Anne
B.
James
, PhD
Professor of Occupational Therapy
Department:
Occupational Therapy
Location:
Elliott House
212
Degrees
BS, Western Michigan University; MS, Boston University; PhD, University of Connecticut
Contact
Phone: 413.565.1453
Email: ajames@baypath.edu
Profile
Anne James, PhD, OTR/L has served as professor of occupational therapy (OT) at Bay Path College since 2006, and she has been an OT educator since 1991. She received her bachelor’s degree in OT from Western Michigan University, her master of science advanced practice degree in OT from Boston University, and her doctorate in adult learning from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. James began her OT career in 1979. She has served in staff, supervisory, and administrative positions in acute and rehabilitation hospitals, working primarily with adults with a range of physical disabilities. She continues to perform per diem home care OT to stay clinically active and to support her teaching with client stories.
Early in her clinical work, Dr. James recognized education and learning were crucial to being an effective occupational therapist. Her interest in education is multifaceted, encompassing both patient and student education. As a clinician, she has served as a clinical educator to numerous fieldwork students and coordinated the student program at a large rehabilitation hospital. After moving into the classroom side of OT education, she became interested in helping students develop learning skills that would help them succeed in their fieldwork placements and as professionals. Dr. James’ research explored this important transition from classroom to clinic. Her doctoral work in adult learning has helped her become more successful in teaching new skills to patients, and she helps students become better occupational therapists by incorporating key learning principles into her courses.
Adult learning requires “doing,” and students in her courses are engaged in practical assignments. Students complete research projects they present at the annual conference of the Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy. In the past few years, Bay Path students have had 100 percent of their projects accepted to this peer-reviewed, statewide conference. One graduate student’s project was even accepted at the American Occupational Therapy Association National Conference and Expo in Texas, a credential typically seen on the resumes of experienced occupational therapists.
Dr. James also shares her passion for learning and OT through multiple publications and numerous presentations at state, national, and international venues. She has authored chapters in two widely-used OT textbooks,
Willard & Spackman’s Occupational Therapy and
Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction.
