Pickett Lab – SMIL Info

Kristen Pickett, PH.D.

Dr. Kristen Pickett is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She completed her B.S. in Biology at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville and her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. After focusing doctoral work on the use of f-MRI to examine individuals with idiopathic focal hand dystonia, she continued on to the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, and completed a postdoctoral experience in the Program in Physical Therapy and the Movement Disorders section of the Department of Neurology. During her postdoc, she focused on exercise interventions for individuals with Parkinson disease and gait and balance characteristics of young people with Wolfram syndrome. Her current focus is on the use of collaborative and community-based research methods aimed at positively impacting meaningful health outcomes for older adults, especially those with Parkinson disease, who have limited access to effective forms of physical activity.

Sarah Zurawski, OTD, OTR/L

Sarah teaches in the UW-Madison’s Occupational Therapy program, focusing on pediatrics and professional skills. She received her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy from UW-Madison in 2002 and her master’s in special education from UW-Whitewater in 2010. Sarah spent most of her clinical career working as a school-based occupational therapist where she provided services designed to support children’s participation in school related activities. Sarah has worked at the Waisman Center in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic and in home health care. She has a lifelong passion for working with people of all ages, and has been a personal care assistant to over ten elderly clients over the course of twenty years.
Sarah received her post professional doctorate degree in occupational therapy from UW-Madison in 2020. She joined Dr. Pickett’s Sensory Motor Integration Lab to explore occupational therapy’s role in supporting the psychosocial, well-being, and mental health needs of individuals living with Parkinson disease.
She lives outside of Madison with her two children and husband. She is a huge Badger fan!

Abby Bradfield

Abby is a PhD student with Dr. Pickett in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab (SMIL) within the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her undergraduate degree and master’s degree at UW-Madison in rehabilitation psychology and kinesiology respectively. In 2018, she began working with Dr. Pickett and the SMIL team and loved the work so much that she never left! Her interests revolve around physical activity interventions, and how they can improve the quality of life in geriatric populations, more specifically underrepresented populations. Her career goals include completing her PhD in Kinesiology in the Occupational Science Track and completing her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy within the coming years.

Abdullah Alsaeed

Abdullah Alsaeed is a Ph.D. student in the Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He completed his bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy at King Saud University in June 2013 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He received his master’s degree in health and rehabilitation science with a concentration in occupational therapy in April 2019 from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The broad scoop of Abdullah’s research with Dr. Pickett at the SMIL focuses on how occupational therapists can benefit individuals with Parkinson Disease (PD). Also, he focuses on the factors that predict fall and the programs that promote quality of life among older adults and their families, specifically individuals with PD. Abdullah admires Dr. Pickett’s efforts in answering the questions that remain unanswered in PD research. He believes that working in the lab will be valuable to him while he works on his dissertation and as he continues into his own independent research career.

Ashton Spritka

Ashton is a student in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies and a certificate in Education and Educational Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since joining the program, she has stepped into the role of secretary of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and is enjoying this leadership opportunity. She is excited to be a part of SMIL and looks forward to all of the learning experiences it will bring. Activities that she enjoys include spending time with her friends and family, discovering new restaurants, reading, and watching a good movie.

Kyra Neuser

Kyra is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and recently joined the SMIL team. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in 2020. Since joining the OTD program at UW – Madison, she has been involved with the student organization “Diverse-OT” as co-president. Upon graduation from the OTD program, she is hoping to practice in either an inpatient neuro or hands specialty setting. She is thrilled to begin getting involved in the research side of OT with the SMIL. Outside of graduate school, Kyra loves to explore new hiking trails, find new recipes to cook, watch movies with family and friends, and attempt crafty DIY projects.

Jessica Schmidt

Jessica Schmidt started as a volunteer in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab as an undergraduate in rehabilitation psychology and is now an occupational therapy doctorate student. She grew up in Viroqua, WI and initially became connected with the lab through her desire to better serve rural, older adult communities. From that point on she has been involved in various lab projects encouraging exercise for rural older adults and individuals with Parkinson disease. More recently, she has become interested in understanding caregiver experiences for people with Parkinson disease and providing caregivers with increased opportunities for support. Down the road, Jess envisions herself working as an occupational therapist in an acute or inpatient setting with neurological diagnoses but also staying connected to research through clinical partnership in the future. Outside of the lab, Jess is a devoted Badger football fan and enjoys playing competitive sports or being outdoors whenever she has the chance.

Paige Gesens

Paige is an Occupational Therapy doctoral student that became interested in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab because of its impact on rural communities and filling the gap in research for OTs role in Parkinson disease. Paige is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin. In May of 2021, she graduated from UW- Milwaukee with a major in occupational science & technology and a minor in psychology. She is the professional development coordinator for a student-led organization on campus known as Diverse-OT. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her niece and nephew in Sun Prairie. Some interesting facts about her is that she is vegan, studied abroad in Botswana, and loves her dog, Meeka!

Aviva Hirch

Aviva comes to the SMIL lab and the Occupational Therapy department with knowledge and experience as a certified therapeutic yoga instructor, an environmental educator, and work in substance abuse and suicide prevention. They graduated from Alaska Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and has a unique understanding of the way Person, Occupation and Environment coalesce in an individual’s life. They are fascinated by the brain, how the brain and body function together, and how to apply research functionally to people with neurological needs. Aviva is from Homer, Alaska, and has lived many places contributing to their passion for learning, asking questions, and diverse community. Aviva loves partner-dancing, snow, sunrises and playing with their little dog, Juniper.

Julia Addis, Anastasia Bormann, Pete Brown, Monica Daleccio, Kecia Doyle, Sammie Gannon, Shanda Geil, Nina Hartsel, Kenny Kemp, Conner Marshall Helen Matsoff, Maria Mertzenich, McKenzie Meyer, Emily Noldin, Alicia Oestreich, Max Toepfer, Heidi Wagner, Allison Yingst