The Drake University Occupational Therapy Department had a substantial presence at this year’s Iowa Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA) Conference, which took place on November 1, 2025, in Des Moines. Current Drake Pre-Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students, as well as faculty and alumni, gathered at this event, which brought together OT professionals from across the state of Iowa.
Several second- and third-year OTD students had the opportunity to present research posters showcasing projects they have been working on with faculty mentors.
• Jessie Woodyard, a third-year OTD student, and Dr. Jamie Rognes presented their poster titled Expecting More Than Care: Elevating Occupational Engagement in Long-Term Care Facilities.
• Joy Clark, a second-year OTD student, presented a poster titled Immediate Post-Operative Prosthetics for Above-Elbow Amputees: A Critical Research Gap in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation.
• Cole Brockman and Kristen Phillips, third-year OTD students, and Dr. Yolanda Griffiths, faculty emeriti, presented their poster titled Is the White Coat Ceremony Relevant to OT Students in Their Educational Journey?
Joy Clark went into the conference with a unique dual perspective as a career COTA and OTD candidate. She elaborated further on how the experience allowed her to showcase and discuss the work she has done in support of developing her capstone project.
“I think that student projects, even at the graduate level, are often well received but not necessarily taken seriously,” Clark said. “Having presented at conferences before, I tried to bring some of that confidence and professional presence to my poster presentation at IOTA by engaging other providers in discussions that went beyond the surface of my topic and into how Occupational Therapy as a profession needs to step up and get out of our comfort zone to ask the ‘why’ question when we run into research gaps.”
Additionally, several faculty and recent Drake OTD alumni gave oral PowerPoint presentations to conference attendees. Dr. Christine Urish gave a presentation on Experiential Education in OT alongside alum Branden Christensen and current adjunct faculty member Dr. Sue Sandahl. This presentation was developed by Dr. Ashley Murray, who could not be in attendance. Recent graduates Zayla Boevers and Cheyenne Voshell Rex presented on the role of occupational therapists in working with children and youth diagnosed with eating disorders.
Occupational therapy is an important profession that continues to grow in demand. Drake OT strives to advocate for the growth and education of occupational therapy, and the Department’s extensive participation in the IOTA Conference demonstrates their commitment to advancing the profession within Iowa. The continued involvement of Drake alumni in professional OT events demonstrates their passion for the field and continued desire to learn and educate.