New Keuka College Partnership Opens Doors to Doctoral Degree

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Alterio graduated cum laude from the SUNY at Buffalo Occupational Therapy program in 1987. He worked as a clinician, educator, and manager before completing his post-professional clinical doctorate at Nova Southeastern University in 2007.

He authored the textbook “Clinically oriented theory for occupational therapy” and co-authored "Caring for someone in your home." He writes extensively on a professional blog that covers occupational therapy topics. His clinical experience ranges across practice areas but his primary interest and focus is in pediatrics. He has presented at state and national conferences on topics ranging from pediatric clinical care and injury prevention programs, certification standards for occupational therapists, occupational therapy history, and appropriate use of social media in a professional context.

He has volunteered for 27 years for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, serving as pediatric subject matter expert on various exam and product development committees, and in all Board of Director leadership positions including Board Chairperson from 2010-12. He owns ABC Therapeutics, a private occupational and physical therapy practice in Western New York. He has served at Keuka College in various roles since 1992 and is currently Associate Professor, Chair, and Program Director of the occupational therapy division.

Professional Interests

Pediatrics, private practice, entrepreneurship, social media, occupational therapy theory, occupational therapy history.

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Kristen Bacon began her career working as an occupational therapy assistant in 2003 while attending the weekend program at Utica College. After graduating in 2006 with a B.S. from Syracuse University at Utica College and M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Utica College in 2007, she then earned a post-professional clinical doctorate from Chatham University in 2011.

Dr. Bacon has presented at several national occupational therapy conferences and currently volunteers for organizations including AOTA and NBCOT. She is working on AOTA’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and a Flipped Learning 3.0 Certification, Level I. Her professional focus includes the adult and geriatric populations with a special interest in TBI and orthopedics.

Dr. Bacon began her academic work as adjunct professor for Keuka College in 2014. Since then, she has continued on as full-time academician and is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy. Dr. Bacon was appointed to faculty development committee, is co-advisor for the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE), a national occupational therapy honor society, and completed a three-year term for Sigma Lambda Sigma (SLS) advisor the college wide honor society.

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Bennett graduated from Keuka College in the first OT master's program. After college she worked in local hospital and rehabilitation sites serving children to older adults. As she transitioned from rehabilitation sites to teaching she completed her post-professional clinical doctorate at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 2013.

Dr. Bennett has presented topics at national conferences that have included international, interprofessional service learning, program evaluation/outcome reporting and fieldwork level I experiences in emerging areas of practice. Dr. Bennett is currently Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and remains active working with adults in their homes as a per-diem therapist for Visiting Nursing Association/Kaleida Health in the Steuben County region. Dr. Bennett joined the Arc of Yates board of directors for a three year term. 

Professional Interests

Adults with developmental disabilities, middle to older adult populations, and professional development of the OT students of Keuka College.

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Christensen graduated with her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Keuka College. She went on to complete her post-professional clinical doctorate at Chatham University in 2015. She is an Assistant Professor and also the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Keuka College. Dr. Christensen remains active working with the adult population in a variety of settings including acute rehabilitation, inpatient hospital, short term rehabilitation, and long term care. Her research interests include neurological diagnoses and sports related concussion care.

Academic Credentials

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Jordan began her professional career as an occupational therapy assistant in 1989. She continued her education at Utica College and graduated with a M.S. in Occupational Therapy in 2007 and earned a post-professional clinical doctorate from Chatham University in 2011. Dr. Jordan began teaching adjunct before transitioning from clinician to academician. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Keuka College.

Dr. Jordan has presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) national conference and actively volunteers through AOTA as a peer reviewer and member of Community of Leaders. She is also currently volunteering with the National Board Certification for Occupational Therapy as a pediatric subject matter expert on an exam development committee. Dr. Jordan is in the preliminary stages of engaging in scholarly research with faculty from three other universities with a focus on improving engagement and intentionality of learning in college students. She is an advisor for Keuka College’s Sigma Lambda Sigma Honor Society and is the faculty liaison and chair for the DRIVE Steering Committee. Dr. Jordan continues to work as a senior occupational therapist at Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center in Syracuse, NY.

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Carrie Roberts has been an occupational therapist for over 15 years, with experience in various areas of  practice including the hospital and nursing home, with a greater focus in pediatrics birth-21 years old. She graduated from Keuka College with a degree in occupational therapy; she also graduated from Chatham University in 2013 with her clinical occupational therapy doctoral degree in which her research focus was related to children with Autism Spectrum. Dr. Roberts was an adjunct professor for Keuka College before joining the Occupational Therapy program full time in 2013.