Meet our Alumni
Graduates of the WVU Division of Occupational Therapy continue to be recognized as leaders in rehabilitation, hospital administration, higher education, entrepreneurship, and more! Meet our graduates!
Meet Digitial Innovation Leader, Meredith Mull!
Meredith Mull, MOT, OTR/L, is working daily to innovate and transform the future of healthcare. She is Certified as an Aging in Place Specialist, HIPPA Privacy Administrator, and in Remote Patient Monitoring. Mull has also continued her educational journal with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with an emphasis on Population Health Management.
She currently guest lectures in the Division of Occupational Therapy on the use of digital innovation including digital medicine and digital therapeutics for occupational therapy interventions. As a guest lecturer, Mull provides exposure for occupational therapy students to novel neurotherapeutics including MindMaze. She certainly exemplifies the Mountaineers Go First spirit as she innovates, educates, and transforms the future of healthcare.
Meet Chief Compliance Officer, Ester Jones!
Ester has a Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Medical Technology and her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy (OT)- both from West Virginia University. She began her professional OT career working in an outpatient rehabilitation hospital. Ester then accepted a job as an Occupational Therapist working in a Long Term Care setting. She was quickly promoted to a Program Manager and again to a Clinical Specialist. In 2008, Ester was hired by Odyssey Rehabilitation as the Vice President of Operations. In January of 2013, Ester was promoted to Chief Compliance Officer and currently serves in this position.
Ester is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), a Certified Dementia Trainer (CDT), a Geriatric Specialist (GS), and a Certified Online Training Professional (COTP).
Meet Leader of the Year, Missy Covert!
Missy Covert, Director of Rehabilitation Services, was named Camden Clark Medical Center’s Leader of the Year for 2021. Missy began her career at Camden Clark 12 years ago as an occupational therapist, became a team leader in December 2011, and then Director of Rehabilitation Services in May 2020. Missy’s department consistently receives high satisfaction scores.
Her accomplishments include developing a Safe Patient Mobility Program, which improves both patient and workforce safety, and also a Music Therapy Program. She is now working to expand Rehabilitation Services into Women’s and Children’s Services, focusing on intervention with at-risk newborns.
Meet Innovator and Entrepreuneur, Cara Daubenspeck!
Cara Daubenspeck, OTR/L, IBCLC, CIMI-2 is West Virginia’s first and only dual-role Occupational Therapist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
In addition to her IBCLC certification, Daubenspeck is also a TummyTime! Method Professional, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, and Tethered Oral Tissue Specialty Trained (TOTs). She owns a private practice in Charleston, WV, helping families feed their babies holistically and meet their feeding goals.
Meet Brain Injury Expert, Dr. Amanda Acord-Vira!
In collaboration with the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities, Associate Professor Amanda Acord-Vira, EdD, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, FAOTA of the WVU School of Medicine's Division of Occupational Therapy was awarded a one-million-dollar grant ($200,000 x 5 years) from the Administration for Community Living TBI State Partnership Grant Program.
Dr. Amanda Acord-Vira received her Masters of Occupational Therapy and Doctorate of Education in Educational Psychology from WVU. She also obtained her Graduate Certificate in Special Education and Traumatic Brain Injury from George Washington University and co-authored the Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury with Dr. Steven Wheeler, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA. In addition, Dr. Acord-Vira is a co-investigator on a grant for adapting a fall prevention program for individuals with traumatic brain injury and another grant for preparing physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) students for their roles in physical activity and life/leisure skills education for persons with opioid addiction. She also serves as the editor for the American Occupational Therapy Special Interest Section for Work and Industry and is the co-chair of the WV TBI Advisory Board.
Meet Dementia Care Expert, Jami Myers!
Building upon her occupational therapy education, Jami Myers, MOT, OTR/L has experience and expertise in the field of dementia care and currently serves as a Positive Approach to Care Mentor and Designated Organization Director. Founded by occupational therapist Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Positive Approach to Care® enhances the life and relationships of those living with brain change by fostering an inclusive global community.
Meet Certified Hand Therapist, Seth Powers!
Brandon "Seth" Powers, MOT, OTR/L, CHT brings over twelve years of experience as an occupational therapist with nine years of experience in outpatient orthopedic practice. Earning the credential of Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) in 2014, Powers has demonstrated advanced clinical skills and theory in the rehabilitation of the upper extremity. His professional passions include mentoring new therapists and providing clinical education.
Growing up in West Virginia and attending West Virginia University for undergraduate and graduate studies, Powers appreciates the important role that the WVU School of Medicine plays in training health professionals within our state. Within his role as an assistant professor in the Division of Occupational Therapy, Powers serves primarily in a clinical role providing outpatient occupational therapy services at the WVU Medicine University Town Center. Additionally, Powers provides classroom and laboratory-based didactic instruction.
Meet Regional Director of Rehabilitation, LuAnn Mott!
LuAnn Mott, MOT, OTR/L was instrumental in innovating a Level 1 fieldwork utilizing a telehealth model to ensure OT student progression during the pandemic. Her service and dedication to WVU OT is exemplary.
In addition to her MOT degree earned from WVU in 2007, LuAnn also earned a Master's in Physical Education from WVU in 2001. Her OT career has been focused on geriatric care with an emphasis on inpatient rehabilitation. LuAnn’s excellence has been highlighted while elevating in the roles of Director of Rehab, Senior Director of Rehab, and Regional Director of Rehab.
Meet Regional Director of Rehabiliation, Luke Davis!
Luke Davis, MOT, MBA, OTR/L was appointed by Governor Daniel J. McKee to the Permanent Advisory Commission on Traumatic Brain Injuries to represent Community-Based Services in Rhode Island.
Combined with his educational and clinical expertise, Davis currently serves in the role of Regional Director of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services in Rhode Island for the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. In this role, he has oversight of 9 outpatient clinics in the Care New England network for Kent Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, and the CNE Medical Group. Additionally, he provides oversight for inpatient therapy at Women & Infants Hospital.
Meet Board Certified Pediatric Occupational Therapists!
Three WVU alumni are the first exam-based Board Certified Pediatric (BCP) occupational therapists in West Virginia. This distinction has been accomplished by fewer than 1% of all occupational therapists nationally. Breanna Adkins, MOT, OTR/L, BCP is an assistant professor in the WVU Division of Occupational Therapy. Annika Lafferty, MOT, OTR/L, BCP is the Chief Operating Officer at Best Life Therapy. She organizes all aspects of therapist mentoring and delivery of services throughout WV schools, early intervention, and telepractice. Meghen Milinovich, MOT, OTR/L, BCP has pediatric clinical experience in outpatient, school-based, and early intervention settings.