Two OTA faculty receive awards from the Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association

Andrea Harrison and Marlys Gapstur Sand

St. Kate's professors Andrea Harrison (center left) and Marlys Gapstur Sand (center right) with a few of their OT ´ºÓêÖ±²¥s.


Two St. ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ University faculty members received awards at the 2017 , which recognizes today's leaders in the Occupational Therapy field.

Andrea Harrison, an assistant professor in St. Kate's Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program, won the MOTA Communication Award. The award honors a MOTA member who has creatively contributed to the development of the body of knowledge of the profession through research, education and/or practice in occupational therapy, and that has improved knowledge and service to the client and/or public.

Harrison worked at Abbott Northwestern Hospital as an occupational therapist for eight years in adult in-patient mental health.

Marlys Gapstur Sand, an assistant professor at St. Kate's since 2015, received the MOTA Clinician of the Year Award. The award recognizes an OTR- or COTA-certified member of MOTA who has made notable contributions to advance the profession and to serve patients by using special skills and/or knowledge in practice, education and/or administration.

"I love being an occupational therapist," said Gapstur Sand, who also works at a hospital rehabilitation center. "I have a strong belief in the foundation of activity in our profession, and how serving clients through occupation, based in creative application of evidence-based research, is efficient and effective, as well as imperative to recovery and well-being."