Title
Assistant Professor (Clinical)
Department
Health Care Sciences (Occupational Therapy)
Institution
Wayne State University
Education
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PhD Nova Southeastern University
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MOT Wayne State University
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Bachelor of Health Sciences Wayne State University
Research Interests
Biography
Christine Kivlen, PhD, OTRL is an Assistant Professor (Clinical) in the Department of Health Care Sciences at Wayne State University, where she also serves as the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Program. She has been a practicing occupational therapist for 12 years. Dr. Kivlen earned her Baccalaureate and Graduate degrees from Wayne State University, followed by her PhD in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. She has a broad range of experiences in animal-assisted services (AAS) and their impact on health and well-being, with a focus on interventions in educational settings.
She is the Principal Investigator for the STudent Education: Learning aLongside Animals (STELLA) Lab, where she conducts research on the effects of animal-assisted activities on college student mental health and stress reduction. Her work has been published in numerous journals, including The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy and American Journal of Health Education. In 2023, she received the Faculty Research Award Program (FRAP) and Health Care Sciences Award for her work on the Pause for Paws therapy dog clinic for students, and she received Phase 2 funding for the FRAP in 2024.
In addition to her research, Dr. Kivlen is deeply committed to interdisciplinary teaching and collaboration. She advises the Interprofessional Team Visit (IPTV) program and has been instrumental in its continued development. In 2024, she was awarded a Program Assessment Grant for excellence and innovation in student success, further supporting her commitment to advancing educational practices.
Dr. Kivlen’s professional service includes active memberships in the International Society of Anthrozoology, Animal Assisted Intervention International, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP). Her dedication to advancing the field of occupational therapy and human animal interaction extends to her editorial work as a peer-reviewer for journals like The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy and Journal of Patient Experience.
Homepages
Contact Information
259 Mack Ave
586-946-0349
