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History of the UNM
Occupational Therapy Graduate Program

Funding | Director

Academic Year History

1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999

2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006

1991 - A New Program is Funded

In 1991, the New Mexico State Legislature awarded funds to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine to initiate the planning process of developing an Occupational Therapy Program.

There are eight other Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences (formally Allied Health Sciences) programs besides the Occupational Therapy Program.

Masters degrees are offered Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.

Baccalaureate programs are offered in Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Physician Assistant and Radiographic Sciences.

Certificate programs are offered in Nuclear Medicine Imaging, and Radiography.

1992 - A Director is Selected

In July 1991, a Search Committee was formed to select a candidate for the Director of the Occupational Therapy Program. After a national search, Dr. Terry K. Crowe was offered the position in February 1992. She was promoted to Associate Professor in July 1993 and granted tenure in July, 1996. Dr. Crowe had been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle.

She started her position as Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, and secondary appointment in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico July 1, 1992.

In 2001, she was promoted to Professor. The program graduated 7 classes of undergraduate students and transitioned to a graduate level in 2000 and has graduated 3 graduate level classes.

1992-1993 Academic Year Accomplishments

• The Occupational Therapy undergraduate Program was designated a developing program by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

• Prerequisites for application to the program were established and distributed to over 1300 students who had indicated interest in occupational therapy.

• Preliminary advisory sessions were conducted with over 200 potential students.

• An admission policy which is sensitive to the health care needs of the state of New Mexico was developed and reviewed by appropriate individuals at UNM.

• Applications forms were developed and were distributed to students who met the prerequisite requirements.

• The founding class of 12 students was selected.

• Faculty teaching loads and needed faculty expertise was established.

• Two highly qualified faculty members were hired. Betsy VanLeit, MPA, OTR/L started working on March 29, 1993 and Janet Poole, MA, OTR/L started Aug. 9,1993.

• An advisory board consisting of 5 community occupational therapists (expanded to 7 members in 1994) was established and met monthly starting September 1992.

• Appropriate classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices were identified and remodeled for specific occupational therapy use.

• Needed equipment and supplies were purchased to support the OT curriculum.

• A curriculum design, program philosophy, and program outcomes were created.

• Fourteen new Occupational Therapy or Health Science courses were developed including course descriptions, course objectives, topical outlines, teaching/learning assignments and evaluation methods.

• A cooperative agreement for sharing selected course responsibilities between the faculties of the Physical Therapy Program and the Occupational Therapy Program was formulated.

• A Physiology class was developed to be taught by faculty in the Department of Physiology.

• Collaborative arrangements were made between the College of Education and the Occupational Therapy Program for teaching a course in Assistive Technology.

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1993-94 Academic Year Progress and Accomplishments

• Nine new occupational therapy courses were taught.

• The Accreditation Self-Study was submitted to AOTA in January 1994. Four Accreditation Committee and Roster members reviewed it. A consultation phone call was conducted between the reviewers and the OT Program Director on April 28, 1994. Overall, the program received an excellent paper review.

• The 2nd class of 20 OT students was selected.

• The Occupational Therapy Learning Lab was completed and officially opened in a community Open House in October. Over 100 people came to our Open House.

• Patricia Burtner, MS, OTR/L was hired as our 4th faculty member and started at UNM in Aug. 1994.

• Faculty published 5 peer reviewed research articles.

• Drs. Crowe and Poole each obtained 2 research grants.

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1994-95 Academic Year Program Development Highlights

• Janet Poole received her doctorate degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Congratulations Dr. Poole!

• The majority of the junior and senior students attended the AOTA Conference in Denver.

• Students organized UNM SOTA.

• The site visit for accreditation was conducted in Sept. 1994.

• We were officially accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) on December 9, 1994. We received a very positive review with 2 deficiencies related to budget.

• The plan of correction for the 2 deficiencies was reviewed by ACOTE and approved.

• The 1st class of students participated in Fieldwork II. 10 of the 12 students sat for the certification exam in July 1995. All students passed.

• A 3rd class of 24 students was selected.

• The Class of 1996 organized a grand accreditation celebration party in March 1995.

• Two research projects were published in peer-reviewed journals, with 4 other scholarly published papers.

• Faculty presented at 4 national professional meetings.

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1995-96 Academic Year Productivity Highlights

• Patricia Burtner became Dr. Patricia Burtner in February with the completion of her Ph.D. in Motor Control from the University of Oregon.

• The State Legislature added funds to the Occupational Therapy Program to hire a much needed additional faculty member to serve as Fieldwork Coordinator to assist us with fieldwork placements.

• The UNM Vice President of Health Sciences gave the OT Program $10,000 to build a collection of learning resources in the Health Sciences Library.

• The first formal graduation celebration was held on May 6 for the Class of 1996.

• All 12 students in the founding class passed their NBCOT Exam, scoring well above the national mean.

• The second class of 20 students finished their coursework and started their FWII clinical experiences.

• A 4th OT class of 24 students was selected.

• A collaborative clinical education project was initiated with Albuquerque Public Schools. Three clinical faculty were appointed to assist in integrating school system learning experiences for all students.

• Dr. Poole was promoted to Assistant Professor

• OT Faculty presented 2 continuing education courses to practicing OTs and PTs in the community.

• A tri-alliance clinical training meeting was conducted with 100 OTs, PTs and SLPs.

• Betsy VanLeit continued to be an active faculty member for the Interdisciplinary Rural grant and Dr. Crowe served as the Occupational Therapy Core faculty member for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Interdisciplinary Leadership Training Program (LEND).

• The 4 faculty members published or had accepted 6 articles in peer reviewed professional journals.

• Eight professional national presentations were made by faculty members

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1996-97 Academic Year Accomplishment Highlights

• Dr. Linda McClain joined the OT faculty coming from the University of Kansas Medical Center as Academic Fieldwork Coordinator.

• With support from the Department of Orthopaedics, the School of Medicine and the Health Sciences Center, the program successfully remediated the 2 Accreditation deficiencies related to the program budget.

• A course focusing on Psychosocial Disabilities was dropped since we received feedback that it duplicated prerequisite content. Applied Kinesology and an Independent Project were added.

• Eighteen of the 20 graduates in the 2nd class found jobs in New Mexico with the other 2 in Alaska and Utah.

• The third class of 24 students finished their coursework and started Fieldwork II.

• A 5th class of 24 students was selected.

• Dr. Crowe and Betsy VanLeit received a $30,000 grant from American Occupational Therapy Foundation to conduct a study related to wellness in mothers of children with special needs.

• Dr. Burtner was promoted to Assistant Professor.

• We continue to have a 100 percent pass rate for the NBCOT examination.

• Faculty members continued to be involved in the Interdisciplinary Rural grant, the MCH Leadership Training Program and the APS Collaborative Project.

• The 5 faculty members published or had accepted 14 articles in peer-reviewed journals or books.

• Faculty members served on Editorial Boards for the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology.

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1997-98 Program Growth and Contributions (sixth year)

• A 6th class of 24 students was selected and started in May.

• Twenty-one students in the 4th class completed their coursework and started their Fieldwork II in June.

• All students taking the NBCOT exam in March passed.

• The faculty started the process of moving the program from an entry-level undergraduate program to an entry-level master's program.

• Faculty continued to participate in the Interdisciplinary Rural Grant, the Maternal and Child Health Interdisciplinary Grant, and the Albuquerque Public Schools Collaborative Project.

• Dr. Poole and Dr. McClain were awarded research grants from the New Mexico Department of Health.

• Dr. Poole was awarded an external research grant from the American Hand Therapy Association.

• Faculty members provided 17 workshops and in-services and 9 research presentations.

• Faculty members published 13 articles in peer reviewed journals, 3 book chapters, and 6 abstracts.

• Dr. Poole was a keynote speaker at the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals Annual conference in Washington D.C.

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1998-99 Academic Year Significant Changes

• A 7th class of 24 students was selected and started in May.

• Betsy VanLeit completed her Ph.D. in Health Education from the University of New Mexico. Congratulations, Dr. VanLeit.

• Dr. Van Leit was named Co-Principal Investigator for the UNM HSC Interdisciplinary Rural Grant.

• Dr. VanLeit announced her resignation from the UNM Occupational Therapy Program. She and her husband left to pursue other areas of interest.

• Dr. Terry Crowe was on sabbatical in Oaxaca, Mexico researching accessibility issues.

• The UNM Board of Regents gave their approval and support for the entry-level Master's Program to begin the summer of 2000.

• All students who took the NBCOT certification exam passed.

• Martina McNulty MS, OTR was hired for the psychosocial faculty position. She started July 1, 1999.

• Faculty members continued to served on Editorial Boards for the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, the American Jourmal of Occupational Therapy and Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology.

• Faculty members continued to be involved in the Interdisciplinary Rural grant, the MCH Leadership Training Program and the APS Collaborative Project.

• Two work-study students were hired.

• The 1st annual Department of Orthopaedics scholarship was awarded to the graduate with the highest GPA.

• Faculty members published or had in progress 12 articles in peer reviewed journals, in addition to 2 book chapters and 3 abstracts publications.

• Faculty gave 17 workshops and inservices at the international, national, and local levels.

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Millennium Academic Year (1999-2000) Notable Events

• After a collaborative effort by the Occupational Therapy Program, the UNM HSC Vice President, the New Mexico Occupational Therapy Association and community therapists, the Commission of Higher Education approved the Occupational Therapy Master's Program.

• Dr. Terry Crowe, Occupational Therapy Program Director, was elected as United States Delegate to the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT). She will also serve on the Executive Board of the American Occupational Therapy Association for a 4-year term.

• Dr. Pat Burtner received the Faculty Excellence Award from the UNM School of Medicine in the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences category.

• OT students conducted ergonomic assessments for New Mexico representatives and senators during the 2000 legislative session.

• Four OT students presented scientific papers at the annual meeting of the American Occupational Therapy Association meeting in Seattle.

• A senior OT student received the Maddox Award for adaptive equipment at the annual meeting of the American Occupational Therapy Association meeting in Seattle.

• Dr. Poole and Dr. Burtner were awarded research grants from the UNM Medical School RAC Grant Committee.

• Dr. Linda McClain resigned from the UNM Occupational Therapy Program. She is pursuing other areas of interest in Occupational Therapy community practice.

• Gordon Smith, Administrative Assistant retired with warm wishes for future pursuits of mountain climbing and hiking.

• Two staff positions were upgraded to Grade 10 level.

• Stephanie Grant was hired as the new Administrative Assistant.

• Eleven students were accepted as the first basic Master’s level students and the eighth class of UNM OT students.

• Mary Thomas was hired to coordinate Fieldwork, Recruitment, Admission and Program Evaluation.

• New classes were created for the Master’s Level Program.

• OT Faculty began their self study for Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) visit to be conducted in June 2001.

• Three work-study students were hired, Theresa Torres was one of those students who is still with the Program today.

• OT faculty members presented in 23 speaking engagements (workshops, research presentations, in-services) to other professionals at international, national, and local levels.

• Faculty members published 14 articles in peer reviewed journals.

• 4 faculty members served on editorial boards for professional journals.

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2000-2001 Academic Year Productivity Highlights and Changes

• The 1st graduate class of 11 students started classes. A student dropped out due to health concerns, and another delayed continuing due to personal reasons.

• The entire faculty participated in rewriting the curriculum design, mission, program outcomes and philosophy statement. A vision statement and core values were created. A strategic plan created long-term goals and objectives.

• The final baccalaureate class completed their classes and started Fieldwork in June 2001.

• Twenty-two students completed their fieldwork in December 2000.

• All passed the National Certification Exam with mean scores well above the national average.

• Two of our work-study students were back for the 2nd year (Mercy Garcia and Theresa Torres), with a 3rd back for a 3rd year (Sarah Regalado). These competent young women are critical for the smooth functioning of our program.

• The accreditation self-study was submitted in March with a site-visit scheduled for June 2001.

• The Occupational Therapy Program submitted to the 2001 New Mexico Legislative Session a request to extend traditional funding which will enhance both the OT Program and the PT Program. The faculty, staff and students worked extremely hart to get the funding request through the House and Senate to the Governor’s Office. Unfortunately, Governor Johnson vetoed our funding request. We will try again next year!

• The 2nd Masters of Occupational Therapy class of 12 students was selected. An additional student from the first graduate class will join the class Spring 2002.

• Dr. Janet Poole received the Faculty Excellence Award from the UNM School of Medicine in the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Science category.

• Jeanell Pelsor was hired as Academic Fieldwork Coordinator.

• The curriculum was revised to increase consistency in teaching frames of references, and presenting a strong foundation in occupation.

• The Occupational Therapy Student Performance Assessment was piloted.

• Dr. Terry Crowe was promoted to Full Professor and Dr. Janet Poole was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.

• Dr. Betsy Van Leit has returned to the faculty on a part-time basis.

• The curriculum was revised to increase consistency in teaching frames of references, and presenting strong foundation in occupation.

• The OTSPA was piloted.

• The faculty published 8 peer-reviewed articles in professional journals, 1 chapter, 2 abstracts and 1 book review.

• The faculty received $129,000 in grants.

• Four students presented at the AOTA conference in Philadelphia, PA.

• A $7,500 educational equipment grant was obtained.

• Faculty presented 21 professional presentations (2 International, 11 National, 5 State, and 3 Local).

• Faculty served on 15 national committees including 4 editorial boards.

• Dr. Crowe received the Distinguished Alumni Awards from Boston University and an AOTF Leadership Award.

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2001-2002 Academic Year
Transition to a Graduate Program Completed

• The final undergraduate class of 23 students completed their FWII and graduated from the program.

• A part-time track was added. Students can choose from a fast track (3 years) a 4 year track or 5 year track.

• Four students in the 2nd class of graduate students changed to the part-time track.

• The second Graduate class was comprised of 7 full-time students.

• We accepted 22 applications from admission for the 3rd Graduate class, 15 students accepted their offer for admission.

• Dr. Patricia Burtner was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.

• Jeanell Pelsor, MS, MOT, OTR/L, resigned as Fieldwork Coordinator.

• Nine students or recent graduates, presented their research at the AOTA Conference in Miami Beach, Florida.

• The faculty submitted 18 peer-reviewed articles, (6 were published, 8 were in press and 5 were submitted).

• The Occupational Therapy Graduate Program was re-accredited by ACOTE in August 2001. Seven strengths were sited. The program was in full compliance in 174 or the 175 Educational Standards. One area of non-compliance relating to budget was sited.

• A plan of correction was submitted in October 2001 and again in March 2002 to address the ACOTE area of non-compliance. Additional funding has not been secured.

• The Occupational Therapy Graduate Program Web Page was revised and enhanced.

• A request for additional monies for educational equipment was awarded by the HSC Vice President Office.

• The faculty presented 18 professional presentations (1 International, 8 National, 7 State and 2 local).

• Dr. Patricia Burtner was recognized as a Fellow (FAOTA) in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), at the annual conference in Miami Beach.

• Tina McNulty was awarded the Cordelia Myers Writing Award at the AOTA Conference.

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2002-2003 Academic Year - Change Highlights

• A 3rd class of graduate students was admitted.

• The first class of graduate students graduated with seven students and completed their fieldwork in the Fall and 2nd in the Spring,

• Dr. Martha Hartgraves and Dr. Betsy VanLeit were hired as Assistant Professors.

• The program received significant funding through UNM formula funding. This allowed for additional faculty and staff hiring and learning resources.

• Dr. Terry Crowe served as a Visiting Scholar to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

• Cynthia Sachs-Bustos was hired to coordinate fieldwork (.5 FTE).

• Mary Thomas added responsibilities of recruitment/admission of Physical Therapy Students (.25 FTE).

• Dr. May Law of McMasters University in Hamilton, Ontario, Served as our 1st Visiting Scholar.

• We continue to have a 100% pass rate with ALL graduating students, eligible to sit for the NBCOT exam.

• The faculty presented 19 presentations at professional meetings.

• The faculty served on editorial boards for 5 professional publications.

• The faculty published 11 articles, chapters and other publications.

• Dr. Pat Burtner and Dr. Terry Crowe took three graduate students to Mexico City for their pediatric Fieldwork I.

• The successful APS partnering model continued a new award structure established.

• Dr. Crowe participated in the LEND project for her 9th year, two OT students participated.

• Dr. VanLeit successfully rewrote the RHIP grant and became the Director.

• The program received a 10-year ACOTE Accreditation, the highest possible rating.

• We had a competitive pool of applicants with 20 students selected to make up the 4th class of students.

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2003-2004 Academic Year
A very busy and productive 12 months.

• A 4th class of 20 graduate students was admitted.

• The third class of 15 graduate students gradated

• Dr. Martha Hartgraves resigned from her position as Assistant Professor.

• A new work-study student, Amanda Beasley joined our team.

• Dr. Wendy Wood from the University of North Carolina was our 2nd Visiting Scholar. She presented an inspiring lecture to the fieldwork educators in March.

• Once again, the program graduates all passed the NBCOT exam.

• The faculty presented 26 presentations at professional meetings.

• The faculty published 8 articles in peer reviewed journals and 13 in non-peer reviewed journals.

• Dr. Janet Poole completed her 6-month sabbatical with lots of professional accomplishments.

• Dr. Pat Burtner supervised 4 graduate students in Mexico City where they worked with many children with disabilities and their families. In addition, the team worked with professionals to increase their knowledge about occupational therapy issues. Dr. Burtner also presented a workshop focused on sensory integration related to occupation to Masters level students and community therapists.

• The 5th class of 17 students started classes in the beginning of June, 2004.

• A new entry-level curriculum has been designed and will be introduced with the class entering in 2005.

• Dr. Terry Crowe took 10 graduate students (including 5 occupational therapy students or occupational therapists) to Oaxaca, Mexico to study traditional Mexican health and healing practices.

• The Occupational Therapy Gradate Program moved from the Department of Orthopedics to the Department of Pediatrics.

• Dr. Betsy VanLeit served as Director of Tutor Training for the School of Medicine.

• Dr. Pat Burtner presented continuing education seminars in Romania to assist professionals there as they develop services for children de-institutionalized from orphanages.

• Dr. Tina McNulty resigned from the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program to return to Oregon. She accepted a faculty position at Pacific University.

• Mary Thomas developed and taught two freshman courses: Exploring Health Professions and Experiential Learning Seminar in Health Professions.

• Mary Thomas completed the UNM Management Academy and received the 2003 School of Medicine Dean Staff Award.

• Margaret Saiz was hired as Program Coordinator to administrative office functions.

• Gail Stockman OTR/L was hired as part-time faculty.

• Theresa Torres, our student employee of four years, accepted the fieldwork coordinator staff position.

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2004-2005 Academic Year
This year brought many exciting changes to the program.

• A 5th class of 14 graduate students was admitted. Two of these students will be joining the 6th class of students.

• The 4th class of 20 graduate students graduated.

• The Occupational Therapy Graduate Program started its first full year in the Department of Pediatrics. This has been a very positive transition with the Division of Occupational Therapy joining all the other Divisions in Pediatrics.

• Dr. Barbara Hooper joined the faculty in October.

• Dr. Wendy Wood joined the faculty in January.

• We said a sad good-bye to Dr. Tina McNulty who took a teaching position at the Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.

• The new MOT entry-level curriculum was approved by numerous UNM Committees and the UNM Senate. The class entering in 2005 will be the first class taking classes in this updated, newly sequenced and innovative occupational therapy curricula.

• Edwina Garcia joined us as our Program Accountant.

• Theresa Torres was promoted to the Fieldwork Coordinator.

• We were awarded a $800,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Education, Project ESCUELA will fund 10 students a year with tuition, course fees, books, copying costs, a stipend and professional conference attendance. Dr. Pat Burtner is the Principle Investigator for this 4 year grant.

• Dr. Diane Parham from the University of Southern California was our 3rd Visiting Scholar in February.

• 100% of the graduates passed the NBCOT, continuing our 100% pass rate. Nationally less than 75% of graduates pass this exam.

• Dr. Pat Burtner took a 6-month sabbatical with time spent in Washington and California.

• Dr. Pat Burtner accompanied 4 graduate students to Mexico City to once again provide service to a program for children and adults with disabilities.

• Dr. Terry Crowe repeated her course focusing on traditional Mexican healing practices in Oaxaca, Mexico. Eight of the 11 students were occupational therapy students.

• Heidi Sanders joined the faculty, part-time. She brought her practice expertise to several courses. She also made a trip to Russia to provide educational courses to an interdisciplinary group.

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2005-2006 Academic Year
was full of changes.

• A 6th class of 17 students started the program in May, 2005. A few students decided to enroll part-time

• A 7th class of 21 students will start this May. We had a very competitive pool of applicants thanks to the extra recruitment work by Heidi Sanders and Theresa Torres.

• Dr. Terry Crowe resigned as Program Director (July 1, 2006) after 14 years. She will continue her role as Professor. Dr. Janet Poole will be Interim Director. We are conducting a national search for a permanent Program Director.

• We introduced an innovative occupation-based curriculum. This curriculum will be evaluated and refined. Students will be on campus one less semester.

• Josh Corbin joined us as a work-study student. He plans to apply to our program next year

• Dr. Terry Crowe conducted a 3rd course focusing on traditional medicine in Oaxaca, Mexico. Eight occupational Therapy Students joined the interdisciplinary group.

• The second year of the Project ESCUELA grant was implemented with a total of 15 students receiving generous funding.

• Dr. Betty Yerxa, retired educator from the University of Southern California was the 4th Visiting Scholar in March.

• The faculty published # articles in peer-reviewed journals and # articles in non-peer reviewed journals

• Dr. Pat Burtner supervised 4 graduate students in Mexico City to provide services to children and young adults with disabilities

• Renee Soderlund resigned as Faculty Fieldwork Coordinator to start a clinical practice in her hometown, Las Vegas, New Mexico. We all wish Renee the best and miss her!

• Gail Stockman was hired as Faculty Fieldwork Coordinator. She works closely with Theresa Torres to carry out a very successful fieldwork component of our curriculum.

• Dr. Betsy VanLeit resigned from her faculty position as of May 1. Betsy will be working on an exciting project focused on community rehabilitation in Cambodia. She will be working with a Belgium NGO - Handicap International

• Barbara van Buskirk joined our staff in January. Barb will coordinate the multiple tasks related to coordinating the curriculum. Welcome Barb!

• Dr. Janet Poole received a NIH grant to develop a self-management intervention program for people with Scleroderma.

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History of the UNM Occupational Therapy Graduate Program

History of the UNM
Occupational Therapy Graduate Program