Owls in Occupation: A Temple Occupational Therapy Alumni Panel Discussion

Join us for the second annual Occupational Therapy virtual panel featuring distinguished OT alumni as they reflect on how Temple OT has shaped their career trajectories and answer your questions during a Q&A panel.

Whether you're a prospective student, current learner, or seasoned practitioner, this alumni panel aims to inspire, inform, and ignite a spirit of inquiry and growth. Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and envision new horizons for the future of occupational therapy!

Panelists include:

Brittany Benfer: Brittany Benfer is a physical rehabilitation occupational therapist working in an outpatient orthopedic and pain management clinic. She works with clients experiencing acute or chronic pain in various body regions to increase their functionality and quality of life. She received her MOT and, most recently, a post-professional doctoral degree from Temple in 2024 with her capstone "Occupational Therapy Practitioner Perspectives on Depression and Anxiety in Outpatient Physical Rehabilitation Settings." She is passionate about the connection between physical and mental health. 

Kristin Gill: Kristen Gill, OTD, OTR/L, CPAM (she/her/hers) is an occupational therapist and alumni of Temple University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program (2019). She began practicing in 2013 after receiving her Masters in Occupation Therapy (MSOT) from Philadelphia University with a primary focus on clinical practice in adult acute inpatient rehabilitation and acute care. As part of her education at Temple University, Kristen conducted research exploring the concepts of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in individuals following spinal cord injury, as well as the potential areas of intervention for the occupational therapy practitioner in facilitating PTG. This research was later expanded and published into a textbook chapter published by AOTA Press (2021). Additionally, while in clinical practice, Kristen had the opportunity to serve as adjunct faculty for graduate programs in occupational therapy, including at Temple University. Currently, Kristen works at the FDA, where she reviews a wide range of neuromodulation and physical medicine devices across the total product lifecycle. [Disclaimer: The views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the FDA or the U.S. Government].

Dawn Hederscheidt: Dawn Heiderscheidt, OTR/L, ECHM, CAPS, CHAMP, is a Functional Design Consultant with over 11 years of experience. As the founder of Aurora Independence, she specializes in creating accessible and functional home environments that promote safety and inclusivity for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Dawn's team partners with national organizations such as Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity and local government initiatives to advocate for aging-in-place solutions. Passionate about fostering inter/independence tailored to each client's goals, she also mentors and educates the next generation of professionals, ensuring continued innovation and excellence in accessible design. ​

Emily Wheeler: Emily graduated from Temple OT in May 2022 and has worked at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore as a Mental Health Occupational Therapist since completing Temple’s OT graduate program. She works primarily in the acute psychiatric unit and outpatient community psychiatry, where she works with patients between the ages of 14 and 70. In the past year, Emily has collaborated with the burn rehab team to incorporate mental health OT into the burn ICU (for the first time ever!), and she spends time on the burn unit. Emily’s other occupational roles include yogi, plant collector, boot camp coach, avid thrifter, and cat lover! 

Samantha Pederson: Sam Pedersen is an early intervention OT working with children aged 0-3 and their families. Every day, she collaborates with caregivers of infants and toddlers to support goals around feeding, playing, socializing, sleeping, mobilizing, and more. Sam reflects with families to deeply understand their values/attitudes/family culture, problem-solves practical strategies to embed into daily life seamlessly, and demonstrates and coaches caregivers through the use of strategies or exercises so that they feel competent and confident steering their child's development. Sam considers the child and their caregivers equally to be her "clients" and is dedicated to nurturing them through holistic, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming care. Sam’s interests in mental health, movement, and creating joyful human experiences are all at the forefront of her daily offerings as an Early Intervention OT. 

Additional Alumni Panelists include:

Matt Shelak, OTR, MBA, FACHE, Executive Director Temple University Hospital- Jeanes Campus, and Myrna Yousouf, OTR/L with University City Rehabilitation and Healthcare