LMU Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

04/09/2026

👏 Yesterday, two of our third-year students presented a research poster at the University of Kentucky Appalachian Research Day!

Their project, titled “The Needs of Pregnant and Postpartum People in the Appalachian Region: A Needs Assessment,” was conducted during their second year in the program and is now helping support continued research in this important area.

This outstanding research team included Madison Eadie, Alaina Olson, Jacy Sims, and Kailtyn Wright, under the mentorship of faculty advisor Dr. Jillian Pindar.

Interested in learning more about our research track? Beginning in the first year and culminating at the end of the second year, students gain valuable hands-on research experience throughout the program.

Contact us at OTDAdmissions@lmunet.edu to learn more!

04/07/2026

Second-year students in our wounds and burns lab used some unexpected tools—ripe fruit and tape to simulate the challenges of working with fragile skin. 🍑🩹

Ripe fruit helped demonstrate how easily damaged skin can break down, while tape allowed students to practice safe application and removal techniques to prevent further injury.

These hands-on activities encourage students to think critically about protecting skin integrity while building essential clinical skills in a safe environment.

04/03/2026

Our second-year students continue to prepare for level II fieldwork in Physical Rehabilitation II. In this lab, they reviewed lines, leads, and tubes and learned how to use a Hoyer lift.

03/20/2026

OTD students learned proper body mechanics with ADL and IADL tasks in their Applied Kinesiology course with Dr. Nash this week!

03/20/2026

03/10/2026

It has been a quiet week so far on campus with the students being on spring break, but this picture has kept us laughing!

Our first-year mental health students put their detective skills to work, investigating thoughts and behaviors using a cognitive behavioral approach. Detective Alexa led the case with assistants Ainsley and Rachel.

03/04/2026

The LMU OTD program will be hosting the Annual Scholarship Symposium on Thursday, May 7th. This is an amazing event that highlights our students' research and capstone projects!

If you are an OTP, you can receive up to two hours of CEU credit for attending this event.

We hope to see you there!

02/26/2026

Today we spotlight another student research group!

You are invited to participate in a brief research survey examining primary care providers’ awareness and understanding of Occupational Therapy (OT). The eligibility criteria for participation includes individuals who are actively practicing or have prior experience in primary care as an MD, DO, PA, or NP.

This study is being conducted by a doctoral student in Occupational Therapy at Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) as part of the requirements for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program and has been approved by the LMU Institutional Review Board (IRB Protocol: IRB #2025/10/4)

Study Purpose:
The goal of this research is to better understand how primary care providers currently perceive Occupational Therapy in terms of scope of practice, specialization, referral considerations, and therapeutic outcomes.

Survey Details:
• Less than 5-10 minutes to complete.
• Participation is completely voluntary and anonymous.
• No identifying information will be collected.

Survey Link: https://lmu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2348id3NvhKUFUy

Your responses will contribute to a better understanding of how OT can support primary care practice and patient outcomes.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact:
• Principal Investigators: Nicholas Miller, OTD Student, Lincoln Memorial University, Nicholas.Miller@lmunet.edu;Edmond Drake, OTD Student, Lincoln Memorial University, Edmond.Drake@lmnuet.edu
• Faculty Advisor: Acacia Gambrel, OTD, OTR/L, Acacia.Gambrel@lmunet.edu

We greatly appreciate your time and consideration. Please also feel free to forward this invitation to other primary care colleagues who may be eligible to participate.

Thank you for your contribution to this important research.

02/25/2026

As part of our curriculum, students complete research projects with the guidance of a faculty mentor. Please see below for information regarding one of these projects!

Research Opportunity!

We are a research team from Lincoln Memorial University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, led by Dr. Elizabeth K. Schmidt, PhD, OTR/L. We’re hoping to learn more about families’ experiences with CP screening, diagnosis, and care.

If you are a caregiver of a child who has been diagnosed with CP or who has gone through the screening process (even without a diagnosis), we would truly value your perspective. Participation includes a brief survey and an optional short interview.

To participate, please scan the QR code below or click the link!

As a reminder, we advise you not to share or disclose private or identifiable health information about your children on social media.

Feel free to share this post with others or groups who may be interested.

https://lmu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_29qmyzGjsx2SnTo

02/21/2026

Our second-year OTD students spent today diving into NICU-focused learning in their Specialty Topics in Pediatrics course! They practiced swaddling techniques and held hands-on practice with baby dolls. Thanks to Nicolette and Sarah for sharing their growing expertise in neonatal care.

02/18/2026

Shout-out to our amazing OT students who took part in the “Give Kids A Smile” event at the LMU Dental School! OT students worked side-by-side with dental professionals, dental students, and dental hygienist students who assisted with live procedures supporting this outstanding IPE experience. Over 150 local children benefited from the day!

02/12/2026

Representing OT around the world!

Colleagues from Dominican University and George Washington University presented collaborative work with Dr. Elizabeth Schmidt at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. Their NIDILRR-funded project, “Enhancing Arts and Recreation Participation among People with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities through Organization-Level Occupational Therapy Consultation,” highlights innovative approaches to expanding inclusive arts and recreation participation.