CRIS BrownBag Event

Helping Refugees Build a Sense of Home and Enrich the Community Through Occupational Therapy

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on the vital role of occupational therapy in refugee resettlement!

Presented by:

• Rachel Rogers, MOT, OTR/L
• Cassandra (Cassie) Mattix, MOT, OTR/L
• John Bazyk, OTR/L, Associate Professor Emeritus, CSU

Event Overview: This panel will explore:

• Who refugees are and the challenges they face
• How occupational therapists help refugees build agency and resilience
• How refugees contribute to and enrich their communities
• Student involvement opportunities at USCRI-Cleveland

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025, 11:30 AM
• Open to the Public via Zoom - REGISTER HERE!

Meet the Speakers:

 Rachel Rogers, MOT, OTR/L graduated from Cleveland State University’s Master of Occupational Therapy Program in 2017. She has been working as an occupational therapist at USCRI-Cleveland since 2022, supporting clients of all ages through a state-funded refugee mental health grant. Rachel played a key role in establishing a service-learning course in collaboration with CSU and USCRI, which has provided hands-on experience for CSU students since 2018. Her work has been recognized as a Promising Practice by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and she, along with Cassie Mattix, received the Model Practice Award from the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association in 2024.

Cassandra (Cassie) Mattix, MOT, OTR/L, is a 2021 graduate of CSU’s Occupational Therapy program, Cassie developed a passion for working with vulnerable populations during her 2019 service-learning experience with USCRI-Cleveland. She now provides occupational therapy services to older adult refugees, promoting mental health and independence. Cassie has supervised multiple fieldwork and capstone students and co-presented at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress in 2022. In 2024, she and Rachel were honored with the Model Practice Award for their innovative work in refugee resettlement.

John Bazyk, MS, OTR/L A retired CSU faculty member with 34 years of service, John initiated the OT service-learning course with refugees in 2018. Since retirement, he continues to support USCRI’s occupational therapists and helped secure grants to hire three OTs—the only USCRI field office in the nation to employ these professionals.

Don't miss this inspiring discussion on how occupational therapy is transforming lives and communities!