NYU OT extends a warm welcome to Dr. Sinead Harrington, who joins us this fall as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Harrington has been an occupational therapist for the past 15 years, primarily in adult rehabilitation. She started her career at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, a level 1 trauma unit in New Jersey. Then, as a senior occupational therapist at Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, New York, she specialized in treating neurological conditions including traumatic brain injury and stroke. After completing her doctorate in occupational therapy at Thomas Jefferson University in 2015, Dr. Harrington taught as an adjunct professor at Mercy University before transitioning into full-time academia as an Assistant Professor at Iona University. Her teaching areas include anatomy, neuroscience, evidence-based practice and research, as well as adult clinical skills. Dr. Harrington also serves as an ACOTE accreditation reviewer, evaluating and visiting occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant schools around the United States. She recently co-founded a consulting company, Ideal Home Innovations, Inc., which provides home solutions and expert recommendations to ensure people’s safety and independence within their homes. Please read on for more!
Welcome! It’s a pleasure to have you join the NYU OT community! What drew you to NYU?
NYU’s OT program is one of the oldest and most highly rated occupational therapy programs in the United States. Being an OT for the past 15 years, I have followed the reputation of the program as well as the significant contributions NYU’s faculty, alumni, and students have made to the field of occupational therapy. I was also drawn to the mission of the program, which is to foster students to be future clinicians, scholars, and leaders who will be prepared to meet the ever-evolving needs of their clients. This mission matches my professional values of the importance of being innovative, creative, and always an evidence-based practitioner.
Can you tell us a little bit more about your background in the OT profession and your areas of specialization?
I have spent most of my career working with older adults in various settings including hospitals, acute rehabilitation centers, and outpatient services. I have spent many years working with adults following neurological injuries such as stroke and traumatic brain injury. I very much enjoy being part of the process of seeing my clients come in requiring a lot of assistance and occupational therapy being the key to getting someone back to doing what they need to do as well as things they love to do!
Most recently, I received an advanced certification in aging in place (CAPS). This CAPS certification allows me to better evaluate and match the needs of the client to their home environment. This process allows the client to therefore have more independence within their home and remain safe. I look forward to bringing this specialized knowledge to my future students so that they can be better prepared to ensure their client’s home will support their independence and safety.
What do you consider to be the most rewarding experience or achievement in your career so far?
Last year, I was nominated by a colleague and selected for a faculty award for my contribution to service learning within occupational therapy education. It was an honor to be recognized for the service learning opportunity I had developed and created with a local rehabilitation center. We were able to collaborate with their recreation department to host adaptive sports programming on campus, including adaptive pickleball and cooking classes. Students were able to participate weekly in these sports with clients of all abilities and skill levels. This opportunity provided the students the ability to incorporate their classroom learning into real life in a fun manner.
Thinking about your own student and training days, what were your most formative experiences?
I had the opportunity to travel to Australia with my professors one summer. Our professors were presenting at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy conference and I was part of a group of students who were able to attend the conference and complete a fieldwork experience there. In Australia, we were able to observe and participate in a whole different healthcare system and explore different specialties. We also were able to volunteer at the conference and attend multiple lectures and workshops. It was an incredible experience that I still remember today, and I hope to take future OT students on similar adventures in the future.
What classes will you be teaching, and how would you describe your teaching style?
I will be teaching Kinesiology and Rehab Evaluation and Intervention. I will also be assisting with other additional adult-related courses. My teaching style is one of hands-on learning. I believe you can learn a lot by experimenting and practicing skills. I also enjoy bringing technology into the classroom, and I use videos, virtual reality, and simulations to motivate students and practice skills in a safe environment before working with clients. Lastly, since I have a lot of clinical experience, I bring a lot of my “stories” into the classroom. I speak about past clients and unique situations in order to try to prepare my students for what they might experience in the real world of occupational therapy. What I enjoy most about teaching is the opportunity to witness the “lightbulb moments” when students grasp a concept for the first time. I enjoy being a part of their learning journey.
Is there anything you want to say to the students you will meet in the upcoming semester?
I want to encourage students to take every opportunity they are offered during graduate school, even those that might be out of their comfort zone. Taking advantage of experiences outside the classroom can really impact your future by allowing you time to explore, learn, and grow as an individual and future OT professional.
What are your hopes for the OT Profession as a whole? What new directions and developments would you like to see and work towards?
My hopes for occupational therapy are for the continued evolution and expansion of the profession through evidence-based practice. I am excited about the potential technology has to enhance our practice. Innovations such as telehealth, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence all provide great opportunities for occupational therapists to be entrepreneurial and innovative. I think OTs have the knowledge and skills to be leaders in creating these new healthcare technologies and I’m looking forward to seeing the contributions occupational therapy can make in this fast evolving field of healthcare technology.
And finally, is there anything else you would like to share with us to help us get to know you? Do you have any special interests or hobbies?
I enjoy hanging out with my family. I am the oldest of 5 children, and I enjoy our time together now as adults with our own families. I also enjoy reading - anything from rom-coms to horror novels! On my days off in the city, I enjoy doing food tours! I love exploring new neighborhoods and eating new cuisines. I enjoy learning the history behind the food and the effort that is put into creating delicious dishes.