Contact Information

Biography

Dr. Kasey Stepansky has been an occupational therapist for 10 years, with content expertise in adult neurological inpatient, outpatient, and home health practice settings. Dr. Stepansky attended Duquesne University and graduated with a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2013. In August 2018, she completed a clinical science doctorate in occupational therapy with a concentration in neurorehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has published peer-reviewed publications and has presented at state, national, and international conferences on topics related to quality of life of students and older adults, program development in inpatient rehabilitation, caregiver training, and fieldwork education. Dr. Stepansky is certified as an ACBIS Brain Injury Specialist. She also maintains certification in Neurodevelopmental Treatment for Adults with hemiparesis. She is the current Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association District II Executive Director. She continues to practice clinically on a per-diem basis as a research clinical evaluator for the UPMC Stroke Institute and the Pittsburgh VA in Pittsburgh, PA.

Education

  • BS, Health Sciences, Duquesne University, 2012
  • MS, Occupational Therapy, Duquesne University, 2013
  • CScD, Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, 2018
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Research Interests

Current Projects –

My current projects include qualitative and quantitative investigation of quality of life within an intergenerational living community and a college campus-based sensory garden.  Future research endeavors include continued development of inpatient programming for caregivers of clients with brain injury. 

 

Research Link

School

About

  1. Teaching Philosophy - As an occupational therapist and academic, I use authentic storytelling and action-oriented teaching within the classroom. I value the power of life stories to inform and transform occupational therapy practice.  I guide students through deciphering stories, problems, and systematic barriers with evidence to enrich their learning with active participation, dialogues, role play, and experiential advocacy.  
  2. Listing of courses taught
    • (OCCT 520) Neurological & Sensorimotor Function II*
    • (OCCT 522) Intervention Seminar
    • (OCCT 530) Biomechanical Function*
    • (OCCT 535) Occupational Performance Evaluation
    • (OCCT 545) Occupational Performance Perspectives
    • (OCCT 650) Instructional Learning Theory/Technology I
    • (OCCT 651) Instructional Learning Theory/Technology II*
    • (OCCT 660) Transformative Leadership*
  • * Indicates courses that are co-taught

Peer-Reviewed Articles:

Stepansky, K., Criss, M., Dick, A., Jurado, A. M., & Dinardo, M. (2023). Older adult quality of life within an assisted living facility amid COVID-19. SSRG International Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 9(1), 17-24. https://doi.org/10.14445/24547484/IJNHS-V9I1P103

Stepansky, K., Delbert, T., & Bucey, J. (2022). Active student engagement within a university’s therapeutic sensory garden green space: Case studies of utilization on student quality of life. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 67 (127452), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127452

Stepansky, K., Sethi, A., Toto, P., & Bleakley, S. (2020). Caring for our caregivers: A feasibility study of caregiver preparedness within inpatient brain injury rehabilitation. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 27(10), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2019.0106

Delbert, T., Stepansky, K., & Lekas, T. (2020). The S.E.L.F. approach: Systems and experiential learning framework for fieldwork and capstone education development. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 8(3), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1710

 
Book Chapter:

 Stepansky, K., Delbert, T., & Bucey, J. (2023). Therapeutic impact of engagement in green spaces. In A. Kuden (Ed.), Urban horticulture: Sustainable gardening in cities. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1001148

 

 

 

International

 Bucey, J., Delbert, T., & Stepansky, K. The impact of a sensory garden on university students living and doing. Dialogue session accepted for virtual Occupational Science of Europe Conference, virtual, November 2021

 National

Delbert, T. & Stepansky, K. Building sustainable experiential sites: Student and site perspective on completion of fieldwork and doctoral capstone at the same site. Poster session presented at American Occupational Therapy Association’s Education Summit, virtual, December 2022

 Bucey, J., Todd, J., Delbert, T., & Stepansky, K. The study of occupation through wicked action learning teams: Strengthening occupational science translation for action. Forum session presented at the SSO: USA Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, October 2022

 Delbert, T., Bucey, J. C., & Stepansky, K. Cultivating wellbeing and connectedness: A university-based therapeutic sensory garden study.  Poster session presented at the SSO: USA Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, October 2022

Stepansky, K., Criss, M., & Dick, A. Combatting ageism in graduate health science students: Community collaborative innovation with a multigenerational housing option. Poster session presented at American Occupational Therapy Association’s Education Summit, St. Louis, MO. October 2021

Bucey, J., Delbert, T., & Stepansky, K. Cultivating community collaborations & mentoring student leadership: A case study of a therapeutic sensory garden. Poster session accepted for American Occupational Therapy Conference, Boston, MA, March 2020

Stepansky, K., Rodak, C., Sethi, A., Toto, P., & Bleakley, S. Caring for Our Caregivers: Caregiver preparedness training within inpatient brain injury rehabilitation.  Short course presented at the American Occupational Therapy Conference, New Orleans, LA, April 2019

Stepansky, K., Sethi, A., Toto, P., James, E., Leighton, C., & Bendixen, R. Caregiver preparedness training within inpatient brain injury rehabilitation: A scoping review. Poster session presented at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference, Dallas, TX, October 2018

Crist, P., Bachman, G., Bowyer, P., Eaton, V., Grabowski, L., Hines, D., Munoz, J., Munoz, L., Piller, A., Rogers, S., & Stepansky, K. Collaborative practice-scholar inquiry for practice & education: Embedding the scholarship of practice strategies in everyday practice.  Short course presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 2017

State

 Bucey, J., Delbert, T., & Stepansky, K. Cultivating community collaborations & mentoring student leadership: A case study of a therapeutic sensory garden. Poster session presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Conference, PA, virtual, October 2020

Stepansky, K. Caregiver AID: Assess, integrate, and deliver. Poster session presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Conference, King of Prussia, PA, October 2019

Berringer, A., Ellis, M., Hilliard, C., Jones, M., O’Brien, S., & Stepansky, K. Stepping outside: Sensory gardens and dementia. Poster session presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Conference, King of Prussia, PA, October 2019

Local/Invited

Brown, N. & Stepansky, K. Current concepts in the management of Parkinson’s disease. Workshop session presented at Concordia Lutheran Ministries Annual Continuing Education Event for Rehabilitation Professionals, Butler, PA, April 2023

Stepansky, K., Rodak, C., & Bleakley, S. Evidence-based approaches in action: Caregiver training within inpatient brain injury rehabilitation. Invited presenter at Council on Brain Injury Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, April 2019

 

Research Focus –
    • Quality of Life Across the Lifespan
    • Wellness Environments
    • Quality Improvement of Health Systems
    • Caregiver Training within Inpatient Rehabilitation