20 New Members Inducted into OT Honor Society

Editor's note: This article was written prior to University of the Sciences' merger with and into Saint Joseph's University and does not reflect the current, combined institution. References to programs, offices, colleges, employees, etc., may be historical information.

20 new members were inducted into Pi Theta Epsilon’s (PTE) Delta Iota chapter at USciences during a ceremony held on November 9, 2021. PTE is a specialized honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni, whose mission is to promote research, leadership, and scholarship.

Faculty, staff, family, and friends joined new PTE members in person and via Zoom to congratulate them. The ceremony featured speakers including Sinclair Smith, ScD, Dean of Samson College of Health Sciences, and USciences alumna Pooja Patel DrOT’17, ORT/L, CDP, National President of Pi Theta Epsilon.

Wendy Walsh, PhD, OTR/L, Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, addressed inductees offering some words of wisdom from her time as an OT student, a member of PTE, and into her career.

“Walk through the door that this induction into PTE has opened,” shared Dr. Walsh. “You are our next generation of researchers, scholars, and leaders in the field of occupational therapy.”

Students recited the PTE oath, and were presented with an honors cord, flower, and a candle to symbolize their shining light.

Criteria for induction into PTE requires students to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and be in the top 35% of their class. The USciences chapter of PTE started in 2013 and continues to grow each year.

2021 PTE inductees:
Emily Bubel
Alexandra Caro
Sally Chea
Oliva Ciraulo
Briya Cohen
Marketa Collins
Katelyn Davino
Caroline Davis
Jessica LaPreta
Breana Larkins
Taylor Lorio
Bridget Mullarkey
Nicole Marchetti
Emily Murray
Marie Lyani Nicandro
Kirsten Pedicone
Justin Roldan
Nicole Roberts
Briana Schaffer
Alison Varghese