Dalmina Arias, OTD, OTR/L
Clinical Assistant Professor
Coordinator of Student Outreach and Enrollment
Occupational Therapy
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Contact
Building & Room:
341 AHSB
Address:
1919 W. Taylor St.
Office Phone:
Email:
CV Download:
About
Dalmina Arias, OTD, OTR/L, is a clinical assistant professor and Coordinator of Student Outreach and Enrollment in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Her clinical experience as an occupational therapist spans across the inpatient, outpatient, and home settings. Dr. Arias clinically serves as an occupational therapy practitioner at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital.
Dr. Arias teaches several core courses in UIC’s Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (E-OTD) program, including Introductory OT Knowledge and Skills, Integrating Conceptual Practice Models with the OT Process, and Occupational Performance and Participation. She also serves as the lead instructor for Policy, Payment, Advocacy, and Access to OT.
Dr. Arias' research interests include addressing health disparities among minoritized individuals from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. Dr. Arias is involved in creating evidence-informed health promotion interventions that address health disparities due to access, quality of care, and cultural barriers for individuals with chronic health conditions.
Dr. Arias was selected as a Resource Centers for Minority Aging (RCMAR) Scholar, where her research investigates culturally responsive, community-engaged approaches to enhance chronic disease management and promote healthy aging among Spanish-speaking older adults.
Dr. Arias was also named an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) RISE Diverse Leaders Program (DLP) Scholar, reflecting her national recognition as a leader in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the profession. As a DLP Scholar, Dr. Arias is developing evidence-informed pathway programs that expand access and support for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds pursuing careers in occupational therapy.
Selected Grants
National Institute on Aging, Center for Health Equity in Cognitive Aging - Joining Population Science and Health Promotion, Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Scholar and Principal Investigator
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Health Equity Pilot Project, Me4Me, Clinical Researcher
Selected Publications
Arias, D., Mirza, M., & Fischer, H. (2024). Preliminary efficacy of an OT intervention to prevent functional decline among older adults with chronic diseases. Innovation in Aging, 8(Suppl 1), 1266.
Mirza, M., Fischer, H. C., & Arias, D. (2024). Modifiable Predictors of Social Participation in Older Adults With Chronic Disease: Identifying Targets for OT Intervention. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(Supplement_2), 7811505016p1-7811505016p1.
Lin, T., Fisher, G., Arias, D., Pritchard, K. & Barry, M. (2023). Applying MOHO in inpatient settings: Working with adults with acute medical conditions of functional limitations. In R. R. Taylor, P. Bowyer & G. Fisher (Eds.), Kielhofner’s Model of Human Occupation (6th Edition). Wolters Kluwer.
Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Arias, D., & Muñoz, J. P. (2023). Promoting justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion through caring communities: Why it matters to occupational therapy. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(6), 7706347020.
Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Balcazar, F., Arias, D., Garcia Torres, M. & Garcia, C. (2022). Goal-setting with Latinx families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Behavior and Social Issues, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-022-00094-2.
Early, A., Suarez-Balcazar, Y., & Arias, D. (2021). Latinx parent’s perceptions of neighborhood walking safety for their youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A Mixed Methods Study. Family & Community Health. DOI:10.1097/FCH.0000000000000274
Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Early, A., Miranda, D., Arias, D., Garcia, C. & Lopez, G. (2021). Immigrant families with youth with disabilities participating in civic engagement to promote social justice. Social Justice Research Collaborative. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5210/sjrc.v0i0.11751
Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Early, A., Garcia, C., Balcazar, D., Arias, D. & Morales, M. (2020). Walkability safety and walkability participation: A health concern. The Journal of Health Education and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198120903256
Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Early, A., Maldonado, A., Garcia, C., Arias, D., Zeidman, A., Agudelo-Orozco, A. (2018). Community-based participatory research to promote healthy lifestyles among Latino immigrant families with youth with disabilities. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 25, 1-11. 10.1080/11038128.2018.1502348.
Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Agudelo, A., Garcia, C., Arias, D., Smith, K., & Bonner, B. (2016). Benefits of a culturally-tailored healthy lifestyles intervention for Latino youth with disabilities and their families. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70(5). 10.5014/ajot.2016.021949.
Publication Aggregators
Professional Leadership
Co-Founder, The OT Chicago Collective
Director of Finance, Illinois Occupational Therapy Association
Education Committee, Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity
Diverse Leader Program Scholar, American Occupational Therapy Association
Scholar, Resource Center for Minority Aging Research
Professional Memberships
Gerontological Society for America
American Occupational Therapy Association
Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity
Illinois Occupational Therapy Association
Selected Presentations
Arias, D. (2025). Culturally Adapting the IPROACTIF Intervention for Spanish-Speaking Latinx Older Adults with
Hypertension and Diabetes. Short oral presentation for the RCMAR Annual Meeting; April 23; Arlington, VA.
Mirza, M. Fischer, H. & Arias, D. (2025). Preliminary efficacy of an OT intervention to prevent functional
decline. Short Course. Oral presentation for the AOTA Annual Conference; April 4; Philadelphia, PA.
Arias, D., Mirza, M., & Fischer, H. (2024). Preliminary efficacy of an OT intervention to prevent functional
decline among older adults with chronic diseases. Poster presentation for the Gerontological Society for
America Annual Conference; November 12; Seattle, WA.
Arias, D., Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Mirza, M. & Lee, J. (2024). Creating equitable pathways- reimagining
occupational therapy education through decolonized pedagogy and inclusive teaching strategies. Short course
for the AOTA Annual Conference; March 21; Orlando, Fl.
Arias, D. (2023). Enhancing diabetes self-management for Latinx adults: evidence-based and culturally-tailored
approaches in occupational therapy practice. Short course for the ILOTA Conference; November; Virtual.