Janell Pisegna, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University, will be teaching and also working with the AgrAbility program to support people in rural areas. Her research interest is in occupational therapy’s role in supporting the mental health of adults and older adults with neurological disabilities.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
Originally, I am from Marietta, Ohio. I earned my Ph.D. in health and rehabilitation sciences from The Ohio State University and was a post-doctoral fellow at the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center at the Veterans Administration Eastern Colorado Healthcare System and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Department of Physical Therapy. Outside of academia I enjoy baking, listening to music, and hiking.
What brought you to the Department of Occupational Therapy at CSU?
The world-class expertise of the occupational therapy faculty, as well as tremendous opportunities for collaboration with other departments for high-quality research and teaching drew me to CSU.
What are your research and/or teaching interests, and how did you get interested in that topic?
My research interests center on occupational therapy’s role in supporting the mental health of adults and older adults with neurological disabilities. I will also be working in conjunction with the AgrAbility program to support the health and wellness of people who live rurally. My experience, being from and working in a small community hospital serving the Southeastern Ohio Appalachian community, has influenced my decision to practice and research ways to reduce health disparities associated with geographic locations.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I am teaching Adult and Older Adult Rehabilitation in the occupational therapy department this year. My favorite part of teaching is connecting class content with real-world clinical relevance. I always enjoy being able to share my clinical experience as an occupational therapist to help inform the skills students need to pass their certification board exams and have successful experiences during fieldwork.
What is your favorite thing about CSU so far?
My favorite thing about CSU so far is the beautiful campus and the welcoming and supportive environment.
The Department of Occupational Therapy is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
