Faculty and Staff

PROGRAM DIRECTOR:

Virginia Dickie, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA. Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Occupational Science. Research Interests: basic science of occupation, non-traditional work, adult mental health, qualitative methods, parent reports of sensory experiences of children with and without autism. Biography. Contact information:(919) 966-2452 vdickie@med.unc.edu 
  

Grace Baranek PhD, OTR/L. Professor and coordinator of autism research programs. Research interests: Early identification and intervention for children with autism and related developmental disorders; sensory features in autism; effects of sensory features on daily activities and social participation. Biography. Contact: (919) 843-4467 gbaranek@med.unc.edu

Brian Boyd, PhD.  Assistant Professor. Currently, co-principal investigator on two grants funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, Department of Education to investigate the efficacy of behavioral interventions for preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorders. Biography. Contact: (919) 843-4465 brian_boyd@med.unc.edu

Susan (Sue) Coppola MS, OTR/L, BCG. Associate Professor and Fieldwork Coordinator. Clinical / research interests: meaningful occupations of older adults; effects of occupational engagement on preventing functional decline in aging; interdisciplinary teamwork; fieldwork development; community-based practice. Biography. Contact: (919) 966-9006 scoppola@med.unc.edu

Malcolm Cutchin PhD. Associate Professor / Senior Research Scientist: UNC Institute on Aging. Research interests: Geographical dimensions of aging; residential and community-based care for older adults; health geography; social epidemiology; American pragmatism and its utility for scientific inquiry.  Faculty Home Page. Contact: (919) 843-4472 mcutchin@med.unc.edu

Lauren Holahan MS, OT/L  Assistant Professor of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy & Medicaid Consultant to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Clinical and Professional Interests: school-based practice; public policy; ethics; recruitment/retention/work-force issues; Medicaid in schools. Biography. (919) 843-4466 lauren_holahan@med.unc.edu

Ruth Humphry PhD, OTR/L. Professor and Coordinator of the Doctoral Program. Research interests: development of occupations in childhood; family-centered intervention; parent/child interactions during mealtime; application of theory of change to intervention; qualitative research methods. Biography. Contact: (919) 843-4468; rhumphry@med.unc.edu

Linn Wakeford MS, OTR/L. Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, Autism Early Development Project. Clinical/research interests: pediatric practice; autism; development of occupation and social engagement in children with autism; family and social group influence on occupational development. Biography. Contact: (919)-843-4464 linn_wakeford@med.unc.edu

Jennifer (Jenny) Womack MS, MA, OTR/L, SCDCM. Associate Professor/ MS Admissions Coordinator. Clinical / Research interests: adult physical and neurological rehabilitation; life participation; chronic disability; community mobility; supplemental transportation systems; community-based practice; ethnography. Biography. Contact: (919) 843-4463 jwomack@med.unc.edu

Chinyu Wu, PhD, OT/L. Assistant Professor. Clinical/research interests: Activity participation and participation restrictions for persons with chronic mental illness; community living issues for people with schizophrenia; evidence-based practice; quantitative research methods; groups dynamics; philosophy of science and theories of human motivation. Contact: (919) 843-2884 chinyu_wu@med.unc.edu

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