Theresa Christopher
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Contact +1 630 637 5740
tchristopher@noctrl.edu
Biography
Dr. Theresa Christopher, OTD, OTR/L, CAPS earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from Loyola University Chicago and her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Midwestern University. Clinical areas of interest include geriatrics, aging in place, upper extremity rehabilitation, and pain management. She is passionate about using the Biopsychosocial Model in clinical practice and program development. She enjoys being an active member in professional organizations and contributing to ongoing research within the field of occupational therapy. Moreover, she is passionate about promoting OT’s valuable role within interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
Teaching Philosophy
Dr. Christopher values a collaborative approach within the classroom. She strongly believes in using various modes of hands-on learning experiences to promote students’ confidence with their clinical reasoning. She enjoys challenging students to develop and refine how they apply their OT lens to clinical scenarios. She believes that learning is a continuous process. She promotes the importance of being a self-guided learner and encourages students to contribute to ongoing research within the field of occupational therapy. “As occupational therapists, we have a professional duty to continue to build our holistic and comprehensive skill set to best serve our patients and be valued members of the interdisciplinary team.”
Selected Scholarship
Christopher, T., Higgins, S., Oban, S. (2020, October). Holistic management of acute and chronic pain. Poster at the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Lisle, IL.
Christopher, T., & Knecht-Sabres, L. (2019). Occupational therapy practitioners’ role in holistically treating patients who internalize osteoarthritis as a “natural part of aging.” The Illinois Occupational Therapy Association: The Communique, 2.
Christopher, T., Loris, A., & Lhotka, L. (2019, October). Perceptions of attributing factors of prosthesis acceptance or rejection with individuals experiencing congenital upper limb differences. Poster at the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Tinley Park, IL.