Alexander Lopez
Associate Professor
Alexander Lopez, J.D., received his Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Kean University in 1997 and a Juris Doctor from New England Law in 2004. As a licensed occupational therapy practitioner and attorney, he has engaged in several community-based initiatives focused on under-served groups. In addition, Lopez has been instrumental in bringing non-traditional services to governmental and private community-based organizations. In 2007, he founded PAR FORE, a golf mentoring program that utilizes the occupational activity of golf as a medium for developing valuable life skills. Since its inception, PAR FORE has grown from serving a handful of adolescents in New York to serving children in Utah, New Jersey, and Nevada.
In 2013, Lopez founded Inclusive Sports and Fitness Inc., a nonprofit aimed to meet the occupational needs of children with performance skill impairments and help them advance their sensorimotor, social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. In addition, he collaborates with industry leaders in science and technology to explore and introduce innovative and more reliable interventions for children.
Recent Projects/Research
Effects of a multimodal exercise program for children with autistic spectrum disorder on cognitive and motor abilities (Full review Protocol # BHS-1339; 03/06/2017)
Virtual reality priming: Preparing children with social-emotional impairments in their everyday transitions
Publications
Horowitz, B.P., Lopez, A., & Reyes-Smith, C. (2018): “Culturally competent strategies: Evidence and case studies to improve health and occupational participation in the United States.” World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin. DOI: 10.1080/14473828.2018.1432313.
Lopez, A. (2011). “PTSD and occupational performance-building resilience and fostering occupational adaptation.” WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation, 28, 33-38.
Ali M.M., Dwyer D.S., Vanner, E.A., Lopez, A. (2010). “Adolescent propensity to engage in health risky behaviors: The role of individual resilience.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7, 5, 2161-2167.
Lopez, A., Vanner, E., Cowan, A., Samuel, A., & Shepherd, D. (2008). “Four facets of occupational therapy intervention planning: Economics, ethics, professional judgment, and research.” American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 87-96.
Lopez, A. & Block, P. (2011). “PAR FORE: A Community-based Occupational Therapy Program.” In Kronenberg, Frank, Algado, Salvador, & Pollard, Nick. Occupational Therapy Without Borders. (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Honors & Awards
Emerging and Innovative Practice Award, American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, 2017
AOTA Roster of Fellows, American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, 2016
Community Mental Health Award, Adelante of Suffolk County’s 50th Anniversary Gala, May 2016
Volunteerism Award from New York State Senator Thomas D. Croci, 2016
Award for Volunteerism, American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014
Courses Taught
OCTH 607: Development of the Child
OCTH 612: Conditions in Pediatrics
OCTH 725: Assistive Technology, Environmental Modifications
OCTH 820 Motor Learning