Danielle Centi, DrOT, OTR/L, CBIS, will join the GW occupational therapy program as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
As Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Dr. Centi will focus on developing non-traditional fieldwork curricula and sites for placements and experiential and active learning to develop clinical skills and critical inquiry for professional practice. Students are expected to gain in-depth exposure to diverse settings and individuals across different ages and environments.
Reflecting on her fieldwork experiences, Dr. Centi said, “My first level two fieldwork in adult rehab challenged me in a lot of ways and opened my eyes up to more career opportunities. Prior to that, I thought I only wanted to work with kids, but that experience completely changed the trajectory of my career.”
Clinical placement coordinator, Ashley Forbes, commented, “I’m excited to work alongside her and expect the students to succeed with her development of partnerships and facilitation on fieldwork.”
Dr. Centi brings four years of academic experience and ten years of clinical experience working in adult rehabilitation for injuries to the brain and strokes, and sexual health and intimacy. She has also been on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association for eight years and has served in the Representative Assembly and the DEI committee of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
“I chose GW OT for its strong curriculum and dedication to community practice to increase accessibility of services,” said Dr. Centi. “I love that it is in the Capitol where there are tremendous opportunities to advocate for OT services and our stakeholders.”
Most recently, she served as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Doctoral Capstone Manager at Kean University. Her research interests include sexual health across the lifespan, pelvic floor and women's health, and Fieldwork and clinical education for students and mentors.
“I am looking forward to working with Danielle as she aims to trailblaze new practice areas, increase accessibility of healthcare services, and make a difference at the individual, group, and population level. Danielle will also be able to fuel students’ passion and conviction for serving the profession and our community stakeholders, as she was president of her university’s Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA),” said Roger Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA.
Dr. Centi will begin serving in this role in February 2024.
