“The relationship between OT students and faculty at Etown is not a typical student professor relationship, but a relationship of colleagues and friends. The OT faculty takes a genuine interest in each student's life and works to get to know us beyond just being a student.”
Meet the Occupational Therapy Faculty
Christine Achenbach, M.Ed, OTR/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
achenbachc@etown.edu | 717-361-1146
Credentials & Certifications
- M.Ed., Health Education, Pennsylvania State University
- B.S., Occupational Therapy, Elizabethtown College
- Certified in administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT) since 1996
Professional Experience
Ms. Achenbach joined the Etown faculty in 2001. Ms. Achenbach’s clinical experience includes acute care medicine and acute mental health, long-term care, outpatient pediatric and adult rehabilitation, home health and pediatric early intervention. She also has been in private practice since 2001. Ms. Achenbach specializes in sensory integration and autism.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Fieldwork education
- Sensory Integration
- Autism
- Health promotion
Ms. Achenbach has presented at state and national conferences on topics including fieldwork education and supervision, sensory integration, sensory processing, and thyroid cancer. She is often an invited speaker to provide private trainings and workshop for local agencies that provide services to those with intellectual and developmental disorders and/or on the autism spectrum.
Ms. Achenbach is a certified trainer for the AOTA’s Fieldwork Educator Certificate program, and she has conducted multiple training workshops for this program.
Service
Ms. Achenbach has served the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA) through the Commission on Conference and continues to assist with annual conference planning. She has also served the AOTA as a representative in the RA. On campus, she is a faculty advisor for the college’s LINK student club, and the Student Directed Learning Center PromOTing Positivity. She is also an active member of the college’s Employee Wellness Team.
Nancy Carlson, Ph.D., OTR/L
Associate Professor
carlsona@etown.edu | 717-361-1995
Credentials & Certifications
- Ph.D., Human Development, University of Maryland
- M.S., Occupational Therapy, Towson University
- B.S., Occupational Therapy, Elizabethtown College
Professional Experience
Dr. Carlson joined the faculty at Elizabethtown College in 1998. She served as Department Chairperson and Program Director of Occupational Therapy from 2002 to 2010.
Dr. Nancy Carlson’s clinical background is diverse, especially across areas of pediatric populations (e.g., educational school settings, private practice, neonatal intensive care, acute care and rehabilitation). She has served as an occupational therapy practitioner, administrator or educator for more than 30 years.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Sensory processing in populations of children
- Daily life of families with children
- Educational outcomes in community based/service learning
Dr. Carlson has published in AOTA’s Education Special Interest Section Quarterly. She and her students have presented their work at local state, national and international conferences.
Service
Dr. Carlson active supports the occupational therapy program and Elizabethtown College. She is also very active serving in her faith community and growing fresh vegetables for local hungry families.
Laura Cunningham, MS, OTR/L
Lecturer of Occupational Therapy
cunninghamlw@etown.edu
Credentials & Certifications
- M.S. Occupational Therapy, Elizabethtown College
- B. S. Health and Occupational Science; Minor in Child Psychology, Elizabethtown College
- Calibrated in the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS)
Professional Experience
Laura Cunningham joined the Occupational Therapy Department in a full-time lecturer role in August 2020. Prior to this, she served as an adjunct faculty member for 7 years.
For the past 12 years, Laura has worked in pediatric outpatient centers, school-systems and inpatient/outpatient psychiatric settings. Her specialties include pediatrics, mental health and crisis prevention/management.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Caregiver role
- Mental Health
- Crisis management/Prevention
She has presented and published at the local, state and national levels. She published work related to sensory processing for individuals with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorders.
She is certified and trained in various self-regulation, pediatric-based interventions, Mindfulness, Applied Emotional Intelligence and crisis prevention programs.
Service
Laura continues to provide occupational therapy services and volunteer services for a local pediatric outpatient clinic. She is a volunteer for the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). She has served as a clinical mentor to multiple practicing therapists and graduate students. Laura is active in promoting occupational therapy to local middle and high school students.
Terri Reichley Dennehy, D.Ed., OTR/L
Assistant Professor
dennehyt@etown.edu | 717-361-4753
Credentials & Certifications
- D.Ed., Adult Education, Pennsylvania State University
- M.Ed., Teaching and Curriculum Design, Pennsylvania State University
- B.S., Occupational Therapy, Misericordia University
- A.S., Occupational Therapy, Mount Aloysius College
Professional Experience
Dr. Dennehy joined the Etown faculty in 2013. Prior to that, she taught various courses at Etown as an adjunct faculty member.
Dr. Dennehy has over 25 years of clinical experience and has worked in the areas of regional trauma, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, community practice, home health, and long-term care. Her specializations include adult neurology, low vision, and education.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Intraprofessional collaboration of therapists and assistants
- Intraprofessional academic course construction
- Popular culture and OT utilization
- Body Image, feminism, and celebrating women
Dr. Dennehy presents professionally at various forums such as the American Occupational Therapy Association, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association, and at Penn State Conferences.
Dr. Dennehy has published on the topic of low vision rehabilitation and is in the editing phase of an AOTA Press project.
Service
Dr. Dennehy enjoys being an active and engaged member of the college community, supporting various extracurricular activities and events. Dr. Dennehy serves as the advisor for the Women’s Dance Team at the college. She is also active in advising several honors in the discipline projects and service learning student initiatives.
Jean Dietrich
Administrative Assistant
dietrichj@etown.edu | 717-361-1174
Ms. Dietrich joined the O.T. department in 2012. Prior to this, she began working at the College in 2006, working for several years in Event Scheduling and then in Mail Services.
Judy Beck Ericksen, Ph.D., OTR/L
Associate Professor
ericksenj@etown.edu | 717-361-4751
Credentials & Certifications
- Ph.D., Education, George Mason University
- M.Ed., Special education/assistive technology, George Mason University
- B.S., Occupational therapy, Elizabethtown College
- Certified to administer and interpret the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT)
- Calibrated in the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS)
- Calibrated in the Evaluation of Social Interaction (ESI) & the Assessment of Compared Qualities - Social Interaction
- Calibrated in the School Version of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (School AMPS)
Professional Experience
Dr. Ericksen joined the Etown faculty in 2007.
Dr. Ericksen’s primary clinical background is in school-based practice/pediatrics and mental health. She has also worked in acute care, subacute rehab, and long-term care. Immediately prior to joining the faculty at Elizabethtown College, she served as a therapy specialist for a large school system in Virginia.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Occupation-focused evaluation
- Social participation in children with disabilities
- Decision-making during the evaluation process
Dr. Ericksen is on the teaching faculty for the Center for Innovative OT Solutions (formerly AMPS Project International). She has presented at state, national, and international conferences. Dr. Ericksen is published in the Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Service
Dr. Ericksen is actively engaged in serving the College and the O.T. Dept. She is also a Board Member for Brittany’s Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding abandoned children around the world.
Gina Fox, OTD, OTR/L
Lecturer
foxg@etown.edu | 717-361-1421
Credentials & Certifications
- OTD, Thomas Jefferson University
- M.S., Occupational Therapy, Elizabethtown College
- Advanced practice certificate in Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University
- Neuro-IFRAH certified
- Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!) trained
- Interactive metronome certified
Professional Experience
Dr. Fox joined the OT faculty in January 2018. Prior to this, she served as an adjunct faculty member with the department. Dr. Fox’s clinical experience is primarily in the areas of acute inpatient rehabilitation and acute care, with a specialty focus in neuro-rehabilitation. Dr. Fox has also served as a clinical mentor to other practicing therapists in the areas of neuro rehabilitation, vision and outcome measures.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Vision
- Bladder and bowel management after spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- Outcome measure in occupational therapy practice
Dr. Fox has presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association and American Occupational Therapy Association’s national conferences. She has also presented internationally at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy conference, and is published in the Occupational Therapy in Health Care journal.
Service
Dr. Fox continues to provide occupational therapy services for a local acute inpatient rehabilitation facility. She has also been very active with community outreach initiatives regarding stroke awareness and education.
Kerri Hample, OTD, OTR/L, FMCHC
Assistant Professor
hamplek@etown.edu | 717-361-1172
Credentials & Certifications
- O.T.D., Occupational Therapy, Rocky Mountain University
- B.S., Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University
- Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach (2017)
Professional Experience
Dr. Hample joined the Etown faculty in 2009. Dr. Hample is a clinical expert providing occupational therapy services for children and their families in early intervention, schools, aquatic programs, and outpatient clinics for more than 16 years. Her specialty focus is on feeding and eating, childhood nutrition, sensory processing as it relates to feeding and sleep, and aquatics.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Nutrition and Feeding/Eating difficulties with children and their families
- Autism
- School based practice
- Continued Competency
Dr. Hample often presents at the state and national level as a pediatric practice expert and on O.T. licensure issues.
As chair of the Pennsylvania Licensure board for Occupational Therapy & Education, Dr. Hample and other members of the Board developed the state regulations for Continued Competency. She published work related to continued competency, ethics, and other contemporary regulatory issues in O.T. Practice.
Service
Dr. Hample currently serves as Chairperson of the PA State Board for Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure. She continues to practice Occupational Therapy with a Lancaster County early intervention company. Her other passion is partnering with OT students and alumni to coach Special Olympics swimming.
Tamera Keiter Humbert, D.Ed, OTR/L
Associate Professor, Department Chairperson/Program Director
humbertt@etown.edu | 717-361-4750
Credentials & Certifications
- D.Ed., Adult Education, Pennsylvania State University, Capital Campus
- M.A., Religion, Lancaster Theological Seminary
- M.Ed., Training and Development, Pennsylvania State University, Capital Campus
- B.A., Health Arts, St. Francis University
- A.A.S., Occupational Therapy, Lehigh Carbon Community College
- OT Certificate, American Occupational Therapy Association
Professional Experience
Dr. Humbert joined the Etown faculty in 2007. Prior to that, she was on the faculty at Pennsylvania State University – Berks campus, and she served as an adjunct faculty at Etown as needed. Dr. Humbert’s experience includes early intervention services, classroom and community-based family-centered practice, mental health and behavioral services, adult and pediatric rehabilitation, community-based services, private practice and consultation.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Spirituality
- Women Overcoming Violence
- International Practice
- Clinical Reasoning
Dr. Humbert has presented at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress, the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Conference, the Canadian Occupational Therapy Association Conference and the Adult Education and Research Conference.
Dr. Humbert is published in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, the Journal of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, and OT Practice. She has written several book chapters published through Nova Publishing, Wolters-Kluwer Publishing, and AOTA Press. Most recently, she edited and published a book, Spirituality and Occupational Therapy: A Model for Practice and Research.
Service
Service to the college includes student life on campus, service projects and community outreach, mentoring through the Call-to-Lead program, and spirituality and wellness initiatives. Professional service includes international work in Africa, Haiti, and Central America as well as volunteering through hospice and palliative care agencies. Dr Humbert currently serves as a member of the editorial boards for Occupational Therapy International and the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Jacqueline L. Jones, Ph.D., OT
Professor Emerita
Credentials & Certifications
- Ph.D., Adult and Continuing Education, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
- M.S., Psychoeducational Services, Florida International University
- B.S., Occupational Therapy, Milwaukee-Downer College
- Certified instructor and evaluator for the Delta Society Pet Partners program
Professional Experience
Dr. Jones joined the Elizabethtown College O.T. faculty in 1987 as Program Director and Department Chairperson, a position she held until 1997. Dr. Jones continued to teach in the department for many years, and she occasionally provides guest lectures or support in various O.T. course as needed, particularly in the occupations of handcrafts, especially fiber arts such as weaving, spinning, needlework, knitting and crocheting.
Prior to her academic career at Elizabethtown, Dr. Jones served on the faculties of Palm Beach Junior College, Florida International University, the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Rush University.
Clinically, Dr. Jones served in the Medical Specialists Corps of the U.S. Air Force and was Director of Occupational Therapy and Assistant Principal of the Children's Division of South Florida State Hospital.
Professional Activities & Research
Dr. Jones was active in state associations in Florida and Illinois and is currently a member of the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). She has presented posters or papers on various topics at the WFOT meetings in London, England; Montreal, Canada; and Stockholm, Sweden.
Service
Dr. Jones has served the local community through the Delta Society Pet Partners program that provides animal assisted activities and therapy (AAA/T) teams to various organizations and programs, including Hospice of Lancaster County and the Reading Education Assistance Dog (R.E.A.D.) program at a Lancaster elementary school.
Diane Martin, OTD, OTR/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
martindiane@etown.edu | 717-361-3331
Credentials & Certifications
- O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Rocky Mountain University
- B.S., Occupational Therapy, Penn State University
- A.S., Occupational Therapy, Penn State University
Professional Experience
Dr. Martin joined the OT faculty in May 2018. Dr. Martin has been a clinician in the occupational therapy field for over 15 years, specializing in school based practice throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and also has experience in adult rehabilitation. Dr. Martin has extensive management and project development expertise in the school based practice setting.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Outcomes and evidence based practice related to sensory processing
- Telepractice
- Postpartum maternal health
Dr. Martin has presented in various venues and state conferences. She also has been a leader in development of telepractice for underserved populations.
Service
Dr. Martin continues to provide school based occupational therapy services in the local community. Dr. Martin is also active in promoting telepractice parity for underserved populations.
Daniel Panchik, D.Sc., OTR/L
Associate Professor
panchikd@etown.edu | 717-361-1366
Credentials & Certifications
- D.Sc., Occupational Therapy (hand rehabilitation), Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
- M.S., Occupational Therapy, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University
- B.S., Rehabilitation Education, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Certified as a lymphedema therapist by the Lymphology Association of North America
- Certified in adult neurodevelopmental techniques
Professional Experience
Dr. Panchik joined Etown’s faculty in 2003. Prior to 2003, he was an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Saint Francis University.
Clinically, Dr. Panchik has worked in acute care and acute rehabilitation at the Penn State University Hospital, Hershey Medical center. He also currently provides clinical services for a premiere leader in contract rehabilitation services.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Hand Rehabilitation
- Lymphedema
- Neuromuscular re-education/Motor Control
Dr. Panchik is co-author of the Hand Assessment Tool (HAT) published in the Journal of Hand Therapy. Dr. Panchik has presented nationally and internationally on development of the HAT. He is currently working on fine motor control assessments and interventions, using real-time motion capture technology, in collaboration with the Engineering Department at Elizabethtown College.
Service
Dr. Panchik currently serves as vice chair of the Institutional Review Board at Elizabethtown College.
Portia Posatko
Fieldwork Support Specialist
Ms. Posatko joined the O.T. department in October 2018 as the Fieldwork Support specialist. Prior to this, she earned a BA in Psychology from Shippensburg University and worked in the life insurance industry for 15 years.
Angela Salvadia, Ed.D., OTR/L
Lecturer
salvadiaa@etown.edu | 717-361-1171
Credentials & Certifications
- Ed.D., Adult Education, Penn State University
- M.S., Occupational Therapy, Boston University
- B.S., Occupational Therapy, Elizabethtown College
Professional Experience
Dr. Salvadia joined the Etown faculty in 2007 in a teaching role. Prior to this, she served the department in several capacities including as the academic fieldwork coordinator. Dr. Salvadia’s clinical career spans various pediatric practice settings including school-based practice and hospital settings.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Quality of life for adults who are survivors of strokes or CVAs
- Evidence based practice and research in clinical settings
- Inter-professional education in health professions
Dr. Salvadia has presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association conferences as well as the American Occupational Therapy Association conferences.
Service
Dr. Salvadia actively supports various initiatives in the O.T. department, including coordinating the O.T. department’s Honors in the Discipline program for senior students. She is active in her local community’s historical society and has previously served on the board of directors for Downtown Daily Bread in Harrisburg, PA.
Deborah Waltermire, Dr.PH, OTR/L
Assistant Professor
walterda@etown.edu | 717-361-1173
Credentials & Certifications
- Dr.PH., Healthcare Management & Leadership, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- M.H.S., Health Finance & Management, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health
- B.S., Occupational Therapy, Elizabethtown College
Professional Experience
Dr. Waltermire joined Etown’s OT department in 1997 as the full-time fieldwork coordinator. She has been part-time since 2001 and in a lecturer position since 2005. In 2018, she was appointed as a fulltime assistant professor.
Her primary clinical background is in adult psychiatry, especially adults with schizophrenia and other severe and persistent mental illnesses. She also has worked as a consultant and manager in an acute care medical center with a physical rehabilitation program. Her experiences include coordinating clinical fieldwork programs for OT students as well as supervising many fieldwork students.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Sensory Processing in adults with schizophrenia; sensory aspects of work environments
- Physical and social activities for children with congenital heart defects
- Family centered care in pediatric settings
- Quality of health care
Dr. Waltermire is a frequent presenter at state and national OT conferences. She has also been an invited speaker for several continuing education workshops for Occupational Therapists as well as several training programs at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine.
Dr. Waltermire has published in O.T. Practice and contributed to a chapter in Beyond the NICU: Comprehensive Care of the High Risk Infant.
Service
Dr. Waltermire actively supports the OT department, college, and her local community with various activities. Her community service includes:
- Pediatric Family Advisory Council at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
- Community Advisory Board for the Penn State Hershey Medical Center’s Public Health Program
Erica Wentzel, OTD, OTR/L
Lecturer
wentzele@etown.edu | 717-361-1175
Credentials & Certifications
- OTD, Misericordia University
- Master of Occupational Therapy, Chatham University
- B.A., Liberal Studies, University of Pittsburgh
- Certified Infant Massage Instructor
Professional Experience
Dr. Wentzel joined the Etown faculty in 2019. Dr. Wentzel is a clinical expert providing occupational therapy services for children and their families in early intervention, a private school for students with multiple disabilities, feeding programs, and outpatient clinics for more than 22 years. Her specialty focus includes early intervention, pediatric feeding disorders, community-based family-centered practice, Infant Mental Health, and working with families affected by substance abuse, specifically opioids.
Professional Activities & Research
Research Interests:
- Maternal Opioid Addiction and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
- Infant Mental Health
- Trauma Informed Care
- Long-term outcomes from Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Community-based family-centered care
Dr. Wentzel has presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association and American Occupational Therapy Association’s national conferences. She has presented numerous trainings for both Lancaster County Early Intervention service providers and caregivers whose children are receiving Early Intervention services.
Service
Dr. Wentzel continues to provide occupational therapy services for a local Early Intervention agency. She is a founding member of the Lancaster County Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Task Force and provides trainings to educate and promote awareness for service providers who are working with children and families affected by opioid addiction. Erica is a member of the Lancaster County Coalition for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, where she has served on the Bi-Annual Conference committee and the Legislative Breakfast committees.