Faculty/Staff Information

Assistant professor of Occupational Therapy

Post professional OTD, Thomas Jefferson University (2017)

MA in Occupational Therapy, Uinverity of Southern California (2011)

Bachelors in Occupational Therapy, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, India (2009)

Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Western Oregon University (2024-current)

Adjunct Assistant professor (clinical position), Oregon Health science University (2023-current)

Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Pacific University (2018-2024)

School based occupational therapist (2013-2018)

Member of American Occupational Therapy Association 

Member of Occupational Therapy Association Oregon

My teaching philosophy is centered around co-construction of knowledge, where students are equal and active participants in their learning. I view my role as a facilitator in building students’ critical thinking skills and habits of inquiry, to function in a dynamic healthcare environment. I believe in the importance of experiential learning to help students gain practical professional skills.

Trauma and Trauma Informed Care
Early Intervention and Family centered practice
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Student success and support

Gadkari, S. & Dulek, J. FY23-24 Faculty development grants, Pacific University. $3000
McCarty, CH, Gadkari, S. & Mandulak, K. Open Educational Resources Mini-Grant. Case-based learning materials for best practice and interprofessional collaboration. Funded. $6000 (total)
Luke, P., Gadkari, S. & Boelter, S. Harold Haynes Research Grant for creation of resources to improve virtual learning environments for children. $1050

Occupational therapy with Children & Youth

Evidence based practice (Qualitative research & application)

Assistive Technology

Interprofessional education

Creating a trauma informed occupational therapy workforce

Self-efficacy in therapeutic use of self among occupational therapy students

Selected Publications:

• Gadkari, S., McCarty Harkins, C., & Pock, R. (2023). Instructional Insights: Building well aligned courses. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, Occupational Therapy In Health Care, https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2023.2291785 
• Gadkari, S., & Dulek, J. (2023). An Exploration of Occupational Therapy Faculty Perceptions of Student Behaviors. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 7 (2). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol7/iss2/1 
• Gadkari, S. (2023). Including children with physical impairments in early childhood settings. Teaching Young Children (NAEYC publication), 17 (1), 12-14. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/fall2023 
• Gadkari, S. (2023). Occupational Therapy and ChatGPT. OT Practice, 28 (7). Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/publications/ot-practice/ot-practice-issues/2023/the-advent-of-artificial-intelligence

Selected Presentations:

• Gadkari S., Luke, P. & Michaels, P. (Accepted proposal). Viewing the impact of virtual learning environments through an interdisciplinary lens. AOTA specialty conference: Children & Youth 2024, Seattle, WA.
• Dulek, J. & Gadkari, S. (2024, May 20-22). Faculty perspectives of student resistance: Related behaviors, contributions and suggestions. Lilly conference 2024, Austin, TX. 
• Gadkari, S. (2023, November 8-9). Self-efficacy in therapeutic use of self in occupational therapy students. AOTA Education Summit, Denver, CO [Poster Presentation]
• Gadkari, S., McCarty, C. & Pock, R. (2022, August 8-10). Building well-aligned courses using performance-based objectives. Lilly conference 2022, Asheville, NC.
• Gadkari, S., Dulek, J. & Gorenberg, M. A (2022, March 31-Apr 3). Holistic approach to exploring barriers to learning among occupational therapy graduate students [Poster Presentation]. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual National Conference 2022, San Antonio, TX.

• Cloud, K*, & Gadkari, S. (2023, October 28-29). The role of hippotherapy in improving transitions for children with ASD [Short course presentation]. Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon Annual Conference (2023). Forest Grove, OR
• Bruce, K.*, Sloane, B. & Gadkari, S. Go Baby Go Oregon: Providing play accessibility for children with disabilities. Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon Annual Conference (2023). Forest Grove, OR
• Arvand, K.*, Fairfield, T. & Gadkari, S. The Experience of Parents with Preterm Infants: Through the scope of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. American Occupational Therapy Association Conference 2023 [poster presentation]. 
• Lucas, S.* & Gadkari, S. (2022, October 22). Occupational therapy’s role in peri-operative care in children with ASD [Short course presentation]. Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon Annual Conference (2022). Virtual conference.
• Ly, A.* & Gadkari, S. (2022, March 31-Apr 3). Occupational Therapy’s Role in Pediatric Palliative Care: Advocating for our Discipline’s Role in Emerging Practice Areas [Short course presentation]. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual National Conference 2022, San Antonio, TX.

*student presenter