RDSIS Standing Committee (2025-2028)
Sara Kate Frye, OTD, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Committee Chair
Sara Kate Frye has clinical experience in inpatient rehabilitation and home health. Her professional interests include health management, neurologic rehabilitation, research, and education. When she first started OT school she was drawn to pediatrics, but during her fieldwork she discovered her passion for neurologic rehabilitation!
Christine McNichols, PhD, OTR/L
Committee Member
Christine McNichols has clinical experience in acute care and outpatient pediatrics. Her areas of interest include cancer rehabilitation, health services research, and patient and system outcomes.
Joanna E. Hoh, MS, OTR/L, CPAM
Committee Member
Joanna E. Hoh has clinical experience in inpatient rehabilitation and home health with professional interests in neurorehabilitation and stroke recovery. She is passionate about the meaningful role occupational therapy plays in helping individuals restore and maximize function after life-changing events, supporting them in regaining independence and participation in daily life.
Jody Niemann Priest, MS, OTR/L
Committee Member
Jody Niemann Priest currently works in outpatient sports medicine and rehabilitation and has experience in SNF, low vision rehabilitation, and acute rehabilitation settings. Her area of interest is vision rehabilitation. An interesting fact about her is while addressing IADL goals including cooking, she has learned about international and regional dishes from her patients which she loves to try at home.
Kristen Marie-Weber Chang, OTD, MOT, OTR/L
Editor
(Contact us at RDSISeditor@gmail.com)
Kristen Marie-Weber Chang has clinical experience in acute care, home health, and skilled nursing. Her professional interests include age-related sensory changes with a particular focus on hearing loss. Outside of practice, she enjoys being a mother to three young children, spending time outdoors, and cooking.
Liz Zubenko, OTR/L
Committee Member
Liz Zubenko has clinical experience in acute rehabilitation. Her professional interests include neuro and geriatrics, especially dementia care. Before becoming an OT, she was a member of the Peace Corps stationed in Paraguay.
Megan L. Mahaffey, MOT, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP
Committee Member
Megan L Mahaffey works in an inpatient rehabilitation setting currently. Her career interests include spinal cord injury and assistive technology.
Tyler R. Hood, OTD, OTR/L
Committee Member
Tyler R. Hood has clinical experience completing fieldworks in an SCI and TBI long-term hospital and pediatrics in a developmental preschool and outpatient setting. He is currently serving in a pedatric outpatient setting. His professional interests include cognition, outpatient practice, and long-term hospitals. A fun fact about him is that all of the dogs in his immediate and extended family’s names start with “M” (e.g., Mottie, Mellow, Maleficent, etc.
2026-2027 RDSIS Interns
David Gaines, OT/S
Student Intern
David Gaines, OTS is a first year OT student at DePaul University ‘27. David is currently living in Chicago, Illinois and is interested in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation. David’s goal is to build a stronger foundation in rehab and disability advocacy while connecting with the broader OT community. David is excited to intern for the benefit of networking with OTPs and other OT students across the country, exchange diverse perspectives, and apply those valuable insights to my future clinical practice.
Joel Badilla, OTD/S
Student Intern
Joel Badilla, OTD/S, is a second year doctoral student at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California. Joel currently has an interest in neurorehabilitation and hand therapy, although is still curious and excited to learn more about all settings in occupational therapy. Inspired by his experience at the AOTA National Conference in April, Joel aims to deepen his involvement with the association to help drive large-scale, systemic change. Driven by a passion to serve as many people as possible, he views this opportunity as an exciting step toward bringing that vision to fruition.
Mercy Miller, OTD/S
Student Intern
Mercy Miller is a first-year OTD/S at Edgewood University in Madison, Wisconsin. She will be completing level II fieldwork experiences in outpatient rehabilitation with older adults and adult inpatient rehabilitation. She has a broad interest in occupational therapy within the adult and older adult population. She is grateful for this opportunity to deepen the overall understanding of up-to-date evidence-based practice and current practice trends, expand her professional network, and contribute to initiatives that can advance occupational therapy in a variety of settings.
Sarah Springer, OTD/S
Student Intern
Sarah Springer, OTD/S is a second-year doctoral student at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Sarah’s professional interests include neurological rehabilitation, vision rehabilitation, and limb loss and limb difference. Recently, Sarah completed the Level I fieldwork and shadowing experiences in acute care, sub-acute rehabilitation, and outpatient neuro rehabilitation. Sarah is grateful for the opportunity to intern with RDSIS and learn from experienced clinicians, contribute to research, and expand overall knowledge of emerging topics within the field. Sarah looks forward to collaborating with professionals who are passionate about advancing occupational therapy practice while continuing to grow as a future clinician.
Zoe Drew, OTD/S
Student Intern
Zoe Drew is a second-year OTD/S at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She will complete her Level II fieldwork experiences in acute care/rehab and hand therapy. While she maintains a broad interest across occupational therapy practice areas, she holds a particular passion for upper extremity rehabilitation and acute care. Zoe is grateful for the opportunity to serve as a student intern with the RDSIS, and she looks forward to exploring diverse practice settings within rehabilitiation and disability while learning from experienced clinicians in the field.
Thank You & Cheers to the 2025-2026 Student Interns: Ariella Levy, Breanna Evans, & Mikayla Dunn
The RDSIS Standing Committee leads the direction of the special interest section. AOTA members elect the committee chairperson who selects the rest of the committee members from a pool of applicants vetted by the Volunteer Leadership Development Committee.
The History of the RDSIS
The RDSIS (formerly known as the Physical Disability Special Interest Section) was one of the original Special Interest Sections created in 1977.
RDSIS members support individuals with physical dysfunction resulting from a wide range of conditions. Examples include neurological, musculoskeletal, oncological, and various chronic conditions.
Our members support the occupational participation of individuals with functional limitations related to an injury or illness across the continuum of care.
“It is a privilege and joy to engage with and support the members of the vibrant RDSIS community. As clinicians to consultants, in the ICU to outpatient, from oncology to musculoskeletal health, we are committed to improvement and innovation in diverse contexts.” (Brocha Stern, 2022-2025 RDSIS Chair)