Heather Fritz PhD., OTR/L, CHC
Associate Professor, Founding Director
She/her/ella, white, cisgender, heterosexual, LGBTQIA+ ally
Dr. Fritz received her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Winston Salem State University and her Ph.D. in Occupational Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology. Dr. Fritz’s research focuses on understanding how individuals may prevent or delay conditions or disability in later life and developing and testing preventative interventions. She incorporates both qualitative and quantitative methods in her work and emphasizes the translation of theory to everyday clinical practice.
Jami Flick, PhD, MS, OTR/L
Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Education
She/her/ella, white, cisgender, heterosexual, LGBTQIA+ ally
Dr. Flick received her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of South Alabama. She completed her dissertation for a Ph.D. in Health Science at Nova Southeastern University with an emphasis in Global Health, August 2022. Her qualitative dissertation focused on the lived experiences of survivor advocates and survivor leaders in the anti-trafficking movement. She recently authored book chapters on population health and trauma-informed care, health promotion for occupational therapist assistants, and emotional regulation.
Brandon Imamshah, DrOT, MOT, OTR/L, CSRS, CKTP
Assistant Professor
Dr. Imamshah received his entry-level Masters of Occupational Therapy and his post-professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. Dr. Imamshah’s research focuses on promoting health and well-being, reducing health disparities, and increasing health equity among rural and medically underserved populations. This work includes developing, implementing, and evaluating theoretically-informed, culturally-appropriate, and occupation-based health promotion programs integrated into occupational therapy services.
Wendell Nakamura, DrOT, MOT, OTR/L, CLA
Associate Professor
Dr. Nakamura received his entry-level Masters of Occupational Therapy and his post-professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. Dr. Nakamura’s research focuses on two main areas: 1) how the application of adult learning theory in client education increases clients’ engagement, agency, and adherence with treatment recommendations, 2) promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to improve clients’ health and wellness and reduce health disparities. He has served on the DEI Board for the Academy of Communication in Healthcare, is a certified CarFit® Event Coordinator, and is a Credentialed Leader in Academia by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Malcolm P. Cutchin, PhD
Professor, Director of Research, School of Occupational Therapy
Dr. Cutchin, earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Kentucky. He has nearly 30 years of teaching, research, and administrative experience at four previous academic institutions: Middlebury College, University of Texas Medical Branch, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Wayne State University.
Sara Wyckoff, MHS, OTR/L, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Wyckoff earned her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at Western Michigan University. She received her Master of Health Science with a focus on pediatric OT from the University of Florida. After practicing in Western Washington while raising her son, she went back to school for a PhD in Bio-cultural anthropology at the University of Washington. During this time, she did fieldwork in rural Papua New Guinea. Her thesis was focused on the variations in cultural practice during infancy and the effect of child rearing practices on gross motor development.
Jennifer Pitonyak, PhD, OTR/L, SCFES, CIMI
Professor, Director of Curriculum, School of Occupational Therapy
Professor and Director of curriculum for the SOT, Dr. Pitonyak received her MS in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis and her PhD in Health Policy from University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Her practice expertise, teaching interests, and scholarly work center around two main areas: 1) family mental health promotion, and 2) education research/scholarship of teaching & learning (SoTL). Dr. Pitonyak joined the PNWU School of Occupational Therapy in 2023.
Karla Gray, LICSW, OTR/L
Assistant Professor
Ms. Karla Gray comes to the SOT with over forty years of experience working with adults and seniors who have behavioral health conditions. She has held positions of case manager, living skills instructor, program coordinator, occupational therapist, department director, consultant, and advocate. She has provided occupational therapy services in client homes, residential facilities, day/community program settings, acute psychiatric hospital and Evaluation and Treatment units, partial hospitalization programs and as a private practitioner.
Kathleen Carrillo, BSHM
Administrative Coordinator
Favorite occupations: Gardening, cooking/baking, sewing, reading, spending time with family, playing with her dogs, being Gramma!
Ms. Carrillo received her Bachelor of Science in Business – Healthcare Management from Western Governors University in 2022. She has been with Pacific Northwest University since 2018, previously with the Interprofessional Practice and Education department. Prior to 2018, Ms. Carrillo worked for The Memorial Foundation and was the laboratory director at the American Red Cross in Yakima.
Ms. Carrillo served as a Navy Hospital Corpsman from 1977 to 1983 and then 2 years in the Navy Reserves. She received an Honorable Discharge at the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class in 1985.