The Maralynne D. Mitcham Lectureship

The 10th Annual Maralynne D. Mitcham Lectureship and Alumni Luncheon

Friday, April 26, 2024 | Charleston, SC

The Maralynne D. Mitcham Lectureship began in 2013 and honors her many contributions to the Division of Occupational Therapy and to the profession.

We are excited to announce that the 10th annual lectureship will return to campus this year on Friday, April 26th in MUSC's Drug Discovery building. The events for the day will include the lecture, luncheon, and afternoon CEU sessions. Read the full agenda.

2024 Distinguished Scholar

Kristie Patten, Ph.D., OT/L, FAOTA

Dr. Kristie Patten is Counselor to the President of NYU and Professor of Occupational Therapy at NYU Steinhardt. She oversees the strategic priorities of the Office of the President and is a key liaison to the Office of the Provost and major administrative units at NYU. Patten has been at NYU since 2007, recently serving as Vice Dean of Academic Affairs at NYU Steinhardt and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy for 7 years. As a professor, her research examines strength based practices in inclusive public school settings and she gave the 2022 Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture entitled, "Finding our Strengths: Recognizing Professional Bias and Interrogating Systems". Patten is the Principal Investigator of the NYU Steinhardt's ASD Nest Program, supporting New York City Public Schools’ largest inclusion program for autistic students.  She co-chairs the Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion’s Research Collaborative and co-founded, along with colleagues from NYU Moses Center, the NYU Connections program for neurodivergent students at NYU. She is currently Co-PI of an NSF grant that engages autistic college students mentoring autistic high school students in STEM interests and career pathways.

The Maralynne D. Mitcham Lectureship Fund

 

Throughout her career, Dr. Maralynne Mitcham was a pioneer who worked tirelessly to advance the profession of occupational therapy through her contributions to education. In 1984, she was recruited to the Medical University of South Carolina as the third Department Chair in Occupational Therapy. During her academic career, she served in a variety of senior roles in which she designed and led national efforts that integrated research into academic curricula, promoted collaboration with other professions, and enhanced faculty development across the profession.

In 2005, The Maralynne D. Mitcham Lectureship Fund was established to create, in perpetuity, an annual lectureship program for the Division of Occupational Therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina. The fund’s purpose is to honor the collegial spirit, leadership skills, and mentorship of the late Dr. Mitcham and promote a day of sharing and fellowship for the profession of occupational therapy. More specifically, the lectureship will be awarded each year to a scholar in the field who has a broad perspective on occupation, an international reputation, and one who has made significant contributions to education, practice, and/or research in the field of occupational therapy. Such a scholar will enhance the education of health professionals within the college and community, and provide an opportunity for presentation and dialogue around key intellectual issues of the time, thereby fostering the vision and mission of the University.

Consider helping to keep Dr. Mitcham’s legacy alive through a donation to her Lectureship Fund. *Note: On the giving page choose "Other" from the dropdown menu and type in"Mitcham Lectureship Fund."

The Maralynne D. Mitcham Lectureship and Alumni Luncheon is hosted by The Division of Occupational Therapy and the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs.