Becky A Piazza

Becky A Piazza, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCPR

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department: HP-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Business Phone: (352) 273-6096
Business Email: bsumm@phhp.ufl.edu

About Becky A Piazza

Dr. Becky Piazza, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCPR is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida’s Department of Occupational Therapy, having previously worked as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) and Clinical Instructor at the University of St. Augustine’s Florida St. Augustine campus (2019-2020). Becky previously served as the Clinical Coordinator for Occupational Therapy and Recreational Therapy at UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital (2002-2019) and was the lead occupational therapist for the UF Health Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases multidisciplinary concussion clinic (2018 – 2020). She served as the Florida representative to AOTA’s Representative Assembly (2015-2017) and as the Region 3 Regional Representative for the Florida Occupational Therapy Association (2013 – 2015). Becky coordinated the North Central Florida Occupational Therapy Forum from 2012 – 2017 and founded the Annual Speed Dating with an OT event. Becky specializes in adult inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and has been a practicing occupational therapist within adult physical dysfunction since graduating from UF in 2001. She received her post professional master’s degree in occupational therapy from San Jose State University in 2014 and her clinical doctorate in occupational therapy from Chatham University in 2018. Becky received the 2013 Florida Occupational Therapy Educational Consortium’s Outstanding Fieldwork Educator of the Year award, the 2014 Florida Occupational Therapy Association’s Award of Recognition, was granted board certification in physical rehab through AOTA in 2016 and received the 2019 University of Florida Occupational Therapy Sandra Edwards Colloquium Outstanding Clinical Contributions Award and the 2019 University of Florida Public Health and Health Professions Department of Occupational Therapy Outstanding Alumni Award. In 2025 she was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Academy, part of the National Academies of Practice.

Accomplishments

Distinguished Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Academy
2025 · National Academies of Practice (NAP)
Mentoring Program Cohort 2024/2025
2024-2025 · American Interprofessional Health Collaborative
Excellence in Teaching (2024 Fall)
2024 · University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions
Excellence in Teaching (2024 Spring)
2024 · University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions
Career Influencer Faculty Award Nominee
2023 · University of Florida Career Connections Center
Excellence in Teaching (2023 Fall)
2023 · University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions
Excellence in Teaching (2023 Spring)
2023 · University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions
Societal Statement co-author on Gun Violence and Community Violence (RACC)
2022 · American Occupational Therapy Association
Strategic Communications Academy
2022 · University of Florida
Using Universal Design Certificate
2022 · University of Florida Center for Teaching Excellence
Great Teaching Certificate
2021 · University of Florida Center for Teaching Excellence
Roster of Accreditation Evaluators (RAE)
2020-2023 · Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
College of Public Health and Health Professions Dept. of Occupational Therapy Outstanding Alumni
2019 · University of Florida
Sandra Edwards Colloquium Outstanding Clinical Contributions Award
2019 · University of Florida
Adolescent Mental Health Ad Hoc committee
2018 · Florida Occupational Therapy Association
Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation (BCPR)
2016 · American Occupational Therapy Association
Representative Assembly (RA) Florida Representative
2015-2017 · American Occupational Therapy Association
Strategic Planning Mentor/Mentee Leadership Development committee
2014-2018 · Florida Occupational Therapy Association
Distinct Value ad-hoc committee and Physical Rehabilitation sub-group
2014-2015 · American Occupational Therapy Association
Award of Recognition
2014 · Florida Occupational Therapy Association
Florida Occupational Therapy Association’s (FOTA) Award of Recognition
2014 · Florida Occupational Therapy Association
North Central Florida Occupational Therapy Forum Cooridnator
2013-2016 · Florida Occupational Therapy Association
FLOTEC Outstanding Fieldwork Educator of the Year
2013 · Florida Occupational Therapy Education Consortium

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2021-2024
OTH6726 Service Deliv/Organiz
2021-2024
OTH6911 Capstone
2021
OTH6419 Pathophys Cond in Ot
2021-2025
OTH6435 Therapeutic Skills I
2021-2025
OTH6705 Leader/Prof Develop
2022-2025
OTH6700 Advocacy and Interprofessional Skills
2021-2024
OTH6115 Ot Clinical Skills 2
2022
RSD6940 Supervised Teaching
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is rooted in a social constructivist view that prioritizes trust based and relational approach between the learner and the teacher. The teacher learner relationship is interactive, involving mutual respect and critical reflection. My role as an educator is to facilitate knowledge translation from the classroom to the clinical environment. This includes empowering the sense of mastery of didactic content and fieldwork competencies, the sense of appreciation for individual and shared learning experiences, the sense of gratitude for learned proficiency and self-reflective skills, the sense of empowerment to practice as clinician-scholars, and the sense of service to invest in the profession and the populations served.

Board Certifications

  • Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation
    American Occupational Therapy Association

Research Profile

Areas of Interest
  • Interprofessional Education (IPE)

Publications

Academic Articles
2024
A Novel Educational Intervention for Hand Anatomy Instruction
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 78(Supplement_2):7811500259p1-7811500259p1 [DOI] 10.5014/ajot.2024.78s2-po259.
2024
Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceptions of Participation in a Novel Educational Intervention to Learn Hand AnatomyNovel Educational Intervention to Learn Hand Anatomy
Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 8(3):1-18 [DOI] https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol8/iss3/15 .
2022
AOTA’s Societal Statement on Community Violence.
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association. 76(Supplement_3) [DOI] 10.5014/ajot.2022.76S3008. [PMID] 36753383.
2022
AOTA’s Societal Statement on Gun Violence.
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association. 76(Supplement_3) [DOI] 10.5014/ajot.2022.76S3009. [PMID] 36706299.
Presentations
2023-04-20
“You’re basically a Plant with Complicated Emotions”
State / Invited. Lecture. Gainesville, FL
2022-11-05
Short Course Expanding Interprofessional Collaboration in Primary Care through Level I Fieldwork
State / Invited. Lecture. Clearwater, FL
2022-11-05
Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) Leaders Networking Workshop
State / Invited. Workshop. Clearwater, FL
2023-09-28
Revolutionizing Inclusive Care: Impactful Interprofessional Experiences for Dental and OT Students Focused on Patients with Sensory Sensitivities and Chronic Pain
National / Invited. Lecture.
2023-11-04
Collaborating for Better SCI Outcomes: Personalized Approaches to Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
State / Invited. Workshop. Clearwater, FL
2023-09-28
Students’ Perceptions of Participation and Knowledge of Hand Anatomy Following a Novel Educational Intervention
National / Invited. Poster. San Antonio, Texas
2024-03-21
A Novel Educational Intervention for Hand Anatomy Instruction
National / Invited. Poster. Orlando, Florida
2024-03-21
Inclusive Care: Impactful Interprofessional Experiences for Dental and OT Students for Patients with Sensory Sensitivities and Chronic Pain
National / Invited. Poster. Orlando, FL
2023-11-30
Teaching TechXploration Invited Guest Speaker: FeedbbackFruits Platform Utilization
State / Invited. Workshop. Gaiensville, FL
2021-12-16
Designing and Implementing an OT led Home Evaluation Process at an Inpatient Rehab Facility (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Laura Sellew)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2021-12-16
Don’t Fall Behind: A Parent Education School Preparedness Program (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Janine Legaspi)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2021-12-16
Developing a Logic Model for Quality Improvement in an Adult Driver Rehabilitation Clinic (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Arien Hart)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2021-12-16
Assessing Sensory Processing in Adults Experiencing Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms: A Guide for Occupational Therapists (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Regan Hamrick)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2021-12-16
A Self-Directed Mentorship Framework in an Outpatient Upper Extremity Therapy Setting (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Tori Alexander)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2022-12-15
The Role of Self-Efficacy in Discharge Outcomes for Stroke Patients in the Inpatient Rehab Setting (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Nathan Greaves)
Regional / Other. Paper. Gainesville, FL
2022-12-15
Defining Occupational Therapy’s Role in Oncology Rehabilitation (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Daniela Gomez)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2022-12-15
The Impact of COPM-Guided Meaningful Occupations on Stroke Clients Change in Perception of Performance (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Kasey Clark Fenton)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2022-12-15
Self-Management Strategies to Improve Quality of Life Among Lymphedema Patients (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Abigail Donofrio)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2023-12-14
Designing and Implementing a Soft Tissue Mobilization Module for Occupational Therapy Education (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Natalie Douglas)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2023-12-14
 Addressing the Health and Self-Management Education Needs for Vascular Patients in Acute Care: The Role of Occupational Therapy (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Madison Malie)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2023-12-14
Adherence to Compression Garments for Patients with Lymphedema (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Madeline Thomas)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2022-12-14
Enhancing University Student Experience: Identifying Student Awareness & Process Improvements Across Lifelong Wellbeing Services (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Leah Sink)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2023-12-14
 Occupational Therapy Based Coaching as a Transition Intervention for Students with Disabilities in Post-Secondary Education (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Hannah Nelson)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2023-12-14
Increasing Accessibility of Stroke Education Resources for Caregivers of Individuals Post-Stroke (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Allison Chu)
Regional / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2024-02-23
Come Away: Praying as Occupation
State / Invited. Lecture. University of Florida
2024-12-11
Assessing Adults’ Balance Confidence to Address Fall Risk (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Shahid Adam)
State / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2024-12-11
Creation and Implementation of Patient Education in an Inpatient Spinal Cord Model System (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Ilana Hollender)
State / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2024-12-11
The Impact of Therapy-Led Orthopedic Preoperative Education Class (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Ashley Kent)
State / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2024-12-11
Perceptions of Life Satisfaction in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Natasha Neyra)
State / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2024-12-11
Enhancing Discharge Readiness: Development of an Educational Program for Hispanic Stroke Survivors (Doctoral Capstone Mentee Nicole Uzieda)
State / Other. Poster. Gainesville, FL
2025-03-12
Global Medical Missions Alliance Health Panel
Regional / Invited. Lecture. University of Florida
2025-04-22
Well-being in Action: How Occupational Therpy Faculty are Enhancing Student Educational and Clinical Preparation Experiences
State / Invited. Workshop. Gainesville, FL
2025-05-28
An Introductory Interprofessional Learning Experience for Occupational Therapy Students: Bridging Academia and Practice.
International / Invited. Continuing Education. Omaha, NE

Education

Chatham University
2018 · Post Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy
San Jose State University
2014 · Post Professional Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy
2001 · University of Florida

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 273-6096
Emails:
Business:
bsumm@phhp.ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100164
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
1225 CENTER DR STE 2101
GAINESVILLE FL 32610