Pictured left to right: Katie Mullen, Brice Hounshel Smith and Emily Grattan at the 2023 Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Conference
During my first term as a Pitt Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) student, I had the privilege of joining Assistant Professor Emily Grattan's Vision and Perception Research Laboratory, an experience that significantly enriched my academic journey. Within this dynamic research environment, I acquired invaluable insights into the assessment and treatment of stroke related visual perceptual disorders, in addition to the collaborative field of low vision rehabilitation.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role in the lab involved engaging with research participants at UPMC Mercy where I conducted assessments tailored for individuals who experienced stroke and presented with symptoms of unilateral spatial neglect. This allowed me to integrate my coursework with research tasks by administering assessments I learned in the OTD program. This experience has served as a cornerstone in my preparation for future clinical practice.
Furthermore, I was fortunate to have opportunities to develop my scientific writing and presentation skills. I collaborated with Dr. Grattan and Katie Mullen (our lab research coordinator) and contributed to a peer-reviewed manuscript which highlighted that existing assessments may not capture the true incidence of unilateral spatial neglect. This manuscript was recently accepted for publication in the “American Journal of Occupational Therapy.” Additionally, we presented these findings at the 2023 Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA) Conference.
Dr. Grattan’s mentorship and support have been instrumental in the development of my future career plans. Learning about the dynamic field of rehabilitation research through my role as a research assistant has solidified my interest in pursuing further scientific training. I am grateful for this experience and am excited to continue working with our Vision and Perception research team for the remainder of my time in the Pitt OTD program.
--------------
Written by Brice Hounshel Smith (OTD ‘24)