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Christine Peters, Ph.D., OTR/L,
Program Title, Occupational Therapy

Education:

Dr. Peters received her BA from San Francisco State University with a major in interdisciplinary studies, including Psychology, Music, Art and Recreation, a MS from San Jose State University in Occupational Therapy with an emphasis in occupational therapy history and education. Dr. Peters earned her Ph.D., in Occupational Therapy from New York University. She has also completed a one year Post Doctoral Fellow at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Psychiatric Rehabilitation supported by National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. She has extensive clinical experience in the provision of Occupational therapy services in community based and hospital-based inpatient mental health practice working with adults in recovery, as well as adolescents and children with psychiatric disabilities. 

Professional & Research Interest:

Dr. Peters current research interests are occupational therapy historical and philosophical foundations; occupational therapy’s evolution to a science-based profession, leadership and the women’s movement. She has written in the areas of occupational therapy mental health history and the consumers’ movements, as well as occupational therapy and oral history. She has held appointed and elected leadership positions in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. She is currently serving on the AOTA Ad-Hoc History Committee to explore occupational values and beliefs. She is a reviewer for AOTA conference papers in the area of mental health. She also served on an AOTA evidenced-based practice mental health task force. Dr. Peters received the AOTF Certificate of Appreciation Award in 2007, for her leadership role coordinating the Doctoral Network over ten years. Dr. Peters was also an invited keynote speaker at the United Nations in 2006, when the New York State Occupational Therapy Association hosted a historical occupational therapy conference at that venue.

Dr. Peters teaches occupational therapy foundations, principles of instruction, mental health practice, professional seminar and research independent studies. 

Representative Publications:

Dr. Peters is currently writing a book entitled Powerful Pioneers in Occupational Therapy to be published by Francis & Bacon publishing.

Peters, C. (in press). Evolution of Mental Health Practice. In Brown, C., & Stoffel, V. (Ed.), Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Vision for the Future. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

Reed, K. L. & Peters, C. (2008). Occupational therapy values and beliefs, Part IV: A Time of Professional Identity, 1970-1985. OT Practice, 13, 18, 15-18.

Reed, K. L. & Peters, C. (2007). Occupational therapy values and beliefs, Part III: New Directions, 1950-1969. OT Practice, 12, 22, 17-21.

Reed, K. L. & Peters, C. (2006). Occupational therapy values and beliefs, Part II: The Great Depression and war years, 1930-1949. OT Practice, 18, 17-22.

Peters, C. (2006). In memoriam: Gail S. Fidler, an occupational therapy innovator (1916-2005). Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 22, (1). New York, Haworth Press.