Compassion is an approach to living that conveys a sense of empathy that can be a powerful tool for researchers, practitioners, educators and students as they carry out their meaningful occupations.

Virginia Stoffel, associate professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, will discuss this topic of compassion as a guiding tool in rehabilitation at the 17th Glen E. Gresham Visiting Professorship and Lecture on April 11.

Stoffel’s lecture, “Compassion: An approach to self-care; a tool in research and teaching; a core value guiding leadership and practice in the rehabilitation and public health professions," will facilitate reflection on compassion and its place in self-care, research, teaching, leadership and professional practice.

The talk takes place at 5 p.m. in 148 Diefendorf Hall, South Campus, and via Zoom, with an in-person reception starting at 4:30 p.m. Continuing Education credit will be issued to NYS-licensed PT/PTAs and OT/OTAs for in-person or zoom attendance.

Stoffel served as president of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) from 2013-16. She is currently the AOTA delegate to the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT). She represented the field of occupational therapy for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Recovery to Practice program and the National Quality Forum Serious Mental Illness Action Team, and is currently involved in several projects for WFOT on mental health, innovation and advocacy.

The Glen E. Gresham Visiting Professor in Rehabilitation Science features a nationally or internationally recognized authority in an area directly related to rehabilitation science. The twice-yearly Gresham lecture is sponsored by the Department of Rehabilitation Science.