Cathy Lysack

Cathy Lysack is a Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, where she previously served as Interim Dean from March 2018 to July 2021. Her academic career spans decades with deep institutional integration at Wayne State.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Community Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba (1997)
• MSc in Rehabilitation Therapy from Queen's University (1992)
• BMR in Occupational Therapy from the University of Manitoba (1988)
• BA in Philosophy from the University of Manitoba (1984)

Dr. Lysack's research centers on occupational therapy applications for aging populations, rehabilitation methodologies, and spinal cord injury interventions, with significant emphasis on gerontological frameworks through her affiliation with Wayne State's Institute of Gerontology. Her work bridges clinical practice and community health outcomes.

She has received notable recognition including:

• 2007 Academy of Research from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation
• 2007 Career Development Chair Award from Wayne State University
• 2004 AOTA Service Award
• 2000 College Teaching Excellence Award
• 1999 Detroit Occupational Therapy Association Appreciation Award

Dr. Lysack actively teaches core occupational therapy courses including OT6065 (Research II) and OT7200 (Practice in Aging) across multiple academic terms from 2023-2025, maintaining direct engagement with graduate students while advancing her research agenda through the Institute of Gerontology.