St. Bonaventure University

ST. BONAVENTURE FACULTY


Rizzuto, Aime

Rizzuto, Aime OT 2023

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT
Occupational Therapy
ACADEMIC SCHOOL
DePerro School of Health Professions

TITLES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
CONTACT
Office phone: (716) 375-2069
Send an email
OFFICE
Francis Hall 243
COURSES TAUGHT
  • OT 530. Applied Kinesiology for Occupational Engagement
  • OT 540. Occupation-based Activity Analysis
  • OT 560. Evidence Based Practice
  • OT 615A. Applied Neuroscience for OT
  • OT 620. Service Delivery for Adults
  • OT 630. Applied Research Methods
  • OT 650. Management and Entrepreneurship
  • OT 690. OT Process: Older Adults
ACADEMIC DEGREES
  • Doctorate of Occupational Therapy, Gannon University, 2020
  • Bachelor's/Master's in Occupational Therapy, D'Youville College, 2002
  • Bachelor of Science in Sociology, SUNY at Brockport, 1994
OTHER EDUCATION
  • Certified Fall Prevention Specialist 2022
  • Mental Health First Aid for Adults Instructor 2024
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Prior to becoming a faculty member at St. Bonaventure University, Aime worked in various practice areas as an Occupational Therapist. She began her career as a school-based therapist from 2002-2004 at Hewes Center BOCES. In 2004, she transitioned to geriatrics, working as an Occupational Therapist in Jamestown, New York, where she worked in skilled nursing for Heritage Ministries. Aime was promoted to Senior Occupational Therapist at Heritage Village in Gerry, New York, and eventually became Director of Rehabilitation Services at Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing Facility in Jamestown, New York, from 2016-2023.

Over the years as a clinician, Aime has demonstrated work experience as a per diem clinician providing early intervention services to children and working in academia as an adjunct faculty member at D’Youville University in 2016 and then Gannon University from 2020-2022. During 2020-2022, Aime was also a Capstone Advisor guiding doctoral students with their research in Gannon’s post-professional OTD program.

Currently, Aime is employed as a clinician working as an OT consultant for Periscope, Inc where she completes home evaluations, assessing clients’ needs for home modifications and adaptive equipment, and she also fits local veterans across several counties in Western NY and Northwestern PA for lower extremity Walkasins prosthetics to help with the challenges caused from peripheral neuropathy.  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • 2024 – Recipient of Keenan Grant to obtain Mental Health First Aide Instructor Certification
  • 2020 - Received the Academic Achievement Award from Gannon University
  • 2020 - Completed Doctoral Capstone: Person-Centered Dementia Care for Abilities-Based Activity Programming in Long-Term Care
  • 2002 - Received the Professional Promise Award from D’Youville University
  • 2002 - Completed Master’s Thesis: Teachers’ Perspectives on the Provision of Occupational Therapy Services in the General Education Classroom: A Replication Study
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
My teaching philosophy is that higher education provides students with opportunities to grow and become socially responsible adults. By creating a learning environment that is rich in new life experiences, it allows the students to become free thinkers which not only fosters personal growth but it helps them to develop and learn important skills such as humility, empathy, and love for others. These skills are also carried over and supported by the profession of occupational therapy. 

I whole-heartedly live my life believing as St. Bonaventure taught “there is no knowledge without love”. I know I have the ability to make a difference in the lives of the students at St. Bonaventure. Occupational therapy is a holistic profession where one is taught the importance of promoting and supporting others uniqueness and individualism in an unbiased manner. It was due to the influence of many past college professors that believed in me, influenced me, and simply loved me that instilled my ongoing love of academia and has pushed me to be where I am today. I am excited to be an educator that helps guide students to achieve not only their educational goals, but also to grow as individuals.
CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS/PROJECTS
**Co-faculty advisor/professor for student research courses guiding students to completion of Critically Appraised Topic / Knowledge Translation Projects. 

Personal Research Interests: 
  • Geriatrics:
    • Fall prevention 
    • Aging in place
    • Home modifications
    • Universal home design
    • Dementia care
Personal Interests:
  • Museums
  • Architecture
  • Watercolor Painting
  • Health & Wellness
PERSONAL INTERESTS/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
  • New York State Occupational Therapy Association Conference Research Topic Reviewer 2024
  • Alzheimer’s Association – Walk to End Alzheimer’s participant 2024
  • Chautauqua Blind Association – White Cane Walk participant 2024
  • Community Partner/Supporter of Olean Parkinson’s Support Group 2024
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee member - DePerro School of Health Professions 2023-present
  • SBU’s Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) Club faculty representative 2023-present
  • Jamestown All-4-One Team fundraising team founding-member 2008-present
  • America Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) member 2002-present
  • New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) 2002-present
  • Human Rights Campaign (HRC) member 2013-present
  • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) member 2017-present
LINKS