MSOT standout aims to advance use of 3-D prosthetic hands

As a high school student, Regina Rossi perused occupational therapy programs and Alvernia’s stood out. “When I discovered the school offered a five-year OT program, I was intrigued and when I visited the beautiful campus and spoke to the dedicated faculty and staff, I was hooked.”

Through the Alvernia program, in five years a student can attain a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and an Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

Four years later, due to Rossi’s hard work and outstanding academic achievements, she is the recipient of the Senior Scholar Award, a $10,000 scholarship awarded to a senior who has maintained at least a 3.7 GPA and is invested in research. She was also awarded the Fromm Interfaith Scholarship and has served as a Golden Guide Ambassador.

Rossi praises her professors for their personal attention when she had questions and their dedication to preparing her for fieldwork. They have also been instrumental in helping her develop critical thinking skills, thrive academically and personally, and grow in confidence to achieve her goals.

“Throughout my time at Alvernia, all of my professors have been outstanding," she said. "Most recently, Dr. Greg Chown has been instrumental in helping me in my Senior Scholar work. I was invited to present at three international conferences in Dubai, Rome and France. His guidance has been paramount through his creative thinking, problem-solving skills and experience. I am learning so much and am incredibly grateful for his mentorship.”

Rossi also credits her extracurricular activities with fostering long-lasting relationships.

“I have had such an incredible on-campus experience at Alvernia," she said. "There is always something to do…Bingo, the Escape Rooms and so much more.”

In 2018 she was able to visit South Korea for two weeks.

“I still get cravings for the delicious food and I was able to learn about the culture, see historic places and meet so many wonderful people," she reminisced.

Shortly, Rossi will be going out to work full time for her fieldwork experience. According to this ambitious young lady: “I have truly considered Alvernia my home away from home. This is a place to grow, learn and practice. The OT program is a rigorous one and the experiential learning has prepared me well to work in the field. As part of my scholarship efforts, I am creating 3-D printed prosthetic hands and distributing them to people nationally and internationally. I will then survey recipients to analyze their quality of life and ability to participate in meaningful activities before and after receiving the prosthetic.”

According to Rossi’s mentor, Occupational Therapy Professor Greg Chown: “Regina Rossi's enthusiasm and passion to help others is evident in her Senior Scholar research. She is investigating the impact on the use of 3-D prosthetic hands. Traditional prosthetics can be difficult to access and costly. Regina's drive and leadership has helped to advance scholarly work in the fabrication and use of 3-D prosthetic hands. Currently, she has assisted in producing over 10 3-D printed prosthetics. This important work by Regina will help those with upper extremity amputations and also allow healthcare professionals alternative ways to provide affordable and accessible assistive devices.”