Helene Lee Lohman

Dr. Helene Lee Lohman serves as a tenured Full Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy within the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions at Creighton University. With over 25 years of teaching experience, she is a nationally recognized educator who teaches Upper Extremity Evaluation and Intervention, Disability and Health Care Policy for both on-campus and distance students, and also teaches a course on the American Health Care System at Brunel University in London, England.

Education:

• B.S. in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University
• M.A. in Health Education with graduate certificate in gerontology from University of Nebraska at Omaha
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Creighton University

Dr. Lohman's research spans the critical intersection of clinical practice, healthcare policy, and geriatric care. Her work in hand orthotics has established foundational approaches for clinical reasoning in splint fabrication that are now standard in occupational therapy education. Her policy research examines Medicare regulations, payment systems, and how healthcare legislation impacts occupational therapy practice, particularly for elderly populations. Her geriatric research addresses comprehensive issues including sexuality in aging, functional decline, and adaptive strategies for older adults.

Dr. Lohman's publications have shaped occupational therapy education globally through three major textbooks with multiple editions that are standard references in OT programs worldwide. Her scholarly work demonstrates a consistent pattern of addressing both clinical precision in orthotics and the broader systemic issues affecting healthcare delivery.

Scientific Awards:

• Distinguished Educator in Teaching as Scholarship (2022)
• Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA)

As an educator and researcher, Dr. Lohman has secured significant grant funding, including a $99,705 award from the National Patient Safety Foundation for her work on reducing practice errors in occupational therapy. Her national leadership extends to service on ACOTE (the accrediting body for occupational therapy education) and as past secretary for Pi Theta, the national honor society. She has also served on the state quality assurance board for Medicare-CIMRO, demonstrating her commitment to improving healthcare systems that serve elderly populations.

Dr. Lohman maintains active research laboratories focused on orthotic design and geriatric rehabilitation, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to develop evidence-based approaches that bridge clinical practice with healthcare policy considerations. Her work continues to influence both educational standards and clinical practice guidelines in occupational therapy.