Debra T Zizik
- Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
- School of Health and Natural Sciences
- MH 379
- DZizik@mercy.edu
- (914) 674-7818
Dr. Debra T. Zizik is an alumna of the ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö Occupational Therapy Graduate Program. She began her career as an occupational therapist at Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, New Jersey. Dr. Zizik worked in the Hand Therapy Department and on the Burn Unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Cornell. Her clinical background includes treating individuals with orthopedic injuries of the upper extremity, burns and general medical/surgical diagnoses. Dr. Zizik has extensive experience working with women with sequelae associated with breast cancer treatment, including lymphedema, and has participated in numerous community outreach projects. She was the faculty mentor for Club Discovery for many years – a program focusing on health and wellness for women recovering from cancer that was held in collaboration with Gilda’s Club Westchester. Dr. Zizik is currently working with colleagues to investigate the impact of caregiving on occupational engagement, participation and quality of life when caring for an individual with Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Zizik co-authored the critically appraised paper titled For individuals with Grade II and III osteoarthritis (OA) of the trapeziometacarpal (CMC) joint in the dominant hand, is using a short opponens orthosis effective in decreasing pain and increasing strength and hand function for ADL performance? She has presented both locally and nationally. Dr. Zizik teaches anatomy to medical students and has presented workshops to physicians who utilize botulinum toxin to treat individuals with spasticity. Dr. Zizik is a co-founder of the Hands R Us Study Group comprised of certified hand therapists and occupational therapists practicing in hand therapy. Dr. Zizik completed the Certificate of Advanced Practice in Hand and Upper Quarter Rehabilitation at Drexel University and was awarded a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Zizik received the ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö Teaching Excellence Award and the Mavie in May 2019.
Thomas Jefferson University - Doctorate in Occupational Therapy
ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö - Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö - Bachelor of Health Sciences
Hunter College - Bachelor of Arts in Economics
OCTR 517 Occupational Therapy Assessment and Treatment III - Splinting
OCTR 607 Problem Based Learning in Adult Health
OCTR 610 Occupational Therapy Assessment and Treatment IV
OCTR 616 Level I Fieldwork with Older Adults
OCTR 617 Problem Based Learning in Geriatric Health
OCTR 623 Clinical Education II
HLSC 302 Pathology for Rehabilitation
HLSC 303A Human Anatomy with Cadaver Lab
HLSC 314 Clinical Kinesiology and Applied Physics
Spraggs-Young, K. & Zizik, D.T. (2013). For individuals with Grade II and III osteoarthritis (OA) of the trapeziometacarpal (CMC) joint in the dominant hand, is using a short opponens orthosis effective in decreasing pain and increasing strength and hand function for ADL performance? AOTA Critically Appraised Paper Series Evidence Exchange. Available from:
http://www.aotra.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Practice/EvidenceExchange/Approved-CAPs/WI/Gomes%20Carreira.pdf
ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö Teaching Excellence Award
ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö Mavi Award