Anne A. Escher

Anne A. Escher serves as Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, with extensive clinical experience spanning NICU/pediatric units, geriatric rehabilitation, low vision home care, and community-based interventions for communication disorders.

Her educational background includes:

• OTD, Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, Chatham University (2016)
• MS in Occupational Therapy, Boston University (2008)
• BA in Anthropology, Skidmore College (1998)

Dr. Escher’s scholarship centers on enabling full occupational participation across diverse populations, with specialized expertise in aphasia rehabilitation, low vision adaptations, and health promotion for older adults. She champions inclusive methodologies in both clinical practice and education, recently developing evidence-based frameworks for collaborative goal setting and modified assessment tools to enhance accessibility. Her work consistently bridges theory and practice through community-engaged research.

Analysis of her 2017-2018 publications reveals a cohesive trajectory in community-based occupational therapy, emphasizing translational outcomes for stroke survivors and older adults while advancing methodological rigor in aphasia research. This scholarship directly informs her nationally recognized teaching innovations.

Her distinguished contributions are recognized through:

• American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows (2024)
• Whitney Powers Excellence in Teaching Award, Sargent College (2020)

Dr. Escher actively mentors OTD students through doctoral projects and course instruction, while leading collaborative initiatives like the ‘Inclusive Teaching and Learning for Occupational Therapy Experiential Education’ resource guide. Her research program has been supported by grants including the ‘Intensive Interdisciplinary Treatment Program for Individuals with Stroke-Induced Aphasia’ (2013-2015) and ‘Low Vision Rehabilitation Impact Assessment’ (2012-2013), demonstrating sustained funding success.

Though not leading a formal laboratory, she cultivates scholarly communities through course-based research projects and interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly with speech-language pathologists and vision rehabilitation specialists, to develop innovative interventions for underserved populations.