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About Ricardo Carrasco

As Professor and Founding Chair, Dr. Carrasco oversees the department’s administrative, marketing, educational, research, and fiscal operation. He started teaching for Nova Southeastern University as an Adjunct Professor in 1997. As Program Consultant in 2010, he designed and later proposed the Tampa entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. In 2011 he received the appointment of Professor and Founding Chair. Prior to this appointment, he was Chair of the postprofessional graduate and entry-level OT and OT assistant programs at the Medical College of Georgia, now Georgia Regents University. He taught certification courses for Sensory Integration International and Summit Professional Education in all US states and Asia. His combined occupational therapy experience spans over 40 years of practice in pediatric, academic, research, mental health and wellness settings. Concurrently, he is iemoto (Headmaster) of Banmi Shofu Ryu of Ikebana and travels around the world teaching the flower art backed by more than 45 years of Ikebana practice, teaching and administration.

To be contemporaneous in aligning vision, curriculum design, and contemporary needs of the profession with a blended model of delivery, all departmental operations include a global component. Dr. Carrasco’s has worked as senior account executive for the Asia-Pacific Region of the Chicago based Grant Advertising International. He served as occupational therapist and special educator for the US Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) Pacific in coordinating the first international Very Special Arts Festival. He completed a United Nations fellowship in the Far East, a Surgeon General’s appointment with the DoDDS Europe, a royal invitation to serve on the first international Pediatric Rehabilitation conference in Saudi Arabia.

His scholarly activities include invited and refereed presentations and publications. His research focus includes sensory processing disorders, occupational science, mental health, education in the areas of theory, instrumentation and lived experiences by human beings in the process of becoming. He serves on local, state, national and international organizations in various capacities from member to president, including Florida OT Association (FOTA), American OT Association (AOTA), World Federation of OTs (WFOT), OT Association of the Philippines (OTAP) and Ikebana International (II).

The breadth of Dr. Carrasco’s professional experience is essential in maintaining a visionary and objective stance as an active co-participating leader in navigating the clinical, curricular, scholarly, business, leadership and mentorship demands of higher education and lifelong learning.

Positions

2011 - Present Professor, Nova Southeastern University College of Health Care Sciences
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Professional Service and Affiliations

2015 - Present Chair, ad hoc, Strategic Planning Committee, Nova Southeastern University
2013 - Present Member, Council of Professors for the College of Health Care Sciences, Nova Southeastern University
2011 - Present Chair, Practice Standing Committee, Nova Southeastern University
2010 - Present Webmaster, Vice President, & President, Nova Southeastern University
2000 - Present Chairman, Sensory Integration Special Interest Section, FOTA, Nova Southeastern University
2006 - 2011 Vice President, then President, Nova Southeastern University
2009 - 2010 Chair, Local Conference Committee, Nova Southeastern University
2007 - 2010 Conference Convener, Nova Southeastern University
2004 - 2009 Chair, ad hoc, Strategic Planning Committee, Nova Southeastern University
2005 - 2008 Chairperson, Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section, AOTA, Nova Southeastern University
2006 - 2007 Member, President’s Ad Hoc Committee, American Occupational Therapy Association, Nova Southeastern University
2002 - 2005 Communication Liaison, Nova Southeastern University
2001 - 2002 Member, Board of Director’s Ad Hoc Committee, American Occupational Therapy Asso, Nova Southeastern University
1998 - 2000 Chairman, Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section, FOTA, Nova Southeastern University
1995 - 1997 Member, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, AOTA, Nova Southeastern University
1992 - 1997 Roster of Accreditation Evaluators, American Occupational Therapy Association, Nova Southeastern University
1987 - 1996 Panel of Experts, World Federation of Occupational Therapy, WHO, Nova Southeastern University
1981 - 1982 President & Vice President, Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines, Nova Southeastern University
1980 - 1982 Chairperson, CELEBRATIONS! Alliance for Enrichment of Exceptional Individuals, Nova Southeastern University
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Honors and Awards

  • 2014 Elected Faculty Member, Alpha Eta Society
  • 2013 FOTA Award of Excellence, David Clark Award
  • 2012 CAMP Big 50 Award
  • 2010 Award of Merit, American Occupational Therapy Association
  • 2008 Service Award, Development Disabilities Special Interest Section, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
  • 2007 Service Award, President's Children & Youth Ad Hoc Committe, AOCTA
  • 2005 Service Award, Development Disabilities Special Interest Section, AOTA
  • 2002 Service Award Sensory Integration Special Interest Section, AOTA
  • 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award, University of Philippines
  • 2002 Service Award, Board of Directors’ Ad Hoc Committee for Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity in Occupational Therapy, AOTA
  • 1999 Dr. Ricardo C. Carrasco Award
  • 1998 Award for Significant Contributions to Education
  • 1998 Service Award Task Force on Student Learning Objectives for Entry Level Education, AOTA
  • 1997 Life Membership Award The GREAT Southern Occupational Therapy Conference
  • 1993 Roster of Fellows of the American Oc cupational Therapy Association (FAOTA)
  • 1992 Outstanding Occupational Therapist Georgia Occupational Therapy Association
  • 1991 Outstanding Alumnus, University of the Philippines
  • 1989 Honored Nominee for Professor of the Year Council for Advancement: Support for Education
  • 1989 Outstanding Faculty The Medical College of Georgia
  • 1982 Annual Apolinario Mabini Rehabilitation Awards Professional Rehabilitation Worker of the Year
  • 1982 Volunteer of the Year Nominee Award United Nations and the National Commission concerning Disabled Persons

Education

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1987 - 1990 Ph.D., Neuropsychology & Occupational Dysfunction, Union Institute & University
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1980 - 1982 M.S., Creativity & Special Education of the Gifted & Talented, University of the Philippines Diliman
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1976 - 1978 B.S., Occupational Therapy, University of the Philippines
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1965 - 1968 B.S., Commerce, Marketing, San Beda College
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Contact Information

(813) 574-5429

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Articles (23)

Books and Book Contributions (13)