UW-Madison Occupational Therapy Program

08/28/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DJLuJRDyD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Sabrina Kabakov, an occupational therapist and doctoral student in the Kinesiology Department, has dedicated her budding career to researching the experiences of patients diagnosed with Down Syndrome and cancer. Her work aims to improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for families and children, and thanks to a recent grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), her research will continue for years to come.

https://bit.ly/4x9FaSj

06/30/2026

If you didn’t already know, OTs work in mental health! 🧠✨

While psychologists, psychiatrists, and licensed therapists do incredible work, OT adds unique value. Our clinical lens bridges the medical perspective with practical strategies needed to support mental wellbeing in the real world. 🏄

You’ll find us in inpatient psychiatric units, partial hospitalization programs, group homes, corporate companies, outpatient services, schools, hospice, clinics to community mental health spaces, and the list goes on. If you learn anything from this post: OT is there to support the mind and everything it does for our bodies. 💪🪴

06/16/2026

Wellness looks different for everyone 🫶 Here are some social resources that will warm your heart, because wellness is more than just physical health.

From building your identity, getting involved, hanging out with friends and staying active; social wellness and occupational balance starts with connection. 🦡♥️ 
Visit grad.humanecology.wisc.edu/graduate-student-resources/ or click the link in our bio to get started. 

Post by OTD students: Samantha Backus & Jamie Law 


06/08/2026

We are so excited to welcome the Doctor of Occupational Therapy students class of 2029. Congratulations on starting your new journey in graduate school 👏

06/05/2026

Moments from Orientation Day for the class of 2029 ✨

We are so excited to welcome you to the UW Madison OT program and get to know your smiling faces. Hope you learned lots today, and have a restful weekend of settling in. Everything will be a-okay, see you Monday future OTs! 👌

06/02/2026

The 2nd years on their first day of Year 2!!! Isn’t OT school just the best? 🎨🧠🎭

Just in case you were wondering what they’ve been up to. They had a BALL of a time ⚽️

06/01/2026

Cooking isn’t just about feeding yourself or your loved ones. It’s an occupation that grounds us, one wellness-fueled recipe at a time 🥣✨

If you’ve been in a cooking rut lately, donut worry! 🍩 Here are some fun and yummy breakfast, lunch, and even dessert ideas to try out as we ring in the summer semester.

🔖 Save these for future kitchen inspo!

Cooking for wellness: Simple & Healthy Recipes
Content prepared by OTD students: Megan Haas & Kendall Downs

05/28/2026

We are still smiling ear to ear at these fresh OTD graduates! Congratulations Class of 2026 🎓

They are joined by the following esteemed faculty who have taught them so much:
Dr. Sarah Pultorak, Dr. Dan Rordvedt, Dr. Kristen Pickett, Dr. Beth Fields, Dr. Sarah Zurawski, Dr. Alexia Rebne, Dr. Sharon Gartland, Dr. Caitlin Robinson, Dr. Britney Travers, Dr. Karla Ausderau, Dr. Beth Larson, Dr. Dorothy Farrar-Edwards

We hope you have taken away lots of lessons from your 3 years at UW Madison OT and go on to make real change in the world 🌏

05/21/2026

Huge congratulations to soon-to-be Dr. Morgan Sikkink, a graduate of our UW Madison Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program class of 2026 🎓

Partnering with Mainsfield Hall right here on our UW Madison campus, Kaitlyn’s capstone is titled “Optimizing Interprofessional Collaboration: An Examination of the Interprofessional Model of Care and Future Direction.”

👏 Congratulations to her on this huge milestone! 🤝

       

05/14/2026

Decked out in red, Badger strong! 🦡📕

At this year’s INSPIRE Conference 2026, our students and faculty showed up in full force to represent the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

From advocating for OT to connecting with fellow alumni, we’re proud to carry the Madison spirit to California and home. On Wisconsin! ✨



Congratulations to Dr. Karla Ausderau and her students on presenting “Narratives of living and belonging: Adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in the context of COVID-19” at the 2026 AOTA INSPIRE conference.

We are so proud, way to represent the future of OT! 👏❤️