Gain valuable takeaways as Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate students showcase highlights from their Capstone and Quality Improvement project experiences. Be inspired by their journey and explore the depth of their work!
Capstone Projects (Class of 2026)
| Presenter | Project Title |
|---|---|
| Fatima Al-Sarakbi Hernandez | Justice in Motion: The Evolving Experiences of OT Entrepreneurs and Leaders of Color |
| Lillian Albritton | Enhancing Student Participation: Developing a Framework for Multidisciplinary School-Related Services |
| Hannah Bailey | Envisioning the Future: Elevating Low Vision Rehabilitation Competencies |
| Christina Billman | Function through Fitness: Developing Targeted Group Exercise Programs to Enhance Functional Mobility & Independence for Individuals with Neurological Conditions |
| Ahriyanna Bullard | Incorporating a Therapeutic Lens into Nature-Based Programming at Carlisle Academy |
| Ashleigh Burn | Utilizing Occupation-Based Curriculum for Mitigating Occupational Injustices in Children |
| Emma Carmichael | Hoofin’ It: A Nature-Based and Equine-Assisted Trial to Occupational Engagement |
| Kayla Cheyno | Growing Social Circles: A Group Approach to Building Social Skills, Peer Relationships, and Supporting Occupational Engagement |
| Taylor Cox | A Clearer Vision: Standardizing Assessments and Treatments Across Low Vision Clinics |
| Jessica Crosby | Drops of Hope: Enhancing Early Feeding Experiences for Preterm Infants |
| Megan Davis | From Harborview to Home: Exploring Ways to Improve Burn Care for Patients |
| Laney Dowell | Helping Critically Ill Kids Be Kids: Exploring Occupational Therapy’s Role in Pediatric Palliative Care |
| Danielle Dres | From Care to Collaboration |
| Lindsay Durdle | Rooted in Nature: C4CC Program Development to Promote Youth Well-Being |
| Astrid Giblin | Occupational Analysis of Philadelphia Senior Centers |
| Brian Gonzalez Granados | Centering Caregiver Well-Being at Student U: An Occupational Therapy Approach to Holistic Family Support |
| Mylee Graham | Let’s Talk about Sex: Healing Sexual Trauma for Female & LGBTQ+ Veterans |
| Morgan Gumbinner | Nurturing Moms, Nurturing Bonds: Exploring the Role of OT for Postpartum Wellness |
| Rachel Holm | Providing Opportunities for Maternal Peer-Support in the Community to Improve Occupational Outcomes and Self-Efficacy |
| Kelsey Holt | Food as Medicine: Food-Based Programming for Adolescents with Mental Illness |
| Sarah Jacobs | Accessible Violence Prevention and Education for Students with Autism/IDD |
| Amirah Jenkins | Embracing Cultural Contexts in OT to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being |
| Emmalee Kerns-Stokes | Rebuilding Routines: Supporting the Transition of Incarcerated Individuals through Occupational Therapy at Benevolence Farm |
| Annika Klein | Go Baby Go! Moving Toward Personalized Mobility |
| Rachel Knoll | Empowering Families for Successful Home Therapy Programming: Strengthening Support through Theralinq |
| Madelyn Kraus | Caregiver’s Compass: OT Resources for Navigating ALS |
| Allie Lerner | Keeping House, Making Home |
| Joshua Lucs | The Third Space: Creating Better Outcomes for Partitioners and Clients |
| Ashley McGraw | Enabling Occupations for Adolescents with Hemiplegia |
| Daniella Morales | A Recipe for Success: Occupational Feeding Therapy through Simulation-Based Learning |
| Katie Neahring | Increasing Access to Adaptive Devices for Children with Disabilities Through Collaborative Partnerships |
| Emelda Oyugi | Housing is Healthcare |
| Emma Place | A Sensory Path to Literacy: Integrating Occupational Therapy Practice within Early Childhood Education |
| Mary Platt | Optimizing the Volunteer Service Program at Made4Me |
| Alicia Qiao | Supporting Community Participation for Adults with Serious Mental Illness |
| Alyssah Roth | Occupational Therapy in the Duke Gender Medicine Clinic |
| Camisha Saint-Preux | The Healing Cypher: Hip Hop, Mental Health, & Occupational Therapy |
| Lauren Sawyer | CVI & OT: Developing Expertise for Effective Intervention |
| Martha (Reagan) Tharpe | Enhancing Occupational Participation for Nonspeaking Children: The Impact of Assistive Technology Education for the Client Constellation |
| Maya Thompson | Quality of Sleep on Recovery |
| Sheila Tomlin | High Fives and Sensory Thrives: Enhancing Occupational Engagement in Early Childhood Classrooms |
| Phoebe Wang | Therapy at Your Fingertips: Mobile Exercises for Pediatric Development |
| Audra Whithaus | Feeding Together: A Peer Group Feeding Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome |
| Brianna Williams | Adolescent Mental Health: A Rising Concern |
| Madelyne Wood | Enhancing Dementia Care Through Education: Promoting the Seven Domains of Well-Being for Improved Quality of Life |
Quality Improvement Projects (OTD 512: ACT II)
| Project Title | Presenters | Community Partner |
|---|---|---|
|
Alumni Perceptions of Ongoing Connectedness to Student Action with Farmworkers |
Sydney Fialkow, Betsy Li, Jessica LeBeau, Brooklyn Pierce, and Kyra Sommerstad | Student Action with Farmworkers, Durham |
| Analyzing Transitions from Chronic Homelessness to the Cornerstone Bridge Housing Program: A Qualitative Study | Jess Bates, Carole French, and M. Paola Dávila Uzcátegui | Cornerstone Bridge Housing Program, Raleigh |
| Caring for Caregivers at Healing Synergy: A Qualitative Study | Clare Bergeson, Makayla Broughman, Chante Perlberg, and Gavin Thompson | Healing Synergy Clinic, Franklinton |
| Filling the Gaps! Promoting Care Partner Support and Education | Arlesia Johnson, Daijah Arnold, Kayla Thomas, and Ta'Niyah Silver | AKALAKA, Durham |
| Improving Youth Access to Community-Based Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Study | Alyssa Champney, Joshua Harper, Suet Lee-Growney, and Amanda Shoenfelt | Center for Community Connection, Pittsboro |
| Made with Love: The Experience of Dignity at St. Joseph's Community Breakfast | Molly Collins, Lydia Farmer, and Emily Stuart | St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, Durham |
|
More Than Just a Program: A Thematic Exploration of How Caregivers Experience Student U Parent Programming |
Ethan Ezray, Emy Kenser, Jesus Martinez, and Sophia Vaughn | Student U Durham |
|
Perceptions of Change Among Parents and Athletes Participating in North Carolina Adapted Sports Programs: A Qualitative Study |
Bianca Banez, Grace Purdy, and Kenna Zier | North Carolina Adapted Sports, Cary |
| Recruitment and Retention of Working-Aged Leadership in Conservation Efforts: A Qualitative Study | Allie Armstrong, Chrissa Fleming, Julie Gu, and Sara Jabae | North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Raleigh |
| "Touching Grass": The Experience of Active Participation at Duke Campus Farm | Ruth Kraus, Alexandra Kreitenstein, Yaa Quaning, and Natalie Schopen | Duke Campus Farm, Durham |
|
Tuned into Wellness: A Qualitative Study of Wellness Wednesday as a Catalyst for Belonging, Engagement, and Holistic Learning |
Tia Clark, Tala Farah, Mouna Laraki, and Khaliyah Poole | Community Partner: Student U Durham |
| Understanding Respite Experiences of Care Partners: A Qualitative Exploration of the Gindes Center Adult Day Program | Braden Atkins, Riya Hathi, and Caroline Odom | Jewish for Good, Durham |