NYC Gazette

Graduates of the Katz School of Science and Health's Occupational Therapy Doctorate program are showcasing their transformative learning experiences in a recent feature published in the AOTA OT Practice magazine. Dalia Planer and Leeyah Azizi, along with fellow graduates Judy Chalouh-Benjamin, Brynna Kaplan, and Suzan Khavkin, co-authored an article titled “Developing a Scholar-Practitioner Mindset: Grounded in Research Informed by Practice, Rooted in Care.”

Leeyah Azizi works as a home health occupational therapist at VISIONS Services in New York. Her role involves working with clients facing various challenges, including visual impairments. "It’s the definition of client-centered care," Azizi explained. She described her experience helping a legally blind man adapt to life after a leg amputation as an example of overcoming barriers through empathy and creativity.

Azizi credits her education at the Katz School for teaching her to explore all possible resources for clients. "An occupational therapist’s role is to explore all possible resources that can benefit their client," she said.

Dalia Planer provides occupational therapy services to children at PS 87 William Sherman public elementary school and SAR Academy in the Bronx through NPORT Staffing. Her focus includes sensory processing and motor skills development. Planer emphasizes collaboration with educators and parents to support student success, highlighting how her education has equipped her with effective communication skills.

Both Azizi and Planer acknowledge the support from their cohort at Katz School, which played a crucial role in their professional growth. The program director Dr. Amiya Waldman-Levi stated, "Our approach to education is informed by transformative learning theory."

The article they co-authored discusses how the scholar-practitioner mindset extends beyond traditional evidence-based practice by integrating critical thinking and leadership into clinical reasoning. This approach allows practitioners not only to apply existing research but also contribute new knowledge by identifying patterns across cases.

Planer emphasized this model's importance: "The scholar-practitioner approach equips OTs to not only adapt to societal challenges but to lead in addressing them." The curriculum at Katz School includes research-based learning, interprofessional collaboration, and project-based learning aimed at tackling real-world challenges.

Azizi focused her capstone project on supporting families of neurodivergent children post-COVID-19 while other graduates tackled diverse issues such as fall prevention for older adults and accessibility in performance spaces.

Reflecting on her journey, Azizi noted that empathy lies at the heart of occupational therapy: “It’s about sitting down with your clients and asking what would make them feel more independent.” The training received at Katz School provided tools not just for individual care but also for leadership and innovation.