OT Alumni News
Greetings to All Occupational Therapy Alumni!
Let me introduce myself.
I am Linda Hindy-Telford, (class of 1974), Alumni Outreach Coordinator.
The goals of this new position include establishing and maintaining communication with all Ot alumni. The SUNY Downstate OT program will comply with ACOTE requirements to survey their alumni regarding program outcomes. We are considering future fundraising activities for student scholarships.
A social and information-sharing network would also be of interest to many graduates.
In November 2006, over 40 Downstate OT graduates joined CHRP alumni and faculty to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the College of Health Related Professions. Jeff Tomlinson (Class of 1980) was honored with the Occupational Therapy Program's Distinguished Alumnus Award. Former faculty in attendance included Sigrid Hansen, our program's founder, Judy Grossman, Pat Trossman, Pat Gentile, Michelle Mills, and Jim Hinojosa.
In October 2004, graduates of the Class of 1974 celebrated their 30th Anniversary, at the home of one of its classmates, Downstate Professor Suzanne White. It was no easy task to contact old classmates. With a combination of accessing names through the NYS professional websites, word of mouth and detective work, we were able to find most of the class.
It was an amazing reunion! Ten of our 15 graduates made the event, as well as Dr. Joyce Sabari (present OT Program Director) and past director, Simme Cynkin Klebanow. (Inset picture - L to R: Simme, Joyce)
Heni Feit has continued to work in Gerontology and lives in Brooklyn.
Nancy Cunningham worked in Mental Health and is now retired in Oregon.
Alice DeLuise-Massa is a Director of Rehabilitation and lives in New Rochelle.
Marion Osterlitz is a school-based therapist in Pearl River.
Roberta Schwartz works in Early Intervention, is completing a Master's Degree in Special education and lives in Maryland.
Barbara Fleischer is a Nursing Home Administrator and lives in Hawthorne.
Miriam Esterkis works in Early Intervention and lives in New Jersey.
Bonnie Hudson is a Hand Therapist and lives in San Diego.
Suzanne White has worked in Mental Health and has been a college professor for many years at NYU and Downstate.
Linda Hindy-Telford has worked in rehab and school-based Ot and is completing a Master's Degree in Educational Technology.
We all agreed that our Downstate education prepared us well for productive and interesting careers.Take a look at our photos!
WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO UPDATE OUR ALUMNI RECORDS.
We would like volunteers from each graduating class to serve as class captains.
Captains would assist us in updating class records with names, addresses, e-mail, phone numbers, practice areas and other pertinent information. Reunions and/or other activities could be scheduled.
Please contact us: (e-mail preferred)
Joyce S Sabari, PhD, OTR, BCN, FAOTA
Associate Professor and Chair
Occupational Therapy Program
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11203
phone: 718-270-7731
joyce.sabari@downstate.edu
OR
Linda Hindy-Telford OTR, BCP (class of '74)
Alumni Outreach Coordinator
phone: 516-783-7567
ltelford@optonline.net
