The Department of Occupational Therapy Department celebrates two decades with its continuing education event and alumni reunion from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2 in Room 1905. Tony Gentry will serve as the keynote speaker. His presentation titled, “Assistive Technology for Improving the Functional Independence, Safety and Work Performance of People with Cognitive-Behavioral Challenges: An Introductory Workshop,” is designed for professionals who are involved in the provision of work-related rehabilitation services to people with disabilities. It is designed to introduce attendees to the uses of assistive technology for cognition within the context of school-to-work transition including: assessment strategies, available handheld devices and apps, treatment approaches and strategies for custom-fitting solutions for individual clients.
Gentry received his B.A. in history and literature from Harvard College, his M.A. in occupational therapy from New York University and his Ph.D. in instructional technology from the University of Virginia. He is an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and director of the Assistive Technology for Cognition Laboratory. The Assistive Technology for Cognition Laboratory was established in 2005 to support research into the use of handheld computers, smart homes, computer games and other emerging technologies as tools to increase the functional independence of individuals with cognitive-behavioral impairment. Since that time, the lab has completed a series of studies with populations including military veterans with traumatic brain injury, students and workers with autism, adults with multiple sclerosis and adults with mental illness, among others. Additionally, Gentry’s work has established “smart home” learning laboratories at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabi
litation Center in Fishersville, Virginia and at the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia.
Over the past decade, Gentry has conducted multiple research studies, with $2 million in funding from the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Disability Rehabilitation and Research, Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Fund, VCU Community Engagement Fund, and others. These research efforts have won awards or citations from the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America and the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services, among others. Gentry’s career has focused on neurological rehabilitation and assistive technology for people with physical disabilities. Over the past six years, he has conducted a series of community-based research projects focused on exploring the efficacy of portable computers as cognitive aids for individuals who have autism, brain injury or multiple sclerosis. Dr. Gentry has published and spoken nationally and internationally within the disability community.
Additional presentations during this event will include “The Opioid Abuse Epidemic in West Virginia: Perspectives of Occupational Therapy Practitioners” presented by Randy McCombie, division chairperson, and “Moving on Up? A Review of the Professions Move to the OTD” presented by Diana Davis, director of education and curriculum, within the division of OT. Graduate level OT students will present their preliminary research findings as well.
This event is open to the WVU campus.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Anne Cronin at 304.293.0443 or email at acronin@hsc.wvu.edu.
For more information visit the Division of Occupational Therapy page on the School of Medicine website.