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Meet the Occupational Therapy Faculty and Staff

Tara Ruppert, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Interim Director, Occupational Therapy Program
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.S.O.T. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University
Certificate in Upper Quarter Rehabilitation, Drexel University
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, George Washington University

truppert [at] csm.edu
Ellie Cusic, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University
 

ecusic [at] csm.edu
Cristy Daniel, Ed.D., OTR/L
Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.S.O.T. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University
M.S. Health Services Administration, College of Saint Francis
Ed.D. Health Professions Education, College of Saint Mary

cdaniel [at] csm.edu
Jaime Garafalo-Peterson, OTD, OTR/L
Fieldwork Coordinator, Occupational Therapy
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.S.O.T. Occupational Therapy, College of Saint Mary
B.A. Psychology, College of Saint Mary
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, University of Saint Augustine

jgarafalo-peterson [at] csm.edu
Maureen Hoppe, Ed.D., MA, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.S. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University
M.A. Health Education, University of Nebraska, Omaha
Graduate Certificate of Specialization, Gerontology, University of Nebraska, Omaha
Ed.D. Health Professions Education, College of Saint Mary

mhoppe [at] csm.edu
Whitney Rubin, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.S. Speech Communication, University of Nebraska, Omaha
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University

wrubin [at] csm.edu
Mary Smith, Ed.D., MOT, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.A. Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
B.S.O.T. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University
M.O.T. Occupational Therapy, College of Saint Mary
Ed.D., College of Saint Mary

mesmith [at] csm.edu
Brianna Parkhill, OTD,OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.A. Liberal Studies, Iowa State University
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University

bparkhill [at] csm.edu
Kristan Pilakowski, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.A. Psychology/Spanish, University of St. Thomas
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University
Board Certified in Pediatrics

kpilakowski [at] csm.edu
Erin Westover, OTD,OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.S. Biology, Concordia University
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis

ewestover [at] csm.edu
Gianna Howard, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.A. Psychology, Creighton University
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University

ghoward [at] csm.edu
Adebimpe Obembe, DPT, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.S. Physical Therapy, University of Ibadan
M.S. Physical Therapy, Obafemi Awolowo University 
Ph.D. Neurologic Physical Therapy, Obafemi Awolowo University
Postdoc, Neurorehabilitation and Health Services
D.P. Physical Therapy, University of Saint Augustine

aobembe [at] csm.edu
Rebecca Frans, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.A. Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University

rfrans [at] csm.edu
Kayla Hoge OTD, OTR/L, CBIS
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

B.A. Biology, Dana College
O.T.D. Occupational Therapy, Creighton University

khoge [at] csm.edu
Nicole Chipy EdD, OTR/L CLT
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

B.H.S. in Occupational Therapy, University of Florida 
M.H.S. in Occupational Therapy, University of Florida
Doctorate of Education and Healthcare Leadership, Nebraska Methodist College

nchipy [at] csm.edu
Amy Burggraff, PT, DPT, CBIS
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

B.S. Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
DPT Physical Therapy, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

aburggraff [at] csm.edu