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PORTLAND, Maine

Jane O'Brien co-edits new edition of 'Pediatric Skills for Occupational Therapy Assistants'

Jane O'Brien, Ph.D., OTR/L, associate professor and director of the University of New England's Department of Occupational Therapy, is co-editor  of the 3rd edition of Pediatric Skills for Occupational Therapy Assistants (St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby).

This textbook is written specifically for the occupational therapy assistant and covers the fundamentals of pediatric practice, including scope of practice, normal development, pediatric health conditions and intervention planning. It is co-edited by Jean Solomon, MHS, OTR/L  Occupational Therapist in Berkeley County School District.

Dr. O'Brien co-authored eight chapters in the text. This updated and revised edition also includes five chapters by UNE occupational therapy alumni including: 

  • "Positioning and Handling: A Neurodevelopmental Approach" by Lisa Baillargeon '09, Katherine (Billings) Michaud '09, Katie Fortier '09 and Chou-fsien Lin '09.
  • "Activities of Daily Living" by Michelle Desjardins '04 and Julie Savoyski '05. 
  • "Instrumental Activities of Daily Living" by Caryn Birstler Hussman '04 and Barbara Steva '07.
  • "Play and Playfulness" by Jane O‚ÄôBrien and Gwendolyn Duren '11.
  • "Orthoses, Orthosis Fabrication and Taping" by Allyson (LaChance) Barry '05 and Melissa (Mailhot) Stevens '05.

Jane O'Brien

Dr. O'Brien has more than 20 years of clinical experience working in pediatric occupational therapy. She taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Medical University of South Carolina before returning to Maine. 

She has conducted research and published on a variety of topics including motor control issues of children, play, sensory integration, reaction time, Model of Human Occupation, and purposeful activity.  Dr. O'Brien is currently evaluating the outcomes of an innovative after school program to improve physical and nutritional habits of children.

In addition to Pediatric Skills for Occupational Therapy Assistants, she is co-editor of Occupational Therapy for Children (6th ed.) and author of Introduction to Occupational Therapy (3rd ed.). 

Dr. O'Brien graduated from the University of Maine at Orono, received her master's of science in occupational therapy from Boston University, and her doctoral degree in Exercise Science from University of South Carolina.