Szu-Wei Chen | Health Professions | SIU

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy, Occupational Therapy, New York University, NY 2020
• Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 2010
• Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 2008

Licenses and Certifications:

• Licensed Occupational Therapist, Illinois
• Licensed Occupational Therapist, Missouri
• Registered Occupational Therapist, National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

Overview:

Dr. Chen is an Assistant Professor and the OTD Capstone Coordinator in the Program of Occupational Therapy at SIU. Before joining SIU, she completed her postdoctoral research training at Washington University in St. Louis and worked as a home health occupational therapist in Missouri.

Research:

Dr. Chen’s primary research interests center on promoting health, well-being, and social connection among older adults and individuals aging with disabilities. By building levels of research evidence, she seeks to design and evaluate evidence-based, leisure-focused interventions that foster meaningful social engagement and decrease loneliness in these populations. In addition, Dr. Chen is committed to advancing the occupational therapy profession by advocating for a greater emphasis on leisure as a critical area of practice.

Teaching:

Dr. Chen teaches several OTD capstone courses using highly individualized approach that prioritizes each student’s unique learning trajectory. She mentors students throughout their OTD capstone experience, guiding students in capstone project planning, development, and final delivery. In her role as capstone coordinator, she also facilitates learning by collaborating with capstone committee mentors and ensuring that students have access to the best available resources and expertise.

Clinical Practice:

Dr. Chen’s clinical practice emphasizes the use of adaptive equipment and home modification to promote activity participation and reduce falls among older adults. She has extensive experience working in government-funded programs in Taiwan, where she provided home health, job accommodation service, and assistive technology evaluations for people with disabilities and aging populations.