2026 UIC OT Scholarship of Practice Day
March 6, 2026
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST
Location
Refer to schedule
Calendar
Download iCal FileYOU ARE INVITED TO THE:
2026 UIC OT Scholarship of Practice Day:
Taking Care of Each Other: Broadening the Caregiving Paradigm for OT Education, Research, and Practice
Friday, March 6, 2026, from 11:00am-5:00pm
Register by February 25 at: https://go.uic.edu/SOPDay2026Registration.
Keynote presented by Dr. Beth Fields, PhD, OTR/L, BCG
Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Program
Department of Kinesiology, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Director of the Geriatric Health Services Research Lab
Reimagining Aging Care: From Innovative Interventions to Supportive Policy
Dr. Fields will highlight the innovative hospital- and community-based interventions that improve the health and well-being of older adults and their care partners/givers, along with the policies needed to support their adoption and sustainability. Drawing on examples such as the expansion of CAPABLE beyond Medicaid, the growth of Riding in the Moment™, the implementation of the Dementia Care Partner Hospital Assessment Tool, and the development of the Augmented Reality Home Assessment Tool, we will discuss how policy can accelerate the spread and integration of these approaches to support aging in place.
Location: The program will begin at the UIC Student Center West, 828 S. Wolcott Ave. Concurrent sessions, the poster session and the reception will take place at 1919 W. Taylor St. Zoom option is for the keynote only.
Program
11 am-11:30 am: Check-in
11:30 am – 1:30 pm: Keynote presentation and discussion (light lunch provided)
2 pm – 3:30 pm: Concurrent sessions
- Creating Caring Communities: Culturally Tailored Caregiving Strategies for Families of Children and Adults with IDD—The Role of Promotoras and Community-based programs
- Connection, Partnership, and Well-Being in Caregiver-Practitioner Relationships in Early Childhood: Shifting from "Doing For" to "Doing With"
- Accessing Aging and Disability Resource Center caregiver resources, supports and services to support older adults and people with disabilities to live and participate in their communities
- Designing and Delivering Caregiver Trainings & Resources with Community Organizations
3:30 pm – 5 pm: Evidence-based poster session (light refreshments available)
OT practitioners who are currently licensed in Illinois can earn CE credit for attending, as the UIC Department of Occupational Therapy is a licensed CE provider by IDFPR.
To register and to request accommodations, go to: https://go.uic.edu/SOPDay2026Registration.
This event is offered free of charge to thank OT and disability community members for your mentoring and support in the UIC Department of Occupational Therapy. Sponsorship is provided by the Wade Meyer Endowed Chair Fund, the Velma Reichenbach Clinical Educator Fund and the UIC Department of Occupational Therapy.
For questions or more information, please contact Joy Hammel at hammel@uic.edu or Kristel Flynn at flynn123@uic.edu.
Date posted
Jan 29, 2026
Date updated
Jan 29, 2026
Speakers
