Pronouns:

She/Her

Educational History:

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

Professional Highlights:

Dr. Yeatras serves as the Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor for the MSOT Weekend Program. Since assuming her full-time role, she has demonstrated strategic leadership in fieldwork education, curriculum development, student mentorship, and program advancement.

Prior to her full-time appointment, Dr. Yeatras served as an adjunct faculty member for two years, cultivating a strong foundation in clinical instruction and academic mentorship. Her doctoral capstone examined the role and professional identity of occupational therapy within an outpatient multidisciplinary team serving individuals with ALS and muscular dystrophy, reinforcing her commitment to interprofessional collaboration and emerging practice areas.

Dr. Yeatras leads the Fieldwork sequence and teaches across core courses, including Case Groups and Community Applications. She works to ensure curricular alignment, academic rigor, and a cohesive learning experience across the program. Her teaching effectiveness is reflected in consistently strong course evaluations.

In her role as Director of Clinical Education, Dr. Yeatras partners closely with current and prospective fieldwork sites, conducts Level II site visits, and develops new placement opportunities to expand student access and strengthen community partnerships. She has also designed and implemented individualized remediation pathways, including structured Canvas modules and supplemental Level I placements, supporting student progression and successful transition to Level II fieldwork.

Dr. Yeatras is actively engaged in division and university service. She serves on the Admissions, Curriculum, and Search Committees and contributes to initiatives aligned with ACOTE standards and program development. As a member of the Global Engagement in Learning (GEL) Committee, she co-leads an international experience in Ecuador and leads an additional GEL initiative in Dominica, advancing global partnerships and experiential learning opportunities for students.

In 2026, Dr. Yeatras attended the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, where she engaged in international collaboration, explored emerging global practice trends, and cultivated new partnerships. This experience informs her commitment to integrating global health perspectives, cultural humility, and evolving international standards into the MSOT curriculum.

Dr. Yeatras remains clinically active as a PRN occupational therapist, maintaining contemporary practice expertise that informs her teaching and fieldwork leadership, with particular interest in occupational therapy’s role in dementia care.

Committed to fostering professional identity and community, Dr. Yeatras leads cohort culture initiatives and launched a structured Year 1–Year 2 mentorship program to support student development across the curriculum.

Dr. Yeatras is dedicated to advancing occupational therapy education, strengthening clinical partnerships, and expanding the profession’s impact both locally and globally.

Research

Current Research Topics:

• Development of a Module on Sustainable Global Partnerships in Virtual Occupational Therapy Education
• 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

Personal Highlights:

Outside of her professional roles, Dr. Yeatras enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, paddleboarding, and kayaking. She also treasures time with her two dogs, a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier and a Pitsky. Deeply connected to her heritage, she honors her grandfather—an immigrant from Greece who founded a local Greek Orthodox church—by volunteering in her Greek community to help preserve his legacy.

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