51¸£ÀûÉç

Kelsey A. Gately, OTD, OTR/L is a nationally certified and RI-licensed occupational therapist and researcher serving her second year as 51¸£ÀûÉç’s first-ever Postdoctoral Teaching and Research Fellow. She teaches in the Health Science department, conducts research with the Center for Student Research & Interdisciplinary Collaboration (CSRIC), and supports the annual Student Research, Design & Innovation Symposium. Kelsey is a graduate of 51¸£ÀûÉç’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program and has earned bachelor’s degrees in both Sculpture and Photography from Marlboro College.

Prior to her current position, Kelsey has held various healthcare roles over the last 13 years in emergency and psychiatric settings. She has also held several positions in Respite, PASS, and HBTS programs, supporting children and families as a Direct Support Worker, Treatment Coordinator, and Program Coordinator.

During her time as a graduate student at 51¸£ÀûÉç and during her postdoctoral career, Kelsey has focused her work on the intersection of disability and sexual/gender identity, particularly as it relates to health disparities and healthcare access. As a Graduate Health Equity Fellow, she had the opportunity to work with the CSRIC on the Health of Sexual and Gender Minorities Study and later continued the research during her doctoral capstone experience at the center. As a student, Kelsey was a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association, Social Media Chair for the 51¸£ÀûÉç chapter of the Coalition for Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity, founding secretary for 51¸£ÀûÉç's Health Equity Club, and founding president of the 51¸£ÀûÉç Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon, the national honors society for occupational therapists.

In her first year as a postdoctoral fellow, Kelsey has taught several Health Science courses, mentored undergraduate Research Fellows, supported undergraduate research projects presented at various conferences, presented research findings at local and national conferences in public health, occupational therapy, and scholarship, and authored articles published in several peer-reviewed journals.

As an occupational therapist and as someone who has needed her own accommodations to access higher education, Kelsey is passionate about making research and coursework accessible to all students.

Education

• Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), 51¸£ÀûÉç
• BA, Sculpture & Photography, Marlboro College

Teaching Interests

• Health Research
• LGBTQ+ Health
• Scientific Writing

Scholarly Interests

• Health Equity
• Accessibility
• LGBTQ+ Health
• Disability Justice
• Neurodiversity
• Discrimination in Healthcare

Courses

• HSC1010: Intro to Health Professions
• HSC2040: Research Methods for Health Sciences
• HSC4900 Data and Evidence in Health: Research Capstone