Janice Tona

Janice Tona, PhD, OTR, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science at the University at Buffalo. She serves as Program Director for the Occupational Therapy Program and specializes in neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly PANS and Long-COVID. Her work focuses on functional implications of these conditions and improving care for individuals with developmental disabilities through sensory/motor interventions and interprofessional collaboration.

• Education: PhD in Educational Psychology (UB 2003), MS in Occupational Therapy (University of Pittsburgh 1989), BS in OT (Utica College 1984)
• Affiliations: NY State OTA Academic Affairs Alliance co-chair, AOTA mentorship programs

Research emphasizes pediatric neuropsychiatric conditions, including sensory processing challenges in PANS patients and optimizing primary care experiences for developmental disability populations. She has pioneered work on PANS/PANDAS in school settings and developed occupational therapy programs at University Pediatric Dentistry to improve dental care access for individuals with disabilities.

Her scholarship spans over four decades, with notable contributions to clinical reasoning development in OT practitioners and interprofessional competency measurement tools. Recent studies focus on virtual educational supports and caregiver burden in PANS families.

• Awards: FAOTA Fellow, AOTA Credentialed Leader in Academia
• Certifications: SIPT administration, Bobath pediatric course completion

Teaching responsibilities include pediatrics, neuroscience, and evidence-based practice. She has mentored numerous educators through AOTA programs and contributed to core public health curriculum integration in allied health education.