Jennifer Lape, OTD, OTR/L

Program Director, Associate Professor

412-365-1559

Eastside 213

Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, PA
Joined Chatham: August 2009

ACADEMIC AREAS OF INTEREST

Applied Research & Evidence-Based Practice; Interprofessional Collaboration, Teambuilding, & Leadership; Geriatric Occupational Therapy Practice; Scholarship of Teaching & Learning; Kawa model.

PERSONAL AREAS OF INTEREST

Traveling, baking, reading, running, hiking, attending concerts, playing the piano, and camping.

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BIOGRAPHY

Jennifer E. Lape, OTD, MOT, OTR/L is an Associate Professor and Program Director in the Occupational Therapy Department at Chatham University. She earned her Doctorate and Master of Occupational Therapy from Chatham University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She provides academic leadership for both entry-level and post-professional doctoral programs, and teaches courses in evidence-based practice/research, capstone design and implementation, leadership, evaluation methods, and educational technology.

Dr. Lape brings over two decades of clinical experience across geriatric, pediatric, and interdisciplinary care settings, with a particular expertise in dementia care, multisensory interventions, and systems-level quality improvement. Her scholarship focuses on evidence-based practice, occupational therapy education, the Kawa Model, and community-engaged interventions. She is the author of Research & Evidence-Based Practice for the Health Professional (4th ed.) and has published and presented extensively at state, national, and international conferences. A credentialed academic leader and active clinician, Dr. Lape is committed to developing practice-ready occupational therapists through innovative curricula, authentic assessment, and mentorship grounded in research, leadership, and service.

EDUCATION

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy, Chatham Universtiy, 2008
Master of Occupational Therapy, Chatham University, 1999
Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 1997

ORGANIZATIONS

Member, American Occupational Therapy Association
Member, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association

CERTIFICATIONS

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (initial certification 1999)

AWARDS

Professional Sabbatical—Scholarly work, May—August 2024.
- Completed draft of 16-chapter academic textbook, Research for the Health Professional, 4^th edition, instructor’s guide, and supplemental materials.
Credentialed Leader in Academia, American Occupational Therapy Association, Awarded 2023.
2-year Faculty Technology Fellowship, Chatham University, Awarded June 2015
Snoezelen in Dementia Care, Keynote, Penn State Mont Alto 5^th Annual Education Day, November 5, 2011, Honorarium.
Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, Chatham University, Awarded August 21, 1999.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Lape, J.E., & Hissong, A.N. (2025). Research & evidence-based practice for the health professional (4^th ed.). F.A. Davis. https://www.fadavis.com/product/occupational-therapy-baileys-research-health-professional-hissong-4
Lape, J.E. (2023). Module 2: Professional responsibility and service delivery. In G. Tucker-Roghi, & Foidel, S. (Eds.), Board Certification in Gerontology Examination Review Course. American Occupational Therapy Association. https://myaota.aota.org/shop_aota/product/OL8930S
Morin, A.M.F., & Lape, J.E. (2023). Feasibility of a stress reduction program among foster youth in college. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 11(3), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2050
Hamilton, J., Lape, J.E., & Lee, A.L. (2023). Use of an adaptive climbing program to improve social skills in children with developmental delays: A feasibility study. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 21(1), Article 6. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ijahsp/vol21/iss1/6/
Harshbarger, A., & Lape, J.E. (2022, Nov. 1). Fall prevention using the Kawa model with community-dwelling older adults. AOTA Productive Aging Special Interest Section.
https://www.aota.org/publications/sis-quarterly/productive-aging-sis/pasis-11-22
Ober, J.L., Newbury, R.S., & Lape, J.E. (2022). The dynamic use of the Kawa Model: A scoping review. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 10(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1952
Sheard, K.L., Lape, J.E., Weissberg, K. (2022). Occupational therapy-led delirium management in long-term acute care: A pilot. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02703181.2022.2043983
Zahoransky, M.A., & Lape, J.E. (2020). Telehealth and home health occupational therapy: Clients’ perceived satisfaction with and perception of occupational performance. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 12(2), 105-124.
https://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Telerehab/article/view/6327
Shaffer, E.J., Lape, J.E., & Salls, J. (2020). Decreasing stress for parents of special needs children through a web-based mindfulness program: A pilot study. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 18(4), Article 16. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ijahsp/vol18/iss4/16/
Martino, E., & Lape, J.E. (2020). Occupational therapy in the preschool classroom: Promoting fine motor and visual motor skills for kindergarten readiness. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2020.1822261
Newbury, R.S., & Lape, J.E. (2021). Well-being, aging in place, and use of the Kawa Model: A pilot study. Annals of International Occupational Therapy, 4(1), 15-25. https://doi.org/10.3928/24761222-20200413-02
Provident, I., & Lape, J. (2020). Demonstrating occupational therapy's distinct value: Addressing the Quadruple Aim of Healthcare through doctoral capstone projects. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 8(3), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1686

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Referred Presentations

Lape, J.E., & Daeschner, C. (2025, April 3). Using grants to enhance doctoral capstones & student training. Professional Presentation, American Occupational Therapy INSPIRE 2025 Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Barricklow, M., & Lape, J.E. (2025, April 3). Beyond the clinic: Using your OT skills to pay the bills. Professional Presentation, American Occupational Therapy INSPIRE 2025 Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Lape, J.E., Huth, L., Gett, M., & Fedorchak, A. (2025, April 5). Student perceptions of entrustment scales in lab competencies. Professional Presentation, American Occupational Therapy INSPIRE 2025 Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Fischer, M., & Lape, J.E. (2024, March 23). Impact of parent education sessions on understanding & promoting developmental milestones. Professional Presentation, American Occupational Therapy INSPIRE 2024 Conference, Orlando, FL.
Lape, J.E., Gett, M.E., & Romaniw, A. (2024, March 22). The value of holistic admissions review in diversity, equity, & inclusion efforts. Professional Presentation, American Occupational Therapy INSPIRE 2024 Conference, March 2024, Orlando, FL.
Gett, M., & Romaniw, A., & Lape, J.E. (2023, November 10). A holistic admissions process in an entry-level occupational therapy doctoral program. Professional Presentation, American Occupational Therapy Education Summit, November 2023, Denver, CO.
Ober, J.L., Newbury, R.S., & Lape, J.E. (2023, April 21). The dynamic use of the Kawa Model. Professional Presentation, American Occupational Therapy INSPIRE 2023 Conference, April 2023, Kansas City, MO.
Lape, J.E. (2022, April 1). Using ‘Brain Color’ to improve provision & acceptance of constructive feedback in an OTD program. Professional Presentation, American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Ober, J.L., & Lape, J.E. (2020, October 9). Facilitating rehabilitation team collaboration with the Kawa model. Professional Presentation, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Virtual Annual Conference.

Invited Presentations

Lape, J. (2025, October 21). Application of the Kawa model, Guest Lecture, OT Models & Occupational Science Course, Chatham University Entry-level OTD Program, Pittsburgh, PA.
Lape, J. (2025, May 21). Inside the 4^th edition: Research & evidence-based practice for the health professional, Webinar, F.A. Davis, Philadelphia, PA.
Lape, J. (2024, October 22). History of the Kawa model, Guest Lecture, OT Models & Occupational Science Course, Chatham University Entry-level OTD Program, Pittsburgh, PA.
Lape, J. (2023, October 24). Quantitative methods & analysis, Guest Lecture & interactive activity, Outcome Measures and Methods course, Chatham University Entry-level OTD Program, Pittsburgh, PA.
Lape, J. (2023, September 26). The Kawa model, Guest Lecture, Models of Practice course, Chatham University Entry-level OTD Program, Pittsburgh, PA.
Lape, J. (2022, October 13). The Kawa model, Guest Lecture, Models of Practice course, Chatham University Entry-level OTD Program, Pittsburgh, PA.
Lape, J. (2022, January 26). Quality assurance/Performance improvement, Guest Lecture, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
Lape, J. (2021, September 30). The Kawa model, Guest Lecture, Models of Practice course, Chatham University Entry-level OTD Program, Pittsburgh, PA.
Lape, J. (2021, September 28). Use of multi-sensory environments in dementia care: A laboratory experience, Guest Lecture & Laboratory Activity, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
Lape, J. (2021, March 26). Teambuilding for school-based practice, Continuing Education Live Webinar, Georgia Alliance of School Occupational and Physical Therapists (GASOPT) 2021 Spring Virtual Conference.
Lape, J. (2020, October 6). Dementia & multi-sensory environment laboratory experience, Guest Lecture, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
Lape, J. (2020, August 20). Constructive student feedback in a virtual/online environment, Professional Presentation, School of Health Sciences Faculty Meeting, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Lape, J. (2020, March 9). Considering personality type for success in the work environment, Guest Lecture, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.