Quinnipiac University
Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Hamden, CT
2016 - Present
Dr. Dennis Aptaker is a 3-time alumn having completed his BS, MOT and OTD degrees at Quinnipiac University. Dennis started his career as a practicing occupational therapist in outpatient, community-based mental health with young adults. His career path then took him to inpatient psychiatry at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital continuing his work with young adults and expanding in to adults and older adults. Following the completion of his OTD degree, Dennis joined the full-time faculty at Quinnipiac University as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Associate Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. Dennis primarily teaches in the psychosocial and mental health curriculum and oversees a coordinating level II fieldwork experience for rising graduate students. Dennis is also the SIS Chairperson for CONNOTA, the state occupational therapy organization in Connecticut, representing mental health. Dennis frequently speaks and presents on topics of occupational justice, addiction, and the role of occupational therapy within interprofessional healthcare.
Welcomes Media Inquiries
Education
- BS, Quinnipiac University
- MOT, Quinnipiac University
- OTD, Quinnipiac University
Areas of Expertise
- Acute Care
- Community Health
- Addictions
- Mental Health/Behavioral Health/Psychology/Psychiatry
Organization
- Occupational Therapy
Office Location
- Medicine, Nursing, Health Sci 362B
Mail Drop
- NH-HSC
Experience
Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital
Occupational Therapist
New Haven, CT
2011 - 2016
Quinnipiac University
Adjunct Faculty
Hamden, CT
2010 - 2016
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Occupational Therapist II
Waterbury, CT
2008 - 2011
Selected Publications
Affirming Transgender Health Practices
Aptaker, D.
CT College Health Association of Nurses and Directors, North Haven, CT (2019)
Occupational therapy’s role and contributions to combating the opioid epidemic.
Aptaker, D.
Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association - Spring Conference, Cromwell, CT (2019)
Use of Improv in the Classroom to Prepare for Group Leadership Experience
Aptaker, D
Faculty Development - High Impact Teaching, North Haven, CT (2019)
Promoting affirmative transgender healthcare practice within hospitals: An IPE standardized patient simulation for graduate healthcare learners.
McCave, E., Aptaker, D., Hartmann, K,. & Zucconi, R.
MedEdPortal: The Journal of Teaching and Learning Resources. pending, Fall 2019 (2019)
Homelessness: The role of occupational therapy
Defrancesco, E. & Aptaker, D.
Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association, Cromwell, CT (2018)
Addressing the occupational needs of underserved populations and expanding areas of practice through academic fieldwork partnerships
Bondoc, S., Nadeau, B., Toussaint, L. & Aptaker, D.
World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress, Cape Town, South Africa (2018)
Promoting affirmative transgender health care practice within hospitals: An IPE standardized patient simulation
McCave, E., Hartmann, K., Zucconi, R. & Aptaker, D
Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, Florida (2018)
Performance evaluation of the academic fieldwork coordinator (PEAFWC): A formal assessment for sites, students, and department chair.
Fanelli Toussaint, L., Hewitt, P. & Aptaker, D.
AOTA Educational Summit, Louisville, KY (2018)
Psychosocial Fieldwork Level II and the Role Emerging Setting
Fanelli Toussaint, L., Aptaker, D. & Hewitt, P.
Presentation at American Occupational Therapy Association, Philadelpia, PA (2017)
Professional View of Social Media within Occupational Therapy Practice
Aptaker, D. & Smith, B.
Presentation at American Occupational Therapy Association, Philadelpia, PA (2017)
Professional view of social media within occupational therapy practice
Aptaker, D. & Smith, B.
Presentation at Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, New Orleans, LA (2016)
Addressing the occupational needs of underserved populations and expanding areas of practice through academic fieldwork partnerships.
Bondoc, S., Nadeau, B., Toussaint, L., & Aptaker, D.
American Occupational Therapy Association, 2019, New Orleans, LA