Occupational Therapy Department

Discover the Carlow OT Difference!

The Carlow Difference is student focused, interprofessional, and service driven. We host small class sizes, in face to face, hands-on learning. The OT curriculum design, aligned with Catholic intellectual tradition and Mercy values, has an overarching mission of occupational justice, a foundation in health and wellbeing, and threads that support the structure and the path to transformational learning. 

The bridge image conveys a journey of overcoming barriers to promote full participation and represents a path where one moves from old self to new self, writing the next chapter in the story of life. It is critical that students bridge classroom concepts to clinical practice and Mercy values to their civic engagement as socially responsible citizens. Our program is alive with transformative learning experiences in the “City of Bridges” as we explore the world around us and seek to be innovative pathfinders for occupational justice, access, and opportunity for all people, communities, and populations.

Faculty & staff

Our faculty are devoted to the health and wellbeing of each student. We are intentional about ensuring the development of healthy occupations during graduate school, in order to create a healthy and sustainable career in healthcare. Our faculty are student-focused and develop instructional design practices that celebrate the diversity of learning styles, supporting the gifts and talents of each student. As faculty we recognize that our students are the future of the OT profession, and our connection is just beginning. We are all part of the Carlow family from the classroom to your first job and beyond!

Erin Phillips, OTD, MSOT, OTR/L, DipACLM Program Director, Associate Professor

Alyssa Kallenbaugh, OTD, OTR/L Field Coordinator/Assistant Professor

Blythe Westendorf Assistant Professor

Ainsley Dillon, MOT, OTR/L Adjunct Lecturer

Jessica Durci, MOT, OTR/L, CPAM

Accreditation

The Doctorate program in OT has been granted “pre-accreditation” by the Accreditation Council of OT Education (ACOTE) and will complete the final onsite visit in fall of 2024.

View our student teaching handbook
View our education department handbook

Department Points of Pride

• Elizabeth Sherman:
  • Accepted to the National Intergroup Dialogue Institute – June 2024 at University of Michigan
  • Carlow Cares: Sligo, Ireland faculty advisor
  • Planning Committee Member for the Inaugural Greater Pittsburgh Food Systems Summit organized by the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council – Food Systems Summit — Pittsburgh Food Policy Council
• Erin Phillips:
  • Outstanding Alumni Award for 2024; Washington University Program in Occupational Therapy
• Blythe Westendorf:
  • Completed the AOTA Board Certification in Pediatrics