WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy Services

04/14/2026

We had a wonderful and successful day at the Community Autism Expo hosted by the St. Louis County Library at the Clark Family Branch this past weekend!

Pictured here are Wanda Mahoney, PhD, OTR/L, and Jane Lavelle, MOT, OTR/L at our booth. We were also joined by several of our amazing occupational therapists who spent the day connecting with families, sharing resources, and answering questions.

We had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people, and we’re grateful for the meaningful conversations and connections that were made. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to see us—we can’t wait to do it all again next year!

04/08/2026

Join us at the Community Autism Expo hosted by the St. Louis County Library at the Clark Family Branch!

We’re excited to share that Wanda Mahoney PhD OTR/L will be there connecting with the community and sharing her expertise. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn, explore resources, and support individuals and families impacted by autism.

Be sure to stop by, say hello to Wanda, and check out all the incredible offerings at this event. We hope to see you there!

Please share this post or tag someone in the comments who would enjoy this event!

04/07/2026

💚 Happy Occupational Therapy Month! 💚

This April, we are proud to celebrate the incredible clinicians across our Clinical Division who make a meaningful impact every single day. Through compassion, innovation, and evidence-based care, you help individuals of all ages participate in the activities that matter most and live life to the fullest.

Your dedication to patients, families, and our community does not go unnoticed. We are so grateful for the difference you make.

💬 Let’s celebrate together!
Drop a comment below to:
• Recognize a clinician who has made an impact
• Share a favorite OT moment
• Or tell us what occupational therapy means to you

👏 Help us show our appreciation for this amazing team!

04/01/2026

We’re incredibly proud of our clinicians and the impact they make, both with patients and in advancing research.

A special congratulations to Sophia Larson MSOT OTR/L on co-authoring two recent publications in Women’s Health Reports and the Journal of Sickle Cell Disease!

Sophia, we’re so proud to have you as part of the WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy Team.

Join us in celebrating Sophia’s accomplishment in the comments below! 👏

03/24/2026

✨ Employee Spotlight: Michelle Furman, OTD, OTR/L ✨

Michelle knew she wanted to be an OT as early as high school—and she’s been making an impact ever since!

From observing an awake craniotomy at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to completing the OT evaluation for that same patient, Michelle brings dedication, skill, and real-world expertise to everything she does.

She specializes in brain injury, long COVID, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke, and is always willing to share her knowledge and support others.

Give us a 👍 if you know Michelle or have had the chance to work with her!

03/12/2026

WashU Medicine employees come see us at the Take Care Fair today at EPNEC! We have our educational and highly entertaining/competitive grip strength testing ready to go! 😤💪 We also have Box Breathing stickers!

03/11/2026

We had so much fun presenting at a local school and talking all about the ins and outs of handwriting! ✏️

From tiny hands to growing writers, we shared how strength in the hands and shoulders develops over time and plays a big role in handwriting success in the classroom. We also talked about how incorporating play into everyday activities can help build these important skills .... because sometimes the best way to strengthen little hands is through fun and play!

Karen Balk did a wonderful job presenting and keeping the session engaging while sharing her expertise with the teachers and staff. The in-service also included lots of practical tips and tricks for both teachers and parents to help support handwriting development along the way. Our goal is simple, help make writing a little easier and hopefully prevent a few frustrated tears in the future!

Thank you to the school for welcoming us. We love partnering with educators to support students’ growth and confidence.

02/06/2026

Did you know? 👀
Occupational therapists are skilled clinicians who work with individuals with low vision. Vision plays a vital role in maintaining safety, independence, and participation in daily activities at home, work, and during leisure.

Even small changes in vision can have a big impact on someone’s lifestyle. Some strategies can be as simple as improving contrast to support visual processing, clearly marking buttons on appliances, or enhancing lighting in dimly lit areas.

While we offer services in the clinic, in many cases it’s most beneficial to visit a patient’s home to ensure their environment is as safe and supportive as possible. Often, these are simple fixes—but ones that can have a lasting impact.

Learn more about low vision occupational therapy services here:
👉 https://otservices.wustl.edu/items/low-vision/

01/22/2026

🌟 Employee Spotlight 🌟

We’re excited to spotlight Karen Balk, a dedicated pediatric and adult Occupational Therapist on our team!

Karen has a strong passion for supporting children and adults with ADHD, anxiety, and self-regulation challenges, as well as executive functioning deficits. Her areas of expertise also include Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), motor and vocal tic disorders, Tourette syndrome, autism, and developmental delays in children. Karen’s thoughtful, evidence-based approach helps clients and families feel supported, empowered, and understood.

Outside of work, Karen enjoys spending time playing board games with family and friends. Her love for games began in childhood when her father introduced her to classics like Risk and Monopoly. That passion has grown into attending yearly board game conventions—a fun reflection of her strategic thinking and love for connection! 🎲

We’re grateful to have Karen’s knowledge, compassion, and enthusiasm as part of our team! 💙

01/16/2026

Our clinicians never stop learning. We consider ourselves lifelong learners, committed to providing the highest quality care. At a recent staff meeting, the Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center Team focused on deepening our understanding of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and the cervical spine—because better knowledge leads to better patient outcomes.

01/12/2026

01/06/2026

Hand Therapy Tip 💡

Dealing with a finger that won’t fully straighten? A Certified Hand Therapist can fabricate a finger belly splint designed to slowly stretch the finger into a more straight position—comfortably and safely over time.

📍 Visit our expert team at the Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center to learn more.