faculty portrait if available
Patti Calk
Professor
School of Allied Health
CALD 106
318-342-5581
ULM logo

Patti Calk, OTD
Professor, Occupational Therapy
Program Director, Master of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Occupational Therapy Programs

Education

OTD

2011, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions

MEd

2004, Educational Leadership and Counseling: Instructional Technology
ULM

BS

2001, Occupational Therapy
ULM

faculty feature photo

Biographical Sketch

When describing myself, I would say that I am a mother, a wife, a  teacher, and an occupational therapist.

I love every aspect of being an occupational therapist and am blessed to be able to help others attain their goals whether for my students to become successful OT practitioners or my clients to achieve independence and quality of life. I have taught at ULM since January 1992 and feel blessed to be able to do what I love every day and work with wonderful people who find joy in teaching.

As Associate Director of the School of Health Professions, Program Director of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program, and as a practicing Occupational Therapist, I am committed to effective teaching, involvement in research, engagement in scholarly activity and service to the University and the community. 

My teaching philosophy is based on my desire to serve as a mentor and provide my students with experiences and knowledge that will give them the tools to become effective, ethical practitioners. As an occupational therapist, teaching is engrained in everything that I do. Education of clients and their families is essential in order to provide successful occupation based, client-centered OT. That, in turn, translates easily to academia. I truly love teaching and love to learn. It is my hope that my commitment to life-long learning encourages students to also be devoted to continued education.

Licensure & Certification

Certified Level 1 Handwriting Specialist, Handwriting Without Tears®. (August 2009 - Present)
Licensed Occupational Therapist, Registered, Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. (May 21 2002 - Present)
Credentialed as an Occupational Therapist, Registered, NBCOT. (March 29 2002 - Present)
Certified as a Provider of The Therapeutic Listening Program, Advanced Brain Technologies. (March 2002 - Present)
Licensed as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. (December 1989 - September 30 2002)
Certified as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). (March 1990 - March 2002)

Research Interests

Contributing to the body of evidence available for occupational therapists is critical to the viability of the profession. My personal goals have broadened to more effectively incorporate evidence into courses and lesson plans in order to increase student scholarship and involvement in evidence-based practice (EBP). The hope is that through successful engagement in EBP as students, they will become evidence-based practitioners as clinical professionals.

My primary research interests are in the areas of pediatric occupational therapy; however, I have completed and mentored research is other areas of occupational therapy including fall prevention, treatment of orthopedic injuries, OT assessment, and other areas of OT practice.

Recent Publications

Hill, K., Calk, P., Bradley, E., Hunt, R., Lauer, M., Lee, D., Martin, C., Stillwell, C. (2023). Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (pp. 5). Kalamazoo MI: Open Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Murphy, C., Calk, P. (2020). Creating evidence-based practitioners: Bridging the gap between the classroom and clinic (pp. 22). Monroe: Online Journal of Interprofessional Health Promotion.
Calk, P. (2020). Parents of children with physical impairments and their relationship with intervention team members. (pp. 11). Monroe, LA: Online Journal of Interprofessional Health Promotion.
Stewart, R., Mike, E., Calk, P., Kennedy, K. Contrived Conflict: Development of an Interprofessional Education Activity Using Embedded Moles to Teach Conflict Resolution. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice / Elsevier.
Calk, P. (2019). Best practices for oral motor stimulation to improve oral feeding in preterm infants: A review of the literature (pp. 14). Troy, MI: Annals of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy.
Calk, P., Murphy, C. (2018). Picky eating and mealtime madness (pp. 5-6). Baton Rouge, LA: Collaborations: The Official Journal of the Louisiana Early Childhood Association.
Calk, P., Eichhorn, D., Murphy, C. (2016). Health Literacy Among Older Adults (pp. 95-108). New York, New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Calk, P., Emilee, R., Laura, S., Summer, T. (2016). Accuracy and Clinical Usability of Goniometer Applications. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Calk, P. (2006). Case study-Anna-Michael, Age 17 Mos., cerebral palsy, et al. Provider Point of View Online Journal.
Calk, P., Barmett, K., Flynn, M., Forbes, S., Gipson, B., Gray, K., Paine, S. (2006). Does The Listening Program® improve language and behavioral skills in children with auditory and sensory processing disorders who have completed one cycle of listening?. Provider Point of View Online Journal.
Calk, P., Keene, T. (2016). [Critically Appraised Paper]. Ohl, A. M., Graze, H., Weber, K., Kenny, S., Salvatore, C., & Wagreich, S. (2013). Effectiveness of a 10-week Tier-1 Response to Intervention program in improving fine motor and visual–motor skills in general education kindergarten students. Bethesda, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association, Evidence-Based Practice Project..
Calk, P. (2011). Sensory Integration (pp. 20-21). Louisiana: Collaborations: The Official Journal of the Louisiana Early Childhood Association.

Research Grants

Lacey, S. (Principal), Calk, P. (Co-Principal), Chapman, M. (Co-Principal), Dolecheck, J. (Co-Principal), Griswold, P. (Co-Principal), Kennedy, K. (Co-Principal), Stewart, R. (Co-Principal), "Screening for Life to improve healthcare outcomes for the 8 parish service area in Northeast Louisiana" (Funded), Sponsored By Blue Cross Blue Shield, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $97,000. (August 2019 - July 2022).
Eichhorn, D. (Principal), Calk, P. (Supporting), Murphy, C. (Supporting), Mike, E. (Supporting), Johnson, B. (Supporting), "ULM Occupational Therapy Clinic for Adults who are Underserved" (Pending Funding Decision), Sponsored By Living Well Foundation, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $107,039. (January 01 2019 - December 31 2019).
Calk, P. (Principal), Eichhorn, D. (Supporting), Murphy, C. (Supporting), Mike, E. (Supporting), Johnson, B. (Supporting), "Occupational Therapy Clinic to Promote Literacy in Children with Physical, Learning, and Behavioral Issues" (Funded), Sponsored By Living Well Foundation, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $30,599. (January 01 2018 - December 31 2019).
Irwin, D. (Principal), Eichhorn, D. (Co-Principal), Calk, P. (Supporting), Mike, E. (Supporting), "Living Well Foundation Grant" (Funded), Sponsored By Living Well Foundation, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $34,060. (January 2017 - December 2017).
Irwin, D. (Principal), Eichhorn, D. (Co-Principal), Calk, P. (Supporting), "Living Well Foundation Grant" (Funded), Sponsored By Living Well Foundation, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $13,901. (January 2016 - December 2016).

Awards & Honors

April 2023 The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

August 2020 Promotion to Full Professor.

August 2015 Promotion to Associate Professor.

August 2015 Tenure.

January 2013 Full membership as Graduate Faculty.

Courses Taught

OCCT 1006PATHOLOGY, 4 course(s)

OCCT 2000Seminar: Prof Devel, 1 course(s)

OCCT 2001INTRO TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, 3 course(s)

OCCT 2004PRE-CLINICAL LAB, 4 course(s)

OCCT 2010Health Care Systems, 1 course(s)

OCCT 2022THEORY AND PRACTICE I, 7 course(s)

OCCT 2023Theory & Practice II, 1 course(s)

OCCT 2025THEORY AND PRACTICE LAB, 12 course(s)

OCCT 2026APPLIED LABORATORY, 8 course(s)

OCCT 2028PEDIATRIC LABORATORY, 6 course(s)

OCCT 2029PSYCHOSOCIAL LABORATORY, 4 course(s)

OCCT 2032THEORY & PRAC II-PSYCHOSOCIAL, 5 course(s)

OCCT 2042THEORY & PRAC II-DEVELOPMENTAL, 7 course(s)

OCCT 2045Therapeutic Media, 4 course(s)

OCCT 2060FIELDWORK PRACTICUM, 6 course(s)

OCCT 2061FIELDWORK PRACTICUM, 3 course(s)

OCCT 5010NEUROLOGY OCCT THERAPY PRACT, 1 course(s)

OCCT 5030RESEARCH AND EBP, 8 course(s)

OCCT 5040KINESIOLOGY CONTEXT ACTIVITY, 3 course(s)

OCCT 5050CONDITIONS OCCT THERAPY, 13 course(s)

OCCT 5060OCCT THERAPY METHODS AND APP, 2 course(s)

OCCT 5070OT METHODS AND APP LAB, 2 course(s)

OCCT 5080APPLIED REASONING AND THEORY, 1 course(s)

OCCT 5090EBP AND BEST PRACTICES, 12 course(s)

OCCT 5095RESEARCH & EVB PRACT IN OT, 1 course(s)

OCCT 5100AT ENHANCE OCCT PERFORM, 3 course(s)

OCCT 5110OCCT THERAPY ASSESSMENT, 9 course(s)

OCCT 5120SPECIAL TOPICS CURRENT TRENDS, 3 course(s)

OCCT 5130APPLIED OT RESEARCH I-SEMINAR, 11 course(s)

OCCT 5160OBP CHILD, 5 course(s)

OCCT 5170APPLIED OT RESEARCH II, 9 course(s)

OCCT 5190OT PRACTICE PSYCH, 8 course(s)

OCCT 5200OT PRACTICE CHILD, 8 course(s)

OCCT 5215LEVEL I ADULT & PED FIELDWORK, 1 course(s)

OCCT 5230CLINICAL PRACTICE I, 10 course(s)

OCCT 5240CLINICAL PRACTICE II, 9 course(s)