Allison Sullivan

Allison Sullivan is a Professor of Occupational Therapy and Lead Faculty for the Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PP-OTD) program at American International College's School of Health Sciences. She holds dual roles as academic advisor, doctoral project mentor, and instructor in both the PP-OTD and entry-level MSOT programs. Her teaching focuses on pedagogy, mental health processes, and OT theory in practice education.

Education:

• DOT in Occupational Therapy, Temple University (2016)
• MSOT in Occupational Therapy, Springfield College (1993)
• BA in Fine Arts, Amherst College (1988)

Research Interests: Dr. Sullivan investigates trauma-informed care, cognitive disabilities, and innovative educational technologies. Her recent work emphasizes virtual simulation training for clinical communication skills and SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) protocols.

Awards:

• 2018 American International College Faculty Excellence Award
• 2017 Massachusetts Association of Occupational Therapy Catherine Trombly Award

Service & Leadership: She chairs the MAOT Western Massachusetts Mental Health Special Interest Group, serves on boards for organizations like Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services and Allen Cognitive Network, and co-founded the #OTalk2US Twitter chat community. Her professional activities include expert testimony on healthcare policy and editorial contributions to OT education resources.

Professional Activities:

• Mental Health First Aid Instructor (2022)
• Co-founder of #OTalk2US (2012–2022)
• Member of AOTA School Mental Health Community of Practice