Elena Wong Espiritu

Promoting student well-being

Study skills

Interprofessional education

Integration of spirituality and work

Experiential learning

Fostering student clinical reasoning

American Occupational Therapy Association

Faculty Scholarship Funding - CHSN, Belmont University
Christian Scholarship Award - Belmont University

Busby, S., Espiritu, E. W., Vanden Noven, M., Mills, J. R., & Hunt, J. W. (2024). The impact and process of transition from face-to-face to online teaching during a pandemic: A grounded theory approach. Online Learning Journal, 3(28), 445─473. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v28i3.3964

 Espiritu, E. W., Michaels, N. N., Cleveland, P., Hamblen, A., McCutchin, A., Peters, S., Trella, E., & Williams, E. (2022). Utilizing mindfulness intervention to foster emotional intelligence in occupational therapy doctorate students. The Forum on Public Policy, 1.
https://www.forumonpublicpolicy.co.uk/_files/ugd/553e83_88a79b12c8754880b6e20bbec206e4a3.pdf

Espiritu, E. W. (2022). Group action planning to promote well-being of non-traditional students in a hybrid program. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6(2). https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol16/iss2/3

Espiritu, E. W., Michaels, N. N., Gegen, M. E., King, H. R., Miller, C., Munro, H., Schmidt, K., & Uzzell-Baggett, K. (2021). Comparing self-reported vs. parent/caregiver reported levels of social participation for young adults with intellectual disabilities: A pilot study. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295211037223

Lemmonds, T., Adam, J., Espiritu, E.W., & Wyant, D. K. (2021). Short-term service-learning: Implications for preparing health science students for practice. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 19(4), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.46743/1540-580X/2021.2096

Michaels, N.N., Espiritu, E.W., Broecker, M., Gonyea, S., Hendricks, T., McClintock, K., Sanders, K., Stelbasky, D. (2021). Aquatic exercise and its effect on participation, quality of life, and falls self-efficacy in older adults: A pilot study. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy, 29(3): 78-84. https://doi.org/10.1097/PXT.0000000000000004

Espiritu, E. W., & Busby, S. (2021). Meaning and impact of interprofessional simulation participation for occupational therapy students: A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2021.050208

Gentry, C., Espiritu, E., Schorn, M. N., Hallmark, B., Bryan, M., Prather, P., Villalta-Gill, V.,
Offodile, R., & Wilkins, C. H. (2021). Engaging the community through a longitudinal,
interprofessional, interinstitutional experiential learning collaboration. Currents in
Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 13, 169-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2020.09.012

Espiritu, E. W., Busby, S., Hunt, J. W., Brown, R., Hallmark, B. F., Cochran, K., & Brophy, C.
(2021). Students’ self-perceptions of self-awareness/self-regulation when experiencing unexpected situations in an interprofessional clinical simulation. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 19(1), Article 11. https://10.46743/1540-580X/2021.1947

Espiritu, E. W., Can, T. M., Michaels, N. N., Koch, A., & Hallmark, B. F. (2020). Effectiveness of instructor-led discussion versus simulation to prepare students for fieldwork. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2020.040407

Harcrow, M., Espiritu, E. W., & Cooper, A. (2020). Occupational therapy’s role in breast cancer prehabilitation: Protocol recommendations to enhance clients’ function. OT Practice, 25(10), 22-26.

Peterson, E.W. & Espiritu, E.W. (2020). Occupational therapy fall prevention: Assessment strategies for community-dwelling older adults, Module I. [on-line
CE course]. (Available from AOTA, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD).

Espiritu, E.W., & Peterson, E.W. (2020). Occupational therapy fall prevention: Intervention strategies for community-dwelling older adults, Module II. [on-line
CE course]. (Available from AOTA, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD).

Espiritu, E. W., & Smith, T. (2020). Health, wellness, and well-being of a non-traditional occupational therapy student: A case study. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2020.1832942

Espiritu, E. W., Michaels, N. N., & Busby, S. (2020). Educational impact on therapists’
knowledge, beliefs, and actions: A pilot study. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 18(1), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.46743/1540-580X/2020.1872

Espiritu, E. W., TenHaken-Riedel, J. P., Brown, R., Frame, T. R., Adam, J., Koch, A., Lemmonds, T., Dawson, A., Herrera, A., Jones, K. M., Myers, C., & Owens, A. (2019). Incorporating spirituality into graduate health professions education. Christian Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/15363759.2019.1687050

Espiritu, E. W., Allen, A., Graham, J., Blades, P., Elder, M.B., Callicoat, M., Miner, K. &
Michaels, N.N. (2017). Changing attitudes and actions about action planning with education: A pilot study with an acute inpatient rehabilitation team. Journal of Applied Global Research, 10(24), 1-17.

Skaggs, C. & Espiritu, E.W. (2017). Working with hospice volunteers. OT Practice, 22(14), 23-24.

Stubbs, C., Schorn, M.N., Leavell, J.P., Espiritu, E.W., Davis, G., Gentry, C.K., . . . Wilkins, C.H. (2017). Implementing and evaluating a community-based, interinstitutional, interprofessional education pilot programme. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 31(5), 652-655. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2017.1343808

Espiritu, E.W. (2015). Incorporating a self-management approach within an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Rehab Management Product Directory, 24-31.

Espiritu, E.W. (2013). Standing Tall: A self-management approach to fall prevention intervention. OT Practice 18(16), 14-18. https://doi.org/10.7138/otp.2013.1816f2

Peterson, E.W. & Espiritu, E.W. (2011). Preventing falls among community-dwelling
older adults: Intervention strategies for occupational therapy practitioners. [on-line
CE course]. (Available from AOTA, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD).

Occupational therapy careers and how and where research fits: An interactive panel session.  Cathy Piersol PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA (moderator); Felicia Chew, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, FNAP; Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR; Beth Fields, PhD, OTR/L, BCG; Stacy West-Bruce, OTD, MSW, OTR/L.  Invited panel session presented to occupational therapy students at the Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO. April 2023

Prevalence and efficacy of coping strategies utilized by entry-level
occupational therapy students. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR; Natalie Michaels PT, EdD, GCS Emeritus; Caitlin Bender OTD/S; Megan Cusick OTD/S; D. Rachel Hicks OTD/S; Hanna McClain OTD/S; Lavanya Reddy OTD/S; Samantha Wu OTD/S. Interactive poster presentation session presented to occupational therapy students, practitioners, and educators. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO. April 2023

Assessing the effectiveness of an occupation-based intervention in promoting occupational therapy student well-being. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR; Cynthia L. Evetts, PhD, OTR; Pei-Fen Chang, PhD, OTR/L; Joshua Adams, Ed.D.
Interactive poster presentation session presented to occupational therapy students, practitioners, and educators. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO. April 2023

A gospel-informed approach to occupational therapy education and clinical services
Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR. Podium presentation
Nashville Institute for Faith & Work - Gotham City Fellowship, Nashville, TN. March 2023

Assessing the effectiveness of an intervention in promoting occupational therapy student well-being: Preliminary data analysis. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
Oral presentation. Texas Woman’s University Doctoral Research Symposium, Dallas, TX. September 2022

Promoting personal well-being as a student from an occupational perspective. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR. Interactive educational workshop presented to occupational therapy students for the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association, Student Quarterly Virtual Chat. Virtual Synchronous. August 2022

Using questions to promote clinical reasoning in fieldwork students. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR. Interactive educational workshop presented to clinical supervisors and occupational therapy faculty members through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (countries represented: Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand). Virtual synchronous. November 2021

Promoting personal well-being: Extending self-compassion to yourself & Increasing your occupational balance as a student and future clinician.  Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR. Two interactive educational workshops presented to occupational therapy students and faculty at the University of the Philippines, Manila. Virtual synchronous. September 2021

Using Questions to Promote Clinical Reasoning in Fieldwork Students. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR. Interactive educational workshop presented to occupational therapy fieldwork educators. Belmont University, Nashville, TN June 2021

Assessing the Benefits of a Group Action Planning Intervention on Health, Wellness, and Well-Being in Students enrolled in a Hybrid Masters Program
Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR. Poster presentation presented to occupational therapy educators. American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit, Virtual asynchronous/synchronous. October 2020

Integrating Evidence into Practice. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
Platform presentation presented to occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students. Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association Conference – Student Track, Virtual synchronous. September 2020

Applying a Self-Management Approach Across Populations and Practice Settings to Improve Client Satisfaction and Outcomes. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, Carlene Johnson, OTD, OTR/L, Katie Polo, DHS, OTR, CLT-LANA, Kimberly Breeden, MS, OTR/L, Maureen Gecht-Silver, OTD, MPH, OTR/L, Riqiea Kitchens, OTR, BCPR, CSRS, Robin Newman, OTD, OTR/L, CLT, CDRS, Monica Perlmutter, OTD, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA
Platform presentation presented to occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT. April 2018

Collaborative Goal Setting: Educational Workshops on the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing and Action Planning. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
Interactive educational session presented to occupational and physical therapists working within the Nashville area. Belmont University, Nashville, TN. NHC Cool Springs, Franklin, TN. October 2017

Occupational Therapy Students’ Participation in a Community-Based, Inter-Institutional, Interprofessional Education Pilot Project. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, Chante Stubbs, MPH, CPH, Jane Owen Robbins, OTD, OTR/L, Nicole Wright, OTD, OTR/L, Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Gerald Davis II, DDS, Beth Hallmark, PhD, MSN, Christian Ketel, DNP, RN-BC, Elizabeth W. Robinson, M.Ed, RD, LDN, Carolyn Szetela, PhD. Interactive poster presentation session presented to occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants
American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA
April 2017

Incorporating a Self-Management Approach within an Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting
Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, Dana Near, DPT, Sara Raduski, MS, OTR/L
Interactive poster presentation session presented to occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. April 2017

Incorporating a Self-Management Based Approach within a Rehab Setting – Problem-Solving and Decision Making Skills. Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
Interactive educational session presented to interdisciplinary IP acute rehab team members (OT, PT, SLP). TriStar Skyline Medical Center, Nashville, TN
February 2016

Promoting Community Mobilization via Interprofessional Education
L. Clayton, MHS, Chante Stubbs, MPH, T. Patton, MA, J. Leavell, PhD, Mavis Schorn, CNM PhD FACNM, Carolyn Szetela, PhD, Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD OTR/L BCPR, Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD MSCI. Interactive poster presentation session
Received Emswiller People’s Choice Award - Certificate of Excellence for Poster & Presentation. Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Emswiller Symposium, Richmond, VA. February 2016

Faculty Scholarship Funding - CHSN, Belmont University (2017, 2018, 2022)