Priya Bakshi

Priya Bakshi is a faculty member in the Department of Applied Medicine & Rehabilitation at Indiana State University's College of Health and Human Services. She holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (2019), a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Indianapolis (2009), and a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy from the Institute for the Physically Handicapped (1996). She transitioned to academia in Fall 2017 after 25 years as a practicing occupational therapist specializing in hand therapy.

• OTD, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, 2019
• M.S., University of Indianapolis, 2009
• B.S., Institute for the Physically Handicapped, 1996

Her research and expertise focus on hand therapy, graded motor imagery, orthosis fabrication, ergonomics, musculoskeletal health, and simulation-based clinical education. She actively investigates patient compliance, pain management, and the biopsychosocial aspects of rehabilitation. Her work also extends to social justice in healthcare, particularly through poverty simulations to address implicit bias among students.

Her recent publications and presentations reveal a strong trend in educational innovation—especially scaffolding simulation across curricula—and clinical research on upper extremity conditions, dry needling, and orthotic effectiveness. She frequently publishes in journals such as the Journal of Hand Therapy, Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, and American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized with several awards:

• 2024 Faculty Outstanding Scholarship/Research/Creativity Award, Level Two
• 2023 Outstanding Service Award - Research Division, American Society of Hand Therapists
• 2022 ASHT Research Division Outstanding Service Award
• Recognition in First Destination Surveys (2019, 2021)

Priya Bakshi has secured multiple grants, including HRSA funding, internal university research grants, and community engagement awards. She serves as a principal or co-principal investigator on projects related to ergonomic risk analysis, student musculoskeletal health, and CarFit community events. She mentors students and collaborates extensively with colleagues such as Beth Andreae and Patricia Jarrard. She is actively involved in university service, including the Graduate Council, and community outreach, including Special Olympics volunteering and advocacy events.

She is also the program coordinator for CarFit events and frequently presents at national conferences such as AOTA and ASHT, focusing on clinical updates and educational strategies.