Aging, Inc., Miami, FL, and December 10, 2009. Presentation. 5
Occupation and the Built Environment. Whaley, M. Invited presentation, Miami Elder Summit on The Built Environment, November 18, 2009, United Way of Miami. Presentation. Whaley, M. Objective, Measurable, and Attainable: Using the Allen Cognitive Screen to Develop Client- Focused Treatment Plans. Invited 8 hour course. Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers, FL, February 2002. Whaley, M. When Elders Can't: Preventing Unintentional Abuse and Neglect Among Community Dwelling and Institutionalized Elders. Conference on Elder Abuse, Clearwater, FL, July 2001. Whaley, M. Successful Aging: Commodity, or Attainable Goal for Institutionalized Elderly? Whaley, M Invited presentation. Women's Health Conference, Gainesville, FL, March 2001. Whaley, M. Dissecting Clinical Reasoning: The Role of Beliefs, Attitudes, and Subjective Norms on Occupational Therapists' Decisions to Assess the Cognitive Status of Elderly Patients Referred for Rehabilitation. Great Southern Occupational Therapy Symposium, Charleston, WVA, November 2000. Whaley, M. The Allen Cognitive Frame of Reference. Indiana Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, 1998. Whaley, M. Alert, Oriented, and at Risk. Invited presentation. University Community Hospital Home Health Dept., Tampa, FL 1998 Whaley, M. Alert, Oriented, and at Risk. USF College of Public Health Injury Prevention Conference, Orlando, FL, 1997. Aging and Loss. Whaley, M. Arbors Sub-acute and Nursing Home Center, Tampa, FL, 1995, 1996. Understanding the Cognitive Levels: Whaley, M. The Allen Cognitive Assessment, Vencor, Tampa, FL, 1995. Aging and Loss. Whaley, M. James A. Haley, V.A, Medical Center, Tampa, FL, 1994. An argument for Using the Allen Cognitive Assessment Screen, Florida Occupational Therapy Association 1994. Deinstitutionalization and Chronic Mental Illness. Whaley, M. Annual Conference Florida Partial Hospitalization Association, Tampa, FL, 1988. Games for Health and Happiness. Whaley, M. Annual Conference Florida Partial 6
Hospitalization Association, Tampa, FL, 1987. Key Note Addresses: And Now What? Living and Functioning With Dementia. Whaley, M. Invited presentation, Easter Seals Alzheimer s Awareness Conference, November 9, 2011, Pembroke Pines, FL. 7