FACULTY PROFILE
Rebecca Kvasnicka is an Assistant Professor and the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Governors State University in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Dr. Kvasnicka holds a Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Governors State University. She also holds a BS in Chemistry-Biochemistry focus from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of Occupational Therapy from Governors State University.
Dr. Kvasnicka’s has over 15 years of clinical experience with a focus on adult physical dysfunction, across the continuum of care. Her passion for occupational therapy education began as a fieldwork educator and as Clinical Coordinator for Clinical Education. She joined the Department of Occupational Therapy as an adjunct professor in 2015 and became full-time faculty member in 2016. As an active OT practitioner in hospital and outpatient adult settings, she infuses current real-world examples into the classroom using her experiences to promote reflective thinking in students to prepare them for clinical practice. Dr. Kvasnicka holds additional certifications in kinesio-taping, functional capacity evaluations, and fieldwork education through multiple organizations.
She is proud to be a member of the Department of Occupational Therapy faculty and to be teaching at her alma mater. Governors State University’s MOT program provided a strong foundation in professional reasoning, advocacy, communication, and life-long learning that propelled her in her clinical experiences and in her return to Governors State for her doctorate and as a faculty member. Governors State has provided the opportunity to work with students from a variety of backgrounds to achieve their own goal in joining this empowering profession. The strong commitment to engaging with the community through student-led activities and outreach programs reinforces her love of the Department of Occupational Therapy and Governors State University.
Her research interests include student and
educator experiences during clinical fieldwork, the use of social media within
and in support of the occupational therapy profession, and interdisciplinary
education and collaborative practice.
She has presented her research as state (ILOTA) and national (AOTA)
conferences.
In addition, she is involved in departmental and
interdisciplinary initiatives on campus including an Interprofessional Training
Program for graduate students, serving on the Interprofessional Education
Committee in the College of Health and Human Services, acting at the Student
Occupational Therapy Association faculty advisor, and engaging with other OT
educators as a member of the Illinois Fieldwork Consortium.
Curriculum Vitae