Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, Ph.D., OTR

For Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, Ph.D., there is no greater professional privilege than being an educator in the field of occupational therapy and assisting others to become occupational therapists. Although she and the students have different roles in the process, they are together for a common purpose: to ensure that they become qualified occupational therapists. Therefore, she feels as though it is she responsibility to bring to them the content in a way that they will learn, interpret and apply it in their clinical careers.

In order to support students learning, she feels very strongly that a clear conceptual foundation be articulated for each course and shared with the students. With regard to learning activities, it is important to incorporate a variety of type of learning activities. This not only reinforces learning by engaging the students in different types of activities, but challenges students to learn and apply the content using different approaches.

There are several questions she consistently asks herself with regard to student learning when developing courses and preparing learning activities. These questions are: What should students be learning? What will best support their learning in this area? How will she know they have learned what was intended? What is her role and responsibility in this process?

Occupational therapists work with patients and families after injury or illness has impacted their lives. Because occupational therapists are involved in their care and rehabilitation at a very stressful and often difficult time, it is her dream for students to not only leave their courses with the clinical knowledge and skills they need, but to also be sensitive to the psychosocial issues patients and families may experience. In this way, students have the opportunity to become skilled and compassionate practitioners.

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 2004 - PhD - Education - Texas A&M University
  • 1999 - MA - Education - University of Texas at San Antonio
  • 1993 - BS - Occupational Therapy - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

  Appointments

  • 12/2017 - Associate Professor with Tenure and Department Chair - UT Health San Antonio, Occupational Therapy, San Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • 1/2020 - Present, Doctoral Capstone Proposal Development 2, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 8/2019 - Present, Clinical Conditions: Adult Neuromuscular and Medical, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 5/2019 - Present, Doctoral Capstone Proposal Development 1, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 1/2019 - Present, Clinical Conditions: Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 5/2018 - Present, Theoretical and Professional Foundations of Occupational Therapy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 5/2018 - Present, Theoretical and Professional Foundation of Occupational Therapy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 5/2018 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, Creighton University
  • 8/2015 - Present, Leadership in Interprofessional Community Service Learning, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 8/2015 - Present, Enrichment Elective in Art, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 8/2014 - Present, OCCT 5007 Occupational Justice Participation, University of Utah
  • 5/2014 - Present, OCCT 5003 Evidence-based capstone, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 2/2013 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, University of Utah
  • 5/2008 - Present, Community Project, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 1/2008 - Present, Res II: Intro Research Design, The University of Texas Health Science Center

• Research & Grants

  Grants

  Private

  Funding Agency Sigma Theta Tau International Title A knowledge translation project to create a dementia friendly acute care hospital Status Active Period 11/2017 - 10/2019 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail Funding Agency School of Health Professions Title Proposal to develop a Fall Prevention Research Interest Group Status Active Period 6/2017 - 5/2019 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail

• Service

  National Service

  Chair, American Occupational Therapy Association Academic Education Special Interest Section

  Representative, American Occupational Therapy Association Commission on Education 

  Leadership Team, American Occupational Therapy Association Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute and Mentoring Program 

• Publications

  Abstract

  Henzi, D
  Piernik-Yoder B. Using Role Reversal in an IPE Experience with OT and Medical Students; 2019 Dec. (Journal of Allied Health; vol. 48, no. 4). Darragh, A.
  Henzi, D.
  Piernik-Yoder B. Students` Perspectives about Occupational Therapy Education and the Occupational Therapy Program Learning Environment; 2018 Nov. (Journal of Allied Health; vol. 47, no. 4). Clegg, A.
  Piernik-Yoder B. Assessing outcomes and fall-risk reduction for homebound older adults through a home evaluation intervention; 2018 Nov. (American Journal of Occupational Therapy; vol. 72, no. S4). Piernik-Yoder B
  Clegg A. Occupational Therapy and Meals on Wheels: An Academic Community Partnership to Address Home Safety of Homebound Seniors; 2017 Nov. (Journal of Allied Health; vol. 46, no. 4). Henzi, D.
  Piernik-Yoder B. Factors influencing career choice in occupational therapy; 2017 Nov. (Journal of Allied Health; vol. 46, no. 4). Henzi DL, Piernik-Yoder B. Factors Influencing Career Choice in Occupational Therapy Washington, DC: Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions; 2017 Nov. (Journal of Allied Health; vol. 46, no. 4). Piernik-Yoder B & Clegg, A. An academic-community partnership to deliver a home evaluation intervention for homebound seniors; 2017 May. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 65, no. S1). Pickering, PhD, MS, BSN CE, Overbaugh, PhD, MSN, BSN KJ, Piernik-Yoder B, Puga F, James, MSN, RN, CCRN-K DL, Patel, PhD DI, Ford, PhD, MA, MSN, RN LA, White, PhD, RN CL. Developing the Caring for the Caregiver Program for the San Antonio Dementia Community; 2017 Jan. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society). Piernik-Yoder B. Developmental relationships during the role transition from student to practitioner; 2015 Oct. (UNM Mentoring Institute).

  Book Chapter

  DeAngelis, T.
  Krug, G.
  Piernik-Yoder B. Occupational Therapy Education in a Changing Healthcare System: Current Issues and Trends. In: DeAngelis, T.
  Krug, G.
  Piernik-Yoder B. Perspectives on Occupational Therapy Education: Past, Present, and Future. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated; 2020. p. 31-44. Rye, J.
  Murphy, M.
  Clegg, A.
  Piernik-Yoder B. Physical Healthcare Patterns and Nursing Interventions. In: Rye, J.
  Murphy, M.
  Clegg, A.
  Piernik-Yoder B. The Specialty Practice of Rehabilitation Nursing, 8th Ed. Chicago, IL: Association of Rehabilitation Nurses; 2019. p. 157-190.

  Journal Article

  White P, Overbaugh P, Pickering P, Piernik-Yoder B, James M, Patel DI, Puga F, Cleveland M. Advancing Care for Family Caregivers of persons with dementia through caregiver and community partnerships Research Involvement and Engagement 2018 Jan;4(1). White CL, Overbaugh KJ, Pickering CEZ, Piernik-Yoder B, James D, Patel DI, Puga F, Ford L, Cleveland J. Advancing Care for Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia through Caregiver and Community Partnerships Research Involvement and Engagement 2018 Jan;4(1). Piernik-Yoder B. A Case Report on the Use of a Decision Matrix to Support the Development of Scholarship for Early Career Health Sciences Faculty International Journal of Health Sciences 2016 Jun;4(2):1-6.