Active member since 2019

Active member since 2019

Member ID: 000004575698

Collaboration with a community organization to develop a training program to ensure the success of individuals with disabilities in gaining and maintaining meaningful work inclusion, social integration, self-efficacy, potential employment opportunities, and encourage the development of daily living skills for independence and improvement in overall quality of life.

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy  2021

Fort Wayne, Indiana 

Bachelor of Science  2018

Interdisciplinary Health

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Associate of Arts Degree 2015

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Federally Qualified Health Center; community-based health care center receiving funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas.

Administrative Assistant/Rehabilitation Technician                                                                                             

2016-2019     

Administrative duties included reminder calls, checking patients in/out, verifying insurance, and updating insurance when necessary. Directly contacting physicians and nurses on behalf of the patients as well as advocating for durable medical equipment when necessary. Rehab clinic duties included assisting the Occupational Therapists with patient treatment sessions when necessary, cleaning and correctly storing equipment after sessions, in addition to ordering new equipment as stock runs out.

Student Intern

Level II Fieldwork in Wayland Michigan  11/2020 - 02/2021

Facilitating evaluations for children with varying diagnoses related to sensory integration. Providing client-centered, play-based interventions to enhance participation outside the clinic setting. Collaborating with other therapists as well as parents to encourage positive carryover of intervention themes (such as Zones of Regulation, Alert Program, DPPT Brushing technique, etc.).

Student Intern

Level II Fieldwork in Kalamazoo Michigan  08/2020 - 11/2020

Facilitating and planning occupation-based evaluations and interventions for individuals post neurological event (such as spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, etc.) – Assisting in setting up and tear down of various treatment interventions – Providing client-centered care in multiple settings and locations including community integration, transitional care both long-term and short-term, and outpatient clinic.

Student  06/2020 - 08/2020

Level I Fieldwork in Fort Wayne Indiana

Virtual experience utilizing SimuCase web-based program to evaluate, assess, and suggest intervention for virtual clients with varying diagnoses.   

Additional hands-on experience at Parkview Mirro Center for Research & Innovation to develop and fine tune skills required for patient transfers, levels of assistance, and familiarity for acute care setting and population.

Student

Level I Fieldwork in Fort Wayne Indiana  02/2020 - 03/2020

Interact with pediatric clients within a daycare setting among varying age groups of typically developing children. Assist staff members with daily activities and improve skills for facilitating development in the pediatric population.

Student

Level I Fieldwork in Fort Wayne Indiana  09/2019 - 11/2019

Assisting day center members in daily tasks while at the center (such as eating, drinking, mobility). Assisting staff and members during weekly outings. Providing supportive services during day center activities.

Certificate of Appreciation  Fall 2019

Awarded for recognition of investing in the growth and development of other students by serving as a peer mentor for incoming student cohorts.

Student   

September 2019

November 2019                                                                                                                                                                      

Collaborative event with students from other health discipline programs throughout the Fort Wayne area. This program is designed to facilitate working knowledge of other future team members within the multidisciplinary practice of the healthcare system

Successfully completed the training course required to gain knowledge and understanding of how ergonomic evaluations are carried out as well and demonstrate proficiency in assessments required to validate recommendations for safety and proper body mechanics.

Successfully completed the recognized curriculum and training course required to perform home evaluations and the understanding of recommended modifications to allow individuals to remain in their homes.

Melissa is a student finishing out her degree from Huntington University in Fort Wayne, IN. Melissa will graduate with her doctorate in occupational therapy in July of 2021. Before moving to Fort Wayne, she completed her Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Health Science at WMU in 2018 before pursuing her OTD degree from Huntington.

Through the Huntington OTD program, Melissa was able to take advantage of early continuing education courses one of which earned her the Certified Living In Place Professional (CLIPP) certificate enabling her to make home modification recommendations for the older population to age in their own homes safely. Additionally, Melissa is working to complete her Certified Ergonomic Evaluation Specialist (CEES) certification which will allow her to assess ergonomic safety for employees and corporations throughout the country. Melissa is excited to further her experience in OT and eventually would like to work with children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Melissa has lived in the Kalamazoo area her whole life and enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle with her husband and two dogs including hiking, camping, biking, and gardening. In her spare time, Melissa also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, and crafting.

Huntington University 2020

This research was carried out to address the impact on the accessibility of necessary services for people with disabilities during a mandated isolation period and aimed to outline potential barriers to access as well as the strengths of community support that enabled this population to remain independent during the mandated stay-at-home order.

Huntington University  2019

This poster presentation investigated the effectiveness of peer-related physical activity on the social and communication skills of children with ASD.

Professional print and online subscription from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). 

OT Practice provides professional news and information on multiple areas of practice within occupational therapy and provides research highlights for areas of concern within the AOTA membership community.

Thiel, A., Alexander, M., Gerig, L., Short, N., & Henton, P. (2019, November). Restoration through occupation: Participating with prison inmates to refurbish seating and mobility equipment. OT Practice, 24(11), 28-29.

Indianapolis, Indiana 02/2020

AOTA sponsored event at the state capitol building allowing OTs, OTAs, OT students, and many others to meet legislative representatives for their district and advocate for the profession of occupational therapy.

Huntington Student Volunteer   May 2019

Through advocacy, sociocultural, socioeconomic, and diversity limitations were addressed by designing educational programs for underserved populations in order to improve overall health and well-being.

Huntington University  Fall 2019 - Spring 2020

Through experience, knowledge, and advocacy peer mentorship through the Mentor Circles Program allowed connections to be made with two incoming cohorts. This peer mentoring provided the new cohorts with new perspectives and understanding of the program rigor as well as helped the gain the confidence in their own knowledge and abilities through the guidance of the peer mentor.