Rehabilitation Science faculty are getting recognized, advancing their profession

Group photo at NYSOTA.

From left to right: Andrea Efthemis, Christine Linkie, Gretchen Pohle, Bella Peralta, and Jan Tona. The group attended the NYSOTA Conference where Linkie received an Award of Merit for Service for her work with the New York State Mental Health Task Force and Tona was selected to be the 2025 Dr. Jim Hinojosa memorial lecturer.

Published January 16, 2025

by GRACE LAZZARA

The fall semester this year has been full of highlights for the School of Public Health and Health Professions’ Rehabilitation Science faculty.

NYSOTA Awards

During the annual conference of the New York State Occupational Therapy Association, two faculty were honored by the state’s largest association for OTs.

Janice Tona, PhD, OTR

Tona headshot.

Occupational Therapy Program Director Janice Tona, PhD, OTR, received the Jim Hinojosa Memorial Lectureship Award from the New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA). Established in 2018, this award recognizes the practice and scholarly legacy of noted expert Dr. Jim Hinojosa, PhD, OT, BCP, FAOTA. The award honors a member of NYSOTA who is influential in the profession of occupational therapy; has substantially and innovatively contributed to the profession through research, education and/or practice; demonstrated leadership qualities and provided mentorship; and whose insight and work have shaped the way the profession thinks about occupational therapy as well as the way OTs practice. As part of the lectureship, Tona will give the keynote lecture, considered a career milestone, during the organization’s annual conference in 2025.

Christine Linkie, PhD, MS, OTR/L, CPRP

Linkie with her NYSOTA award.

NYSOTA gave its 2024 Merit Award for Service to Clinical Assistant Professor Christine Linkie, PhD, MS, OTR/L, CPRP. This award recognizes a NYSOTA member for outstanding contribution to the profession through service to the association. Linkie was nominated for her advocacy and service on behalf of the mental health community. She is an active member of NYSOTA's Mental Health Task Force and helped coordinate the collection of data from educational institutions throughout the state on the mental health content in their curricula, oversaw dissemination of this material and presented the findings at the NYSOTA Conference. She has also been working with New York State’s Office of Mental Health and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services to advance occupational therapy practice and research in mental health.

Continuing Education Efforts

Seils.

Clinical Assistant Professor Michael Seils, PT, DPT, EdD, recently played roles in continuing education efforts for his professions. 

Seils co-taught a two-hour course, Don’t Be Afraid: Safe and Effective Intervention for the Medically Complex Home Health Patient, on the www.physicaltherapy.com platform, one of the largest online CEU providers for physical therapists. It has garnered over 1300 reviews and a five-star rating.

Seils also co-wrote a course through Relias Academy, another major continuing education site. An Overview of Stroke Rehabilitation for Home Health PTs was published and went live last month. The course how PTs can help stroke patients during the acute stages of recovery, at home.

PT Day of Service

PT Day of Service, two students.

Numerous physical therapy students and faculty, including Seils, helped establish a record during a fundraising event for the organization Feed My Starving Children recently. The group labeled items, packed meals and assisted in the warehouse with various roles. During the event, the organization packed its millionth meal since its start in Buffalo. This activity was part of the department’s participation in PT Day of Service during Physical Therapy Month. Students participating were Noah Wahl, Jared Rumsey, Peter Bender, Lydia Nhan, Annabella D'Ambrosio, Olivia Moran, Megan Horan, Jaxen Roth, Miles Couch, Christopher Ruiz and Daniel Conway. Faculty who took part were Jill Mayer, Hillary Terhune and Seils.