Dr. Falzarano’s first career as a theatrical performer, dance instructor, choreographer, and professional puppeteer contributes to her creative therapeutic use of self in all areas of occupational therapy practice. She was a practicing occupational therapist for more than 19 years in acute and sub-acute adult care with her primary area in pediatric and school-based practice.  She has also worked in skilled nursing facilities with geriatric patients and with adult and pediatric rehabilitation. She has worked in public and private school systems with children with severe physical and medically fragile conditions, learning disabilities, developmental delays and children with autistic spectrum disorders.

Dr. Falzarano is active at the state and national levels for the New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association (NJOTA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the American Music Therapy Association and the ASAH (formally the Association of Schools and Agencies of the Handicapped.) 

Department/Division: Department of Occupational Therapy

Degree Information: Ph.D., Medical Health Science: Leadership, Seton Hall University, N.J.

Courses Taught: Seminar in Pediatrics in Occupational Therapy, Research Methods, Advanced Research, Research Thesis Advisor.

Primary Area of Expertise: Pediatric practice in occupational therapy

Advice for Students Preparing for Your Class: “Read the text and studies to be able to join the conversation and demonstrate and apply clinical reasoning about the readings and clinical experiences to link to the science, art, theory and evidence that guides occupational therapy practice.”