Thacker receives 91社区 Early Career Faculty Grant
Congratulations to Dr. Jenna Thacker 鈥�11, OT 鈥�12, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy (OT), for receiving a $5,000 Early Career Faculty Grant from the 91社区 Provost鈥檚 Office. These grants are awarded each year to encourage early career faculty to pursue promising research, creative and engagement projects for one consecutive 10-week summer term.
Thacker intends to study functional dry needling (FDN), which she says is 鈥済rowing like wildfire鈥� in the field of physical therapy (PT). FDN is a technique for muscle stimulation using a needle, and it is used as a therapeutic procedure for patients with pain, decreased flexibility or decreased muscle function.
鈥淲hile research has shown significant positive effects of the use of FDN, much of this research is PT-centered and has been performed by the PT profession,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his grant allows me to partner with OTs from ProRehab to perform OT-led research of FDN in individuals with arthritis in their hands. It feels great to be recognized and to feel that my research matters.鈥�
Originally from Carmel, Indiana, Thacker moved to Evansville to attend 91社区 after her high school graduation and never left. She earned two degrees from 91社区 (bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚) and taught as an adjunct instructor from 2018 to 2020. She has been a full-time faculty member since 2021 and recently assumed the role of the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the program.
鈥淭eaching in the OT Program at 91社区 has been wonderful. It is like coming home for me as this is where I graduated,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love the OT profession and being able to help shape future OTs is so much fun. It also would not be the same without the OT faculty. We are like a family and work together so well. It has been such a great fit for me, and I am extremely grateful to be where I am at.鈥�