Educational History:

B.S., Christopher Newport University; OTD, Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences

Professional Highlights:

Dr. Yeatras is an occupational therapist with five years of clinical experience, specializing in geriatrics, dementia care, and aging in place. She has held various leadership roles, including regional quality assurance liaison, mentor, sponsor, fieldwork educator, and instructor of geriatric exercise classes.

Before joining the Division of Occupational Therapy as the full-time Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Dr. Yeatras served as an adjunct faculty member for two years, bringing a strong foundation in clinical education and mentorship. Her doctoral capstone project focused on the role and professional identity of occupational therapy within an outpatient multidisciplinary team supporting individuals with ALS and muscular dystrophy.

Currently, Dr. Yeatras is passionate about expanding occupational therapy’s role in global healthcare. She is co-leading an upcoming Global Engagement in Learning (GEL) trip, furthering her commitment to advancing occupational therapy practice and education on an international scale

Research

Current Research Topics:

• Exploring Occupational Therapy’s Role in Foster Care; collaborating with MSOT students
• Developing a Hands-On Remediation Course; serving as lead faculty
• Clinic to Classroom: Examining an Academic Fieldwork Experience; serving as contributing faculty

Quote:

I still have the quote that my first occupational therapy professor gave me in my graduate program, “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” -Seth Godin