Lisa Mahaffey

Dr. Lisa Mahaffey is a Professor of Occupational Therapy at Midwestern University's College of Health Sciences, specializing in disability studies, mental health, and policy advocacy. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and has extensive leadership roles, including President of the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) and Board member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Her research focuses on disability identity, mental health interventions, and occupational justice, with ongoing projects in Denmark and a federally funded grant training program. She teaches courses in disability studies, group therapy, and policy, mentoring students annually. Dr. Mahaffey has been recognized as a Fellow of AOTA (FAOTA).

Education:

• PhD in Disability Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago (2018)
• MS in Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago (1992)
• BS in Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin - Madison (1984)

Research Interests: Dr. Mahaffey's work explores self-determination in mental health, occupational identity, and policy to address health inequities. Current projects include evaluating community mental health interventions and collaborating on disability studies research in Denmark.

Grants & Awards:

• Principal Investigator of a $4M Tiered Occupational Therapy Training Grant (US Department of Education)
• Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA)

Teaching & Mentorship: Leads courses like 'Disability Studies' and 'Occupational Therapy Process for Psychosocial Practice.' Mentors 2-5 students annually on capstone projects.

Labs & Collaborations: Partnering on interdisciplinary mental health training programs and丹麦研究合作.