Shirley O’Brien, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

Shirley.OBrien@eku.edu

859-622-6329

E-Cast Video

Shirley O’Brien, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

Foundation Professor and PPOTD Program Coordinator

Education

B.S. Temple University
M.S. Rush University
Ph.D. University of Kentucky, Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

Research/Academic Interests

Autism Spectrum Disorder
School-based practice and pediatrics
Advocacy for children and families
The biological foundations of occupation
Interprofessional education

Publications

Dr. O’Brien’s work can be found in several journals including:

Hight, J., O'Brien, S. P., & Schneck, C. M. (2021). Promoting population health in local communities: Parental perceptions of an embedded movement and physical activity program for a preschool population. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 9(3), 1-11.
Sizemore, L.M., O’Brien, S.P., & Skubik-Peplaski, C. (2021). Interference: COVID-19 and the impact on potential and performance in healthcare. WORK, 69, 767-774. DOI:10.3233/WOR-213512
Skees Hermes, S., Rauen, J., & O’Brien, S. (2021). Perceptions of school-based telehealth in a rural state: Moving forward after COVIC-19. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 13(1),
Carpenter, R., O’Brien, S., Martin, T., Fox, H., Pinion, C., Skees Hermes, S., Skubik-Peplaski, C., & Humphrey, C. (2021). Faculty development for transparent teaching & learning: Perspectives from scholar-teachers. Journal of Faculty Development, 35(2), 58-64.
Sweet, C., O’Brien, S., Blythe, H., & Carpenter, R. (2019). A new goal for professional development: A case study of how a professional learning community produced transformative faculty learning. Learning Communities Journal, 11 (1).
Pitonyak, J. S., Nielsen, S., O'Brien, S. P., Corsilles-Sy, C., Lambert, D. O., & Jaffe, L. E. (2020). Critical thinking in occupational therapy education: A systematic mapping review. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 4 (4).
Balser, A., O'Brien, S. P., & Wittman, P. (2020). Doing It Right: OT Meeting Population Needs with COVID-19. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 8(4), 1-6.
Mindlina, J., O’Brien, S., Simpkins, L. S. (2020). The home health aide experience: Opportunities for occupational therapy. Home Healthcare Now. 38(5), 268-274.
Fleischer, A. B., Fisher, M. I., & O’Brien, S. P. (2019). Creating an interprofessional collaborative research opportunity for physical and occupational therapy students. Journal of Allied Health. 48(3), e117-122.
Eicher, E., Skubik-Peplaski, C., O’Brien, S. & Fleischer, A. (2018) Exploring parents’ experiences of raising a child with sensorimotor impairments and expectations for leisure participation, The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy. 6(4), Article 6.
O’Brien, S. P. & Hight, J. (2016). Leadership development through online e-portfolio creation. American Occupational Therapy Association SIS Quarterly Practice Connections, 4(1), 29-31.
O’Brien, S.P., Marken, D., Petrey, K.B. (2016). Student perceptions of scholarly writing. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 4(3), Article 8.
Myers, C.T. & O’Brien, S.P (2015). Teaching interprofessional collaboration in the health sciences: Using online education across institutions. Occupational Therapy in Healthcare, 29(2), 178-185.
Vaught, E. L., Wittman, P., & O'Brien, S. (2013). Occupational behaviors and quality of life: A comparison study of individuals who self-identify as adult children of alcoholics and non-adult children of alcoholics. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 18(1), 43-51.
Bibb, S. I., O’Brien, S. P., & Custer, M. G. (2012). LoAD books: Using e-technology to facilitate children’s reading skills. American Occupational Therapy Association Technology Special Interest Section Quarterly, 22(1), 1-4.

She has also co-authored books and book chapters including:

Carpenter, R., Gore, J., O’Brien, S., Fairchild, J. & Winslow, M. (2021). “Integrated Approaches for Supporting Academic Research: Models that Reveal the Future while Promoting Success.” In P. Blessinger and E. Sengupta (Eds.). The Future of Research: International Perspectives on Emerging Trends and Integrating Research-based Learning across the Curriculum. IHETL, V36, Emerald.
Schneck, C.M. & O’Brien, S. P. (2019). Assessment and Treatment of Educational Performance. In J.’O’Brien & H. Kulhanek (Eds.), Case-Smith's Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents, 8th ed. (pp 374-394). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
O'Brien, S. P. (Author) (2017). Faculty Perspectives of Teaching Online. In S. Thompson & P. Parry (Eds.), Coping with Gender Inequities (pp. 43-56). Baltimore, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
Shordike, A., O’Brien, S., & Marshall, A. (2011). From altruism to participations: Bridging academia and borderlands. In Kroenberg, F. Occupational therapy without borders II. 329-338.

Associations/Affiliations/Work History

Continuous service in the American Occupational Therapy Association, Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association, state associations, and other professional groups
Editorial Board member & Reviewer, The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT)
Reviewer, Journal of Occupational Therapy Education (JOTE)
Department Committees: Curriculum Committee and OTD Subcommittee
University Committees: Chair of Faculty Senate (2016/2017), Academic Budget Committee Subcommittee, E-Campus Quality Workgroup, Faculty Innovation Workgroup, Joint University Budget Review Committee, President’s Research and Scholarship Fund

Awards/Accolades

Open Journal of Occupational Therapy Editorial Board, 2021-present
Eastern Kentucky University Leadership Award, 2020
Distinguished Service Award, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, 2019
Faculty Teaching Award, EKU, 2019
2019 Ronald J. Cutter Professional Service Award presented by the Arc of Kentucky
University Foundation Professor, 2016-2018
Phi Kappa Phi, faculty honoree and member, 2017-present
Faculty Innovator, Eastern Kentucky University – College of Health Science 2015
American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Leaders & Legacy Society (Inaugural Group), 2015.
Jean Steffan Smith Faculty Award, 1996, 2007, 2008, 2010
Distinguished Education Leader, EKU Student Government Association, May 2007.
Service Award, American Occupation Therapy Association, 2001.
Honorary Member, Golden Key National Honor Society, 1999.
Lindy Boggs Award for Political Activity (Activism in the legislative and policy making environment), American Occupational Therapy Association, 1997.
Distinguished Service Award, Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association, 1994-95.
Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (Mentoring in education and pediatric practice), 1992.