Noralyn Davel Pickens, PhD, OT
Texas Woman's University
School of Occupational Therapy
8194 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
Phone: 214-706-2411
Fax: 214-706-2380
Office: Presby 11
Email: npickens@twu.edu
Biography
Education
Ph.D. 2001 Kinesiology: Therapeutic Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S. 1996 Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
B.S. 1987 Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Employment
8/2011-present Associate Professor, School of Occupational Therapy,
Texas Woman's University
2007 – 8/2011 Assistant Professor, School of Occupational Therapy,
Texas Woman's University
2010 Summer Occupational Therapist, Amedisys Home Health, Dallas, TX
2003 – 2006 Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2002 – 2003 Resource Pool Therapist, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI
2001 – 2003 Lecturer, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee
1999 Editorial Assistant, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Dr. Betty
Hasselkus, Editor
1998 – 2000 Consultant and Volunteer, Occupational Therapy, Milwaukee Hospice Home
Care and Residence
1996 – 1998 Project Assistant, Program administration responsibilities, Dr. Mary
Schneider and Dr. Betty Hasselkus, Occupational Therapy Program,
Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1995 – 1999 Resource Pool Therapist, Covenant Rehabilitation Services, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
1995 – 1996 Research Project Assistant, Occupational Therapy Program, University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
1995 – 1996 Associate Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Program, University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
1994 – 1995 Occupational Therapist, St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1991 – 1994 Coordinator of Behavioral Medicine, Occupational Therapy, St. Elizabeth
Hospital, Appleton, Wisconsin
1989 – 1991 Occupational Therapist, State of Minnesota-Anoka Metro Regional
Treatment Center, Anoka, Minnesota
1987 – 1989 Manager, Occupational Therapy, Physical & Occupational Therapists
of Minnesota, Inc.
Research Focus
In my primary line I am interested in facilitating aging-in-place from helping people evaluate means to make their environments and selves safer, to specific home modification assessment and outcomes studies. This research line addresses the AOTF research goal promoting function/wellness in people of all ages, specifically evaluating the efficacy of occupational therapy interventions and determining a means of evaluating the outcomes of occupational therapy interventions and prevention strategies in an interdisciplinary and translational context.
My second line of research is in end-of-life care. I am interested in how health care providers can improve care for those who are dying and those who care for them (professional and family). Specifically I am interested in how occupation supports end of life tasks. This research line addresses the AOTF research goal promoting function/wellness in people of all ages, specifically creating novel, theory based interventions for promoting activity/participation/occupation and improving quality of life for those who are dying and their care providers.
Current Projects
My current project is a mixed methods study comparing the outcomes of home modifications and exercise on the performance of activities of daily living. I have a companion study addressing the lived experience of home modifications and impact on participation in and around the home.
Potential opportunities for doctoral students
Potential doctoral students would have interests in aging-in-place from a multi-dimensional approach (wellness, exercise, home modifications, participation) or have interests in studying efficacy of, and advocating for, occupational therapy in end-of-life care.
Recent Publications
Pickens, N.D. (2011). Grief and bereavement (pp. 764-772). In G. Stoffel & C. Brown. (Eds.) Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Vision for Participation. Philadelphia, PA: F.A.Davis.
Pizur-Barnekow, K. & Pickens, N.D. (2011). Introduction to occupation and co-occupation (pp. 637-648). In G. Stoffel & C. Brown. (Eds.) Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Vision for Participation. Philadelphia, PA: F.A.Davis.
Pickens, N.D., O’Reilly, K., Sharp, K.,(2010). Family caregiving at end of life: Dimensions of Occupation. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(4), 230-236.
Weeks, A.L, Lamb, E.A., & Pickens, N.D. (2010). Home modification assessments: Clinical utility and treatment context. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 28(3),
Pickens, N.D. & Pizur-Barnekow, K. (2009). Editorial: Co-occupation special issue. Journal of Occupational Science, 16, 138-139.
Pickens. N. D. & Pizur-Barnekow, K. (2009). Co-occupation: Extending the dialogue. Journal of Occupational Science, 16, 151-156.
Persch, A., Pizur-Barnekow, K., Cashin, S., & Pickens, N. (2009). Physiological Characteristics of Solitary Occupations and Co-occupations: Measuring Heart Rate Variability for Occupation-Based Research. Journal of Occupational Science, 16, 163-169.
Pickens, N.D. (2007). Occupational Therapists. In E. Capezuti, G. Siegler, & M.D. Mezey, (Eds.) The Encyclopedia of Elder Care (2nd ed.). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Seitz, J.M. & Pickens, N.D. (2007). Assistive technology. In Capezuti, E., Siegler, G., & Mezey, M.D. (Eds.) The Encyclopedia of Elder Care (2nd ed.). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Jacques, N.D. & Hasselkus, B.H. (2004). The nature of occupation surrounding dying and death. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research: Occupation, Participation and Health.
Jacques, N.D. (2002). Working with the dying older patient. In C. Lewis (Ed.) Aging: The Health Care Challenge, 4th Edition. Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis.
Jacques, N.D. & Thompson, B. (2001). Occupational therapy. In E. Zuberbueler (Ed.) Complimentary therapies in end-of-life care. Arlington VA: National Hospice Organization.
Hasselkus, B.H. & Jacques, N.D. (1998). Occupational therapy and hospice: Statement Paper. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52(10), 872-873.
Recent Publications with Research Colleagues
Bourland, E., Neville-Smith, M., & Pickens, N D. (2011). Loss, Gain, and the Reframing of Perspectives in Long Term Stroke Survivors: A Dynamic Experience of Quality of Life. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 18(5), 437-449.
Marino, J. M., Baxter, M. F., Pickens, N. D. (2011). Who is in Charge? Strategies to Foster Parent-Child Interaction in Early Intervention Practice. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools and Early Intervention. 3(4), 304 - 318
Grants
Neville-Smith, M & Pickens, N.D. (2010). Health Promotion and Social Participation Needs for Stroke Survivors. TWU – Small Grants Competition. Funded $520.
Pickens, N.D. (2009) Comparing the Impact of Home Modifications, Exercise, and Social Visits on Performance of Activities of Daily Living: A Pilot Study, Principal Investigator. Funded $6818.
Haertlein, C. & Jacques, N.D. (2004-07). Lifestyle Redesign/Life Skills Program. Milwaukee County Department of Aging Connecting Caring Communities Project - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Project Director. Funded $21,500.
Jacques, N.D. (1998) The Meaning of Occupation Surrounding the Dying Process at a Residential Hospice. The American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Student Grant Competition. Principal Investigator. Funded $1,000.
Recent Presentations at Professional Meetings
American Occupational Therapy Association, 91st Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 15, 2011. Talk About: Current Strategies and Best Practices of OT Volunteers with Rebuilding Together
Vanderkooi XVIII Endowed lectureship and continue education workshop. Dallas, TX, March 4, 2011. Visitability. (with M. Sjolin)
American Occupational Therapy Association, 90th Annual Conference, Orland, FL, April 30, 2010. Home Modifications: Mixed Method Outcomes.
American Occupational Therapy Association, 89th Annual Conference, Houston, TX, April 24, 2009. Assessment Portfolio Strategies for Education and Practice. (with R. Campbell)
Vanderkooi XVI Endowed lectureship and continuing education workshop. Dallas, TX, February 6, 2009. Practical ideas for bathroom modifications: From guts to grab bars.
TOTA-Mountain Central Conference. Austin, TX, November 22, 2008. What is in your (assessment) closet? Evaluating clinical utility of assessment tools for best practice.
TOTA-North Trinity District Meeting Presentation. Dallas, TX, February 18, 2008. Home environmental assessment and modifications: New opportunities for Occupational Therapists.
Vanderkooi XV Endowed lectureship and continuing education workshop. Dallas, TX, February 1, 2008. Community-based practice: Rebuilding Together: Partnering in home modifications.
Society for the Study of Occupation: USA, Fifth Annual Research Conference, St. Louis, MO, October 6, 2006. Co-occupation: Conceptualizing Models to Advance Thinking and Knowledge. (presented by co-author K.Pizur-Barnekow).
American Occupational Therapy Association, 86nd Annual Conference, Charlotte, NC, April 27, 2006. Co-occupation: Extending the Dialogue for Research and Clinical Practice.
American Occupational Therapy Association, 86nd Annual Conference, Charlotte, NC, April 28, 2006. The Senior Healthy Living Fair: An Evidence for Practice Direct Learning Model.
5th Annual UWM OT/TR Conference, Milwaukee, WI, February 23, 2004 Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation in End of Life Care. Paper.
5th International Interdisciplinary Conference Advances in Qualitative Methods. Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada, January 29, 2004. Collecting data with terminally ill persons: Blurred
lines of giving and receiving
American Occupational Therapy Association, 82nd Annual Conference, Miami, FL, May, 2002, The Contribution of Occupation to the Good Death.
The Gerontological Society of America, 54th Annual Scientific Meeting, Chicago, IL, November 3, 2001. The Contribution of Occupation to the Good Death.
13th Annual Midwest Dean’s Research Day, March 2000, Milwaukee, WI, The Contribution of Occupation to the Good Death: Transformation of Data.
12th Annual Midwest Dean’s Research Day, March, 1999, Madison, WI, The Meaning of Occupation Surrounding the Dying Process at a Residential Hospice: Preliminary Findings.
World Federation of Occupational Therapy, 12th International Congress, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, June, 1998, On Being a Participant Observer at a Residential Hospice: Methodological Dilemmas.
Honors and Awards
2009 Texas Woman’s University, Chancellor’s Research Fellowship
2008 Texas Woman’s University, Chancellor’s Research Fellowship
2000 University of Wisconsin, Caroline G. Thompson Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
1999 University of Wisconsin, Caroline G. Thompson Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
School of Occupational Therapy
8194 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
Phone: 214-706-2411
Fax: 214-706-2380
Office: Presby 11
Email: npickens@twu.edu
Biography
Education
Ph.D. 2001 Kinesiology: Therapeutic Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S. 1996 Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
B.S. 1987 Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Employment
8/2011-present Associate Professor, School of Occupational Therapy,
Texas Woman's University
2007 – 8/2011 Assistant Professor, School of Occupational Therapy,
Texas Woman's University
2010 Summer Occupational Therapist, Amedisys Home Health, Dallas, TX
2003 – 2006 Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2002 – 2003 Resource Pool Therapist, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI
2001 – 2003 Lecturer, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee
1999 Editorial Assistant, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Dr. Betty
Hasselkus, Editor
1998 – 2000 Consultant and Volunteer, Occupational Therapy, Milwaukee Hospice Home
Care and Residence
1996 – 1998 Project Assistant, Program administration responsibilities, Dr. Mary
Schneider and Dr. Betty Hasselkus, Occupational Therapy Program,
Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1995 – 1999 Resource Pool Therapist, Covenant Rehabilitation Services, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
1995 – 1996 Research Project Assistant, Occupational Therapy Program, University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
1995 – 1996 Associate Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Program, University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
1994 – 1995 Occupational Therapist, St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1991 – 1994 Coordinator of Behavioral Medicine, Occupational Therapy, St. Elizabeth
Hospital, Appleton, Wisconsin
1989 – 1991 Occupational Therapist, State of Minnesota-Anoka Metro Regional
Treatment Center, Anoka, Minnesota
1987 – 1989 Manager, Occupational Therapy, Physical & Occupational Therapists
of Minnesota, Inc.
Research Focus
In my primary line I am interested in facilitating aging-in-place from helping people evaluate means to make their environments and selves safer, to specific home modification assessment and outcomes studies. This research line addresses the AOTF research goal promoting function/wellness in people of all ages, specifically evaluating the efficacy of occupational therapy interventions and determining a means of evaluating the outcomes of occupational therapy interventions and prevention strategies in an interdisciplinary and translational context.
My second line of research is in end-of-life care. I am interested in how health care providers can improve care for those who are dying and those who care for them (professional and family). Specifically I am interested in how occupation supports end of life tasks. This research line addresses the AOTF research goal promoting function/wellness in people of all ages, specifically creating novel, theory based interventions for promoting activity/participation/occupation and improving quality of life for those who are dying and their care providers.
Current Projects
My current project is a mixed methods study comparing the outcomes of home modifications and exercise on the performance of activities of daily living. I have a companion study addressing the lived experience of home modifications and impact on participation in and around the home.
Potential opportunities for doctoral students
Potential doctoral students would have interests in aging-in-place from a multi-dimensional approach (wellness, exercise, home modifications, participation) or have interests in studying efficacy of, and advocating for, occupational therapy in end-of-life care.
Recent Publications
Pickens, N.D. (2011). Grief and bereavement (pp. 764-772). In G. Stoffel & C. Brown. (Eds.) Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Vision for Participation. Philadelphia, PA: F.A.Davis.
Pizur-Barnekow, K. & Pickens, N.D. (2011). Introduction to occupation and co-occupation (pp. 637-648). In G. Stoffel & C. Brown. (Eds.) Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Vision for Participation. Philadelphia, PA: F.A.Davis.
Pickens, N.D., O’Reilly, K., Sharp, K.,(2010). Family caregiving at end of life: Dimensions of Occupation. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(4), 230-236.
Weeks, A.L, Lamb, E.A., & Pickens, N.D. (2010). Home modification assessments: Clinical utility and treatment context. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 28(3),
Pickens, N.D. & Pizur-Barnekow, K. (2009). Editorial: Co-occupation special issue. Journal of Occupational Science, 16, 138-139.
Pickens. N. D. & Pizur-Barnekow, K. (2009). Co-occupation: Extending the dialogue. Journal of Occupational Science, 16, 151-156.
Persch, A., Pizur-Barnekow, K., Cashin, S., & Pickens, N. (2009). Physiological Characteristics of Solitary Occupations and Co-occupations: Measuring Heart Rate Variability for Occupation-Based Research. Journal of Occupational Science, 16, 163-169.
Pickens, N.D. (2007). Occupational Therapists. In E. Capezuti, G. Siegler, & M.D. Mezey, (Eds.) The Encyclopedia of Elder Care (2nd ed.). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Seitz, J.M. & Pickens, N.D. (2007). Assistive technology. In Capezuti, E., Siegler, G., & Mezey, M.D. (Eds.) The Encyclopedia of Elder Care (2nd ed.). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Jacques, N.D. & Hasselkus, B.H. (2004). The nature of occupation surrounding dying and death. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research: Occupation, Participation and Health.
Jacques, N.D. (2002). Working with the dying older patient. In C. Lewis (Ed.) Aging: The Health Care Challenge, 4th Edition. Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis.
Jacques, N.D. & Thompson, B. (2001). Occupational therapy. In E. Zuberbueler (Ed.) Complimentary therapies in end-of-life care. Arlington VA: National Hospice Organization.
Hasselkus, B.H. & Jacques, N.D. (1998). Occupational therapy and hospice: Statement Paper. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52(10), 872-873.
Recent Publications with Research Colleagues
Bourland, E., Neville-Smith, M., & Pickens, N D. (2011). Loss, Gain, and the Reframing of Perspectives in Long Term Stroke Survivors: A Dynamic Experience of Quality of Life. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 18(5), 437-449.
Marino, J. M., Baxter, M. F., Pickens, N. D. (2011). Who is in Charge? Strategies to Foster Parent-Child Interaction in Early Intervention Practice. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools and Early Intervention. 3(4), 304 - 318
Grants
Neville-Smith, M & Pickens, N.D. (2010). Health Promotion and Social Participation Needs for Stroke Survivors. TWU – Small Grants Competition. Funded $520.
Pickens, N.D. (2009) Comparing the Impact of Home Modifications, Exercise, and Social Visits on Performance of Activities of Daily Living: A Pilot Study, Principal Investigator. Funded $6818.
Haertlein, C. & Jacques, N.D. (2004-07). Lifestyle Redesign/Life Skills Program. Milwaukee County Department of Aging Connecting Caring Communities Project - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Project Director. Funded $21,500.
Jacques, N.D. (1998) The Meaning of Occupation Surrounding the Dying Process at a Residential Hospice. The American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Student Grant Competition. Principal Investigator. Funded $1,000.
Recent Presentations at Professional Meetings
American Occupational Therapy Association, 91st Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 15, 2011. Talk About: Current Strategies and Best Practices of OT Volunteers with Rebuilding Together
Vanderkooi XVIII Endowed lectureship and continue education workshop. Dallas, TX, March 4, 2011. Visitability. (with M. Sjolin)
American Occupational Therapy Association, 90th Annual Conference, Orland, FL, April 30, 2010. Home Modifications: Mixed Method Outcomes.
American Occupational Therapy Association, 89th Annual Conference, Houston, TX, April 24, 2009. Assessment Portfolio Strategies for Education and Practice. (with R. Campbell)
Vanderkooi XVI Endowed lectureship and continuing education workshop. Dallas, TX, February 6, 2009. Practical ideas for bathroom modifications: From guts to grab bars.
TOTA-Mountain Central Conference. Austin, TX, November 22, 2008. What is in your (assessment) closet? Evaluating clinical utility of assessment tools for best practice.
TOTA-North Trinity District Meeting Presentation. Dallas, TX, February 18, 2008. Home environmental assessment and modifications: New opportunities for Occupational Therapists.
Vanderkooi XV Endowed lectureship and continuing education workshop. Dallas, TX, February 1, 2008. Community-based practice: Rebuilding Together: Partnering in home modifications.
Society for the Study of Occupation: USA, Fifth Annual Research Conference, St. Louis, MO, October 6, 2006. Co-occupation: Conceptualizing Models to Advance Thinking and Knowledge. (presented by co-author K.Pizur-Barnekow).
American Occupational Therapy Association, 86nd Annual Conference, Charlotte, NC, April 27, 2006. Co-occupation: Extending the Dialogue for Research and Clinical Practice.
American Occupational Therapy Association, 86nd Annual Conference, Charlotte, NC, April 28, 2006. The Senior Healthy Living Fair: An Evidence for Practice Direct Learning Model.
5th Annual UWM OT/TR Conference, Milwaukee, WI, February 23, 2004 Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation in End of Life Care. Paper.
5th International Interdisciplinary Conference Advances in Qualitative Methods. Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada, January 29, 2004. Collecting data with terminally ill persons: Blurred
lines of giving and receiving
American Occupational Therapy Association, 82nd Annual Conference, Miami, FL, May, 2002, The Contribution of Occupation to the Good Death.
The Gerontological Society of America, 54th Annual Scientific Meeting, Chicago, IL, November 3, 2001. The Contribution of Occupation to the Good Death.
13th Annual Midwest Dean’s Research Day, March 2000, Milwaukee, WI, The Contribution of Occupation to the Good Death: Transformation of Data.
12th Annual Midwest Dean’s Research Day, March, 1999, Madison, WI, The Meaning of Occupation Surrounding the Dying Process at a Residential Hospice: Preliminary Findings.
World Federation of Occupational Therapy, 12th International Congress, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, June, 1998, On Being a Participant Observer at a Residential Hospice: Methodological Dilemmas.
Honors and Awards
2009 Texas Woman’s University, Chancellor’s Research Fellowship
2008 Texas Woman’s University, Chancellor’s Research Fellowship
2000 University of Wisconsin, Caroline G. Thompson Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
1999 University of Wisconsin, Caroline G. Thompson Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
