Mary Ann Smith

Background

About Mary Ann Smith

Dr. Smith's teaching expertise is in the following areas: adult neurological and cognitive rehabilitation, functional anatomy, culture and disability, and community-based practice to underserved and diverse populations. She has over 25 years of education and rehabilitation experience in the area of adult physical disabilities. Throughout her career she has worked with patients in a variety of settings including acute rehabilitation, outpatient, home care and long-term care. Dr. Smith conducts clinical research with students on Constraint Induced Movement Therapy for individuals with stroke using telehealth. She presented her findings at AOTA in April 2019 and recently published the results in the International Journal of Telerehabilitation. Additionally, Dr. Smith leads student research groups on the benefits of adapted yoga for individuals with neurological disabilities, as she is a registered yoga teacher. Dr. Smith earned her PhD in in Medical Sociology. The focus of her research was healthcare providers’ delivery of culturally competent care to ethnically diverse groups. Her results have been published and presented nationally and internationally on this topic. Dr. Smith’s interest in diversity and culture complemented her role as the project director for Culture in the Curriculum (2006-2011). In this role for the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE), her work led to several publications on infusing cultural competence into pre-service rehabilitation programs. In addition, for 12 years, Dr. Smith co-directed the study abroad program, “Health in Brazil”, a reciprocal exchange between a university in Brazil, and the University at Buffalo from 2004 to 2016. Dr. Smith has received the following awards: The certificate of recognition from NARRTC for her contributions in strengthening cultural competence in the rehabilitation professions, 2011. The New York State Occupational Therapy Association: Merit for Practice: Physical Disabilities and Education award, 2015. She recently received from the School of Public Health at the University at Buffalo the 2017 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.