Our Staff

	Kathy Stoklosa, MPA, OTR/L Kathy is the Chief of occupational therapy. She received her bachelor’s degree in OT from the University of Buffalo and Master’s degree in Public Administration from SUNY College at Brockport. She has been at URMC for 6 years now after teaching in the Ithaca College OT Program for the 9 years prior. Kathy's clinical responsibilities include ergonomic evaluation, upper extremity & hand evaluation and intervention and serves as consultant to the Pediatric Rheumatology clinic. Kathy's career spans 25+ years in many clinical settings. Send me an E-Mail
	Simon Carson, MBA, OT/L Simon is the Rehabilitation Clinical Manager for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as Senior Occupational Therapist on the inpatient acute rehabilitation unit. He received his Masters in Occupational Therapy from Ithaca College. Simon also received a Masters in Medical Management as well as an MBA from the the University of Rochester. His areas of interest include SCI and cognitive rehabilitation, as well as operations, quality assurance and leadership. Send me an E-mail
	Elizabeth Baltus Hebert, MS, OTR/L Liz is the Senior Occupational Therapist in Pediatrics. She received her certificate in Occupational Therapy in 1976 from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her Master's Degree at SUNY at Buffalo. Her special areas of interest include Pediatrics and NDT and Sensory Processing. Send me an E-Mail
	Michelle DeRue, MS, OTR/L,CLT-LANA Michelle is the Senior of acute care at URMC. She graduated from Keuka College with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Gerontology. Michelle received her Master’s degree in Human Development from the University of Rochester in 2009. In addition, she attended the Academy of Lymphatic Studies in 2001, and has achieved credentialing by the Lymphology Association of North America for the treatment of lymphedema. Michelle provides both upper and lower extremity lymphedema treatment at Clinton Crossings as well as pre and post-surgical consults at the Breast Care Center in the Wilmot Cancer Center. Michelle's specialties include lymphedema, acute care, and leadership. Send me an E-Mail
	Ruth Fried, OTR/L Ruth is a Staff Occupational Therapist III. She graduated with a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University in 1973. She was certified in Pediatrics by the Neurodevelopmental Treatment Association in 1982. Ruth specializes in occupational therapy for children who have physical disabilities. Send me an E-Mail
	Jayne Knowlton, OTR, CHT Jayne has a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from SUNY Buffalo. She is a Certified Hand Therapist with over 18 years of experience. She has worked in a variety of settings including owning her own hand therapy clinic. She is also a certified personal coach focusing on health promotion. Jayne currently as an acute therapist at Highland Hospital. Send me an E-Mail
	Janet LaLonde-Mears MS, OTR/L Janet is a staff occupational therapist who graduated from the University of Buffalo with her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. Janet is currently working in the acute rehab setting at Strong Memorial Hospital. Send me an E-mail
	Katie Schweitzer, OTR/L Katie is a Senior Occupational Therapist currently working in Inpatient Adult Care. She received her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Buffalo and is currently working towards her post-professional Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University. Katie has worked at the University of Rochester for over 10 years and her specialty areas include spinal cord injury rehabilitation, arthritis and upper extremity injury rehabilitation and splinting. Send me an E-Mail
	Nancy Dukelow, MS, OTR/L Nancy is a Staff Occupational Therapist in Acute Care. She obtained her BS/MS from The Sage Colleges. Her specialty areas include Stroke Rehabilitation, Cognition, Visual-Perception, and Neurological Rehabilitation, Send me an E-Mail
	Dana Emery, OTR/L Dana graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy from Utica College of Syracuse University. Dana has worked at strong for over 10 years with a specialty in the treatment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, brachial plexus injury, vascular surgery, cardiac surgery, cardiac transplant and ventricular assist device patients. Dana has written a text book chapter on Occupational Therapy's treatment of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome due to be released in late 2011. Send me an E-Mail
	Michelle Brugger, OTR/L Michelle is a Staff Occupational Therapist who works at Strong Memorial Hospital and works with inpatients at Highland Hospital. Michelle graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy from SUNY at Buffalo in 1978. Her special areas of interest include Gerontology and Acute Care.
	Lisa Sykes, OTR/L, M.Ed. Lisa is a staff occupational therapist. She graduated from Boston University with her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. She receive her Masters in Adult Education from Colorado State University. She has taught adjunct at Ithaca College and practiced for over 25 years in adult rehabilitation and pediatrics. Currently she is working in the outpatient clinic seeing pediatric patients. Her areas of specialty are neurorehabilitation and sensory processing.
	Meghann Rose, OTR/L Meghann graduated from Keuka College with her Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2003. She has experience in both adult and pediatric acute rehabilitation and currently focuses on pediatrics. Her specialty areas include the physical and developmental needs of infants in the NICU, Oral Motor/Feeding, infants with Brachial Plexus Injury and Splinting. Send me an E-Mail
	Julie Kunisch, OTR/L Julie graduated with her Bachelor's Degree from University of Buffalo in 1996. She is a staff Occupational Therapist who covers weekend rehabilitation admissions along with acute care evaluations. Julie is certified in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test. Areas of interest include Neurological Rehabilitation, Acute Care, and Pediatrics. Send me an E-Mail
	Beth Tarduno, OTR/L Beth is a Staff Occupational Therapist. She received her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University. Her specialty is Neurorehabilitation. Beth became a Certified Neurodevelopmental (NDT) Instructor for adult hemiplegia in 1998, through the NDTA. She teaches introductory and certification courses throughout the US and in Canada. Beth is also a Kinesiotape Practitioner (KTP), completing the training and exam in 2008. Send me an E-Mail
	Amy Mikels, MS, OTR/L Amy is a part-time occupational therapist working at Highland Hospital. She received both her Bachelors and Masters degree in occupational therapy from Ithaca College. She works full time in pediatrics and her areas of interest include acute care and pediatrics.
	Chris Stavisky, MOT,OTR/L Chris is an occupational therapist on the Acute Rehabilitation Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital. He received his BS degree in Kinesiology and Movement Science from Penn State University in 2005, and his Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Saint Francis University in 2008. Chris's special interests are spinal cord injury, upper extremity prosthetics, myoelectric prosthetics, and adapted sports for individuals with physical disabilities. Send me an E-Mail
	Johanna Nells, MS, OTR/L Johanna is an Occupational Therapist in Pediatrics. She graduated from D'Youville College, Buffalo, with her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy. She has been a registered OT since 1996, practicing in clinical, home based, and school based Pediatrics. Her special areas of interest include Developmental Disabilities, and Sensory Processing.
	Peggy Barta, MS, OTR/L Peggy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1975. She has worked as an OT in Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania where she moved from the Philadelphia area to Rochester in August, 2007. Peggy's areas of interest include adult acute care, geriatrics and neuro.
	Joan Fisher, OTR/L Joan is a staff OT. She graduated from Keuka College with her Bachelor's degree in OT. She has practiced for the past 23 years in pediatrics. Currently, she is working in adult acute care, as well as at the outpatient clinic seeing pediatric patients. Her areas of specialty are feeding, sensory processing, and developmental disabilities.
	Andrea Johnson, MS,OTR/L Andrea is a staff occupational therapist who received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Siena college and her Master's in Occupational Therapy from the Sage Colleges. Andrea is currently working in the acute rehab setting at Strong Memorial Hospital. Send me an E-mail
	Mary-Beth Kushner Mary is a full-time staff Occupational Therapist currently workingin Acute Care at Strong Memorial Hospital. She received her Bachelor of Sciencein Occupational Therapy from Keuka College in 1999. Mary recently relocated to Rochester after working many years at the Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center. Herspecialty areasincludeneurotrauma/rehab and multi-trauma in the acute care setting.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy at the University of Rochester contact Kathy Stoklosa, Chief of Occupational Therapy.