David M. Merlo, MS, COTA/L, CPRP, ROH

854 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14612         Phone: 585 720-0660 x226
Email: dmmerlo@bryantstratton.edu   

• Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) NBCOT #AA545673
• New York State OTA Licence #001461-1
• Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) PRA #138628
• American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Honors (ROH)    

Title: Program Director
Institution: Bryant & Stratton College, Greece NY Campus 
Unit/Department: Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Starting Date: July 2014

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Vision

I am an innovative servant-leader, driven by the hope of enabling all people the opportunity to improve their health and wellness, to live self-directed lives, to be integrated and contributing members of their communities, and to reach their full potential (SAMHSA Working Definition of Recovery, 12/10/11). Through my experience, skills, and passions, I strive to realize that vision through a variety of roles including educator, administrator, consultant, and advocate. I lead by example, by relationship, and by partnership and collaboration.

Education

• Masters of Science in Adult Education.  Emphasis on education and support services for adults with disabilities. Education Foundations Department, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY. 2006.
• Advanced Graduate Certificate.  Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology. Occupational Therapy Department, University at Buffalo, NY. 2003.
• BA Health and Human Services. University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. Social Sciences Interdisciplinary, Major in community mental health. 1994.
  
• Certificate Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, off campus. 1989.
• AAS Occupational Therapy. Erie Community College, Buffalo, NY. 1984.
• AAS Horticulture- Landscape Design. Alfred State College, Alfred, NY. 1979.

David Merlo is an approachable, knowledgeable, and extremely dedicated member of the Occupational Therapy profession. He values the importance of keeping teaching techniques, treatment approaches, and the use of technology current, and he adapts his lessons as needed. David is the type of employee who goes the extra mile for not only his students, but for colleagues as well. He takes the initiative to develop programs that assist his students to successfully integrate into the clinical field of OT within our community. He is professional, and is able to incorporate humor into the workplace. David Merlo is always a pleasure to work with, and whenever his name is mentioned in our field, it is with the utmost respect.

Current Role

Program Director, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Bryant & Stratton College 
Founding Director. Responsibilities include:

• Developing program philosophy and program design
• Developing curricula that is effective, current, and relevant
• Hiring, training and mentoring faculty
  
• Developing program policies
• Facilitating  continual program growth and quality improvement

• Recruiting, admitting and supporting qualified students
• Monitoring and reporting program compliance to Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and state education department, 
• Marketing and representing OTA program and college.
  
• Leading by serving   
  

Committees and Projects

• Associate Editor - Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Workforce Development. 2/2019 – present.
• Board Director – AOTA. (7/2019 – 6/2022).
• Academic Liaison – Helping Hands and Beyond (www.helpinghandsandbeyond.org), an organization that operates health and rehabilitation clinics in Haiti. 1/2016 – present. 
  
• Member, OTA Honor Society Committee - OT Leaders and Legacies Society. (4/18 – present).
• OTA Representative - AOTA Representative Assembly. (2016 - 6/2019)     
  
• Advisory Council Member - Academy of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery.
  
• Committee Member - Education and Training Committee, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
• IT Coordinator/Developer - Western New York OT Fieldwork Network.
• Board Director - Restoration Society, Inc., a community mental health agency.
• IT and Social Media Coordinator - New York State Occupational Therapy Association (www.nysota.org).
• Website Content Manager - Consortium of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Educators (www.psychrehab.net).

Transition-age youth summer project: building career portfolios. Rochester Regional Center for Independent Living. Learn more at: http://www.rcil.org