Alexander Lopez
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Occupational Therapy
Campus: Long Island
Area(s) of Expertise: Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Community Health Promotion and Wellness, and Health Advocacy
Education Credentials: J.D.
Industry Credentials: OT/L, FAOTA
Joined New York Tech: 2017
Alexander Lopez, J.D., received his Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Kean University in 1997 and a Juris Doctor from New England Law in 2004. As a licensed occupational therapy practitioner and attorney, he has engaged in several community-based initiatives focused on under-served groups. In addition, Lopez has been instrumental in bringing non-traditional services to governmental and private community-based organizations. In 2007, he founded PAR FORE, a golf mentoring program that utilizes the occupational activity of golf as a medium for developing valuable life skills. Since its inception, PAR FORE has grown from serving a handful of adolescents in New York to serving children in Utah, New Jersey, and Nevada.
In 2013, Lopez founded Inclusive Sports and Fitness Inc., a nonprofit aimed to meet the occupational needs of children with performance skill impairments and help them advance their sensorimotor, social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. In addition, he collaborates with industry leaders in science and technology to explore and introduce innovative and more reliable interventions for children.
Recent Projects/Research
- Effects of a multimodal exercise program for children with autistic spectrum disorder on cognitive and motor abilities (Full review Protocol # BHS-1339; 03/06/2017)
- Virtual reality priming: Preparing children with social-emotional impairments in their everyday transitions
Publications
- Horowitz, B.P., Lopez, A., & Reyes-Smith, C. (2018): “Culturally competent strategies: Evidence and case studies to improve health and occupational participation in the United States.” World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin. DOI: 10.1080/14473828.2018.1432313.
- Lopez, A. (2011). “PTSD and occupational performance-building resilience and fostering occupational adaptation.” WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation, 28, 33-38.
- Ali M.M., Dwyer D.S., Vanner, E.A., Lopez, A. (2010). “Adolescent propensity to engage in health risky behaviors: The role of individual resilience.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7, 5, 2161-2167.
- Lopez, A., Vanner, E., Cowan, A., Samuel, A., & Shepherd, D. (2008). “Four facets of occupational therapy intervention planning: Economics, ethics, professional judgment, and research.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 87-96.
- Lopez, A. & Block, P. (2011). “PAR FORE: A Community-based Occupational Therapy Program.” In Kronenberg, Frank, Algado, Salvador, & Pollard, Nick. Occupational Therapy Without Borders. (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Honors & Awards
- Emerging and Innovative Practice Award, American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, 2017
- AOTA Roster of Fellows, American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, 2016
- Community Mental Health Award, Adelante of Suffolk County’s 50th Anniversary Gala, May 2016
- Volunteerism Award from New York State Senator Thomas D. Croci, 2016
- Award for Volunteerism, American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014
Courses Taught at New York Tech
- OCTH 607: Development of the Child
- OCTH 612: Conditions in Pediatrics
- OCTH 725: Assistive Technology, Environmental Modifications
- OCTH 820 Motor Learning