Faculty
and Staff >
Office: Room 222 Hyslop
Office Phone: (701)777-2200
E-mail: szimmer@medicine.nodak.edu
Educational/Clinical Background:
I have a B.S. degree in Occupational Therapy, M.A. in Sociology
and a Ph.D. in Education, with an emphasis on adult education.
My clinical practice background has been in the area of
community-based mental health and clinical services management.
I've worked in Grand Forks, ND, Bellefonte, PA, and Altoona,
PA.
Teaching:
Current teaching responsibilities include a two-course sequence
addressing psychosocial aspects of occupational therapy
for children, adolescents, young and maturing adults. In
addition, I teach the introductory course in occupational
therapy theory and the principles of education course for
the on-line transitional masters program, as well as serving
as the Graduate Director for the transitional masters in
occupational therapy program. I also advise Year 3 students
as they develop their scholarly projects, including GF students
and on-line transitional masters students.
Faculty mentoring responsibilities include working with
Casper WY faculty and adjunct faculty who teach the courses
I teach including:
- Psychosocial Aspects of OT for Children, Adolescents
& Young Adults
- Psychosocial Aspects of OT with the Maturing Adult
Professional Interests:
I have long been interested in the development of community-based
occupational therapy services for persons with mental illnesses
and have assisted several students to complete scholarly
projects related to this area of practice, as well as provided
consultation to local non-profit organizations. As an educator,
I am interested in the implementation and assessment of
active learning techniques which are part of the transformative
education movement. Rural practice and the unique needs
of therapists practicing in underserved areas is an area
of interest, especially interdisciplinary work with disadvantaged
populations. My doctoral research involved a study of the
practices and strategies used by therapists to learn to
practice in an evidence-based manner.
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