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Hometown: Creekside, PA
Joined Chatham: 2021

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Melissa Gett is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy program at Chatham University, where she teaches in the Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (ELOTD) program and the online Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) to OTD track. She is actively involved in curriculum development, including the design and alignment of courses across the ELOTD and OTA-to-OTD pathways.

Dr. Gett earned her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Utica College of Syracuse University and her Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She brings over 27 years of clinical experience across diverse practice settings, including acute and subacute care, home health, pediatric and outpatient rehabilitation, hand and upper extremity rehabilitation, and rehabilitation management.

Her teaching and scholarship focus on evidence-based practice, competency-based education, holistic and inclusive student support, interprofessional education, and animal-assisted interventions. Dr. Gett maintains clinical competency through home modification evaluations and in-home safety assessments for adults and older adults and currently serves as Coordinator for the OTA-to-OTD program.

Outside of her professional roles, Dr. Gett enjoys spending time with her family, pets, and grandson, as well as camping, traveling, baking, and engaging in a wide range of musical interests.

ACADEMIC AREAS OF INTEREST

Acute care practice, Biomechanics for orthopedic and hand rehabilitation, Animal-Assisted Interventions, Interprofessional Education, Adult Home Modifications and Safe-At-Home Aging in Place, Evidence-based Practice and Competency-Based Education.

PERSONAL AREAS OF INTEREST

Spending time with family and with her pets, camping, traveling, baking, and having a span of musical interests.

EDUCATION

• Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, 2019
• Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, Utica College of Syracuse University, 1997

ORGANIZATIONS

• American Occupational Therapy Association 1998 - Present
• Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association 2018 - Present
• Member of Pet Partners Organization 2022 - Present
• Member of the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals, 2022 - Present

CERTIFICATIONS

• Pennsylvania State Licensure
• National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
• CPR Certified
• Certified – Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Bondoc, S., & Gett, M. (n.d.). Elbow and forearm immobilization. In B. M. Coppard & H. L. Lohman (Eds.), Introduction to orthotics: A clinical reasoning and problem-solving approach (6^th, Chapter 10). Elsevier Health Sciences.
• Bondoc, S., & Gett, M. (n.d.). Orthotic provision to manage spasticity. In B. M. Coppard & H. L. Lohman (Eds.), Introduction to orthotics: A clinical reasoning and problem-solving approach (6^th, Chapter 15). Elsevier Health Sciences.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

• Gett, M. (2020, October 11). A pawsitive touch on care: Therapy dogs in transitional care settings. Professional Presentation, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Virtual.
• Gett, M. & Novalis S. (2021, October 22). Collaboration on systematic review: Transition from clinician to academician. 2021 AOTA Education Summit.
• Gett, M. & Schreiber, J. (2022, October 1). Health literacy in OT: Do you know what I mean? Professional Presentation, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference.
• Gett, M., Lape, J., & Romaniw, A. (2023, November 11). A holistic admissions process in an entry-level OT doctoral program. AOTA Ed Summit Conference, Denver, CO.
• Lape, J., Gett, M., & Romaniw, A. (2024, March 22). The value of holistic admissions review in diversity, equity, & inclusion efforts. American Occupational Therapy Association Conference.
• Black, M., & Gett, M. (2024, June & 2025, April). The Importance of Occupational Therapy Adaptations in Sled Hockey. Poster presentation at AOTA Inspire 2025 and POTA 2024 Conference.
• Lape, J., Huth, L., Gett, M., & Fedorchak, A. (2024, June). Student Perceptions of Entrustment Scales in Lab Competencies. Poster presentation at AOTA Inspire 2025.
• Steffy, P., Gett, M., Daeschner, C. (2025, April). Utilizing The Capstone Experience for Advocacy Efforts Within Occupational Therapy. Poster presentation at AOTA Inspire 2025.
• Wintermantel, F., Gett, M., Schreiber, J., & Daeschner, C. (2025, September). Minds of All Kinds: Neurodiversity in Higher Education. Short course presentation at POTA 2025 Conference.
• Steffy, P., Gett, M., Daeschner, C., & Bondoc, S. (2024, March 23). Exposure to OT at the undergraduate level.” AOTA Inspire 2024 Conference