Renee Causey-Upton

Name and Contact

• Renee Causey-Upton, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, CLA, FAOTA

• Email: renee.causey-upton@eku.edu 

Training and Advanced Certifications

• AOTA Academic Leadership Institute, 2022 

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kentucky, 2018

• Marketing Strategy for Business Leaders Certificate, Cornell University, 2013

• Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Chatham University, 2011

• Entry-level education: 

  • Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Eastern Kentucky University, 2008

  • Bachelor of Science in Occupational Science, Eastern Kentucky University, 2006

• Deep Physical Agent Modalities (DPAMs) Supervisor, KBLOT, 2013

• Deep Physical Agent Modalities (DPAMs) Certification, KBLOT, 2011

Area(s) of Expertise

• Academia

• Journal editing and publication: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

• Regulatory affairs

• Acute care

• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation

Awards and Honors

• AOTA Roster of Fellows Award (FAOTA), 2023

• ASHA Convention Meritorious Poster, “Five Secrets to Gaining Clinician Acceptance and Creating Sustainable Telepractice Programs," 2022

• APEX Award for Publication Excellence: Magazines, Journals & Tabloids-Electronic, Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2022

• AOTA designation of Credentialed Leader in Academia (CLA), 2022 

• Outgoing Leadership Service Award, Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association, 2021

Leadership Accomplishments and Passions

• Founding Associate Editor for the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education (JOTE), 2016-present

• Associate Chair, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Eastern Kentucky University, 2022-present

• Chair, Kentucky Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy (KBLOT), 2023-present; Member, 2021-2022

• Commissioner, Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, 2022-present

  • OT Compact Commission Executive Committee- Officer/Secretary, 2022-present

• City of Georgetown Ethics Board, 2022-present

• Associate Editor for the Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy (JACOT), 2021-present

• American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) Scholarship Selection Committee- Committee member, 2022-present; Applicant reviewer, 2019-2021

• Vice President, Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA), 2019-2021

• Developed the Conceptual Model of Leisure Engagement for Quality of Life in Nursing Home Residents (LEQoL-NH), 2015: https://doi.org/10.3109/02703181.2015.1024301

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