Case Studies in Rehabilitation

Patricia Ghikas graduated from the University of Vermont with an undergraduate degree in physical therapy in 1987. She completed a certificate of graduate study in geriatric physical therapy from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in 1997, and a Master of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in 2000. She received her certification as a specialist in geriatric physical therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in 1997. She has held clinical staff positions at New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Woburn, MA; Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, MA; Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Home Care in Haverhill, MA; and Lawrence General Hospital in Lawrence, MA. She has held health care management positions for Advantage Health Corporation and Advanced Rehab Systems. She has provided geriatric rehabilitation consultation services through her private practice from 1995 to 1997. In addition, she has held adjunct and full-time faculty positions in the physical therapist assistant program at Newbury College in Brookline, MA from 1994 to 1999. She has written the home study series module Treatment of the Individual with Parkinson’s Disease as an invited author for the geriatric section of the APTA, and has been an active member of the APTA of MA since 1993, holding several offices at the district level. Currently she is the Program Director for the Wound Healing Center at Hale Hospital, Haverhill, MA.     

Michele Clopper graduated from Erie Community College with an Associate degree in occupational therapy and later completed her Bachelor’s degree in OT at Boston University. She went on to complete a Master of Science in rehabilitation counseling from Boston University. Initially, Michele worked for over 10 years in outpatient psychiatry for veterans affairs with a specialty in providing services for Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. She has presented in several international conferences regarding treatment of this population, including incarcerated veterans. She has also worked in acute rehabilitation hospitals, subacute/skilled settings, and home care. She has been on the roster of accreditation for ACOTE for OTA programs for the past 6 years and has had the opportunity to serve as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator/Instructor at Bay State College in Boston. During her career, she has always been an active mentor and has supervised OTA and OT students. Currently, she is the Director of Occupational Therapy at Tewksbury Hospital, which is a Department of Public Health facility in Massachusetts.