Quinnipiac University
Tracy L. Van Oss

Professor of Occupational Therapy

Doctoral Capstone Coordinator- Occupational Therapy

Dr. Tracy Van Oss is a Professor and the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Department. Tracy has earned a Doctor of Health Science degree, a Master in Public Health degree, a Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Communication and a degree in occupational therapy from QU. Dr. Van Oss works to include students at every step of the process, from planning, to assessing need, to presenting at conferences and publishing, all to promote student leadership. She is a Community Health Education Specialist (CHES) and is a Fellow with the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA). She has also earned a certificate in experiential education from the National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) and is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). She promotes community engagement with students to be involved in real world scenarios in local sites and international sites. In 2020, she was the recipient of the AOTA International Service Award for sustained work with Quinnipiac students in Barbados. Dr. Van Oss has taught in a variety of levels from freshman to doctoral students in occupational therapy evaluation and intervention courses, coordinating labs, interprofessional community engagement courses, special topics related to chronic disease management and experiential capstone projects for topics related to health promotion and use of simulation in higher education. Dr. Van Oss keeps current in practice and has worked per diem in home care for 20+ years.

Education

  • BS, Southern Connecticut State University
  • CER, Quinnipiac University
  • MPH, Southern Connecticut State University
  • DHS, Nova Southeastern University

Organization

  • Occupational Therapy

Office Location

  • Medicine, Nursing, Health Sci 352J

Mail Drop

  • NH-HSC

Experience

Quinnipiac University – Department of Occupational Therapy

Professor of Occupational Therapy, Doctoral Capstone Coordinator

Hamden, CT

2024 - Present

Yale Home Health formerly VNA Community Healthcare

Home Care Occupational Therapist

Guilford/Hamden, CT

2009 - Present

Quinnipiac University – Department of Occupational Therapy

Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy

Hamden, CT

2005 - 2024

Home Care Occupational Therapist

Masonicare Home Health and Hospice

Wallingford, CT

2005 - 2022

Yale New Haven Hospital – Department of Rehabilitation Services

Occupational Therapist Level 2 per diem

New Haven, CT

2005 - 2015

Masonic Healthcare Center

Per Diem Occupational Therapist

Wallingford, CT

2002 - 2005

Interim Health Care

Home Care Occupational Therapist

North Haven, CT

2001 - 2009

Visiting Nurse Association South Central

Home Care Occupational Therapist

New Haven, CT

1997 - 2009

Yale New Haven Hospital – Department of Rehabilitation Services

Occupational Therapist Level 2

New Haven, CT

1996 - 2005

Selected Publications

Non-Peer Reviewed Presentation

Transforming Health and Wellness for First Year College Students

VanOss, T., Miller, M., Sawyer, M., Wood, M., Biedrzycki, N., & VanOss, J

(Inclusive Excellence Summer Assembly)

Peer Reviewed Poster

A PHOTOVOICE initiative to Promote Health and Wellness Among First Year Students.

VanOss, T., Biedrzycki, N., VanOss, J., Bogardus, J.

Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) , Fort Lauderdale, FL (2023)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Occupational Therapy’s Role in Technological Health Promotion

VanOss, T., Velie, P., Morgan, M., Wood, M., D’Amicantonio, S., & Sawyer, M.

Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA) , Plainville, CT (2023)

Conference Presentation

Occupational Therapy’s Evolving Role with College Students.

VanOss, T., & Biedrzycki, N

Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapist (ACOT). , Virtual (2023)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Using Photovoice with the CHAMPS Initiative: Creating Health Attitudes in Medical Professionals

VanOss, T., VanOss, J., Biedrzycki, N., Bogardus, J

International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL), , Utrecht, Netherlands (2023)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Multi-institutional Collaboration to Promote SoTL through Simulation

VanOss, T., Baird, J., Zapletal, A., Prast, J., & Hoppe, M.

International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL), Utrecht, Netherlands (2023)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Multi-Institutional Collaboration to Promote Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Zapletal, A., (presenter) Baird, J., Prast, J., Hoppe, M., & Van Oss, T

American Occupational Therapy Education Summit, Denver, CO (2023)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Students

Armstrong, E., (presenter) Bogardus, J., Brown, D. Van Oss, T.,

American Speech, Hearing, Language Association (ASHA) convention, Boston, MA (2023)

Conference Presentation

Addressing Communication Challenges through

Zapletal, A., Hoppe, M., Baird, J., Van Oss, T., & Prast, J

International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), Orlando, FL, Quinnipiac University (2023)

Conference Presentation

Addressing Microaggressions: Strategies, Tools and Techniques

Baird, J., Zapletal, A., Prast, J., Hoppe, M., & Van Oss, T.

American Occupational Therapy Association, Kansas City, MO , Quinnipiac University (2023)

Conference Presentation

Occupational Therapy and Community Programming

VanOss, T., Kenneth Eichmann, K, Gamache, M., Cleary, M., Cobb, N., Kessel, L., Biedrzyki, N., Bogardus, J., VanOss, J. & DiGiovanni, G.

Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association, virtual, Quinnipiac University (2023)

Conference Presentation

Redesigning the Patient Role using the Core Method of Patient Education

Ceccolini, G., & VanOss, T.

AARP Livability 2023: Our Aging Landscape (2023)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Making History: Permanent Flexibility Allows Occupational Therapy Practitioners to Open Home Health Care Cases Propelling the Occupational Therapy Practice Forward.

Sajdak, K. & VanOss, T.

Special Interest Sections Quarterly (2022)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Perfectionism among Graduate Students in Health Sciences Programs.

Bogardus, J., Armstrong, E. S., VanOss, T., & Brown, D.

51(1) Journal of Allied Health 15-25 (2022)

Books

Clinical Simulation for Healthcare Professionals

Zapletal, A., Hoppe, M., Van Oss, T., Prast, J., Baird, J., & Herge, E. A.

(SLACK 2022)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Using the Clinical Learning Environment Comparison Survey to Assess Learner Preparation

Zapletal, A., Hoppe, M., Baird, J., Van Oss, T., & Prast, J.

International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), Los Angeles, CA (2022)

Conference Presentation

Innovations in Teaching: Using Simulation to Support Learning About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Baird, J., Hoppe, M., Van Oss, T., Prast, J., & Zapletal, A.

The International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL). , Kelowna, British Columbia (2022)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Making History: Permanent Flexibility Allows Occupational Therapy Practitioners to Open Home Health Care Cases Propelling the Occupational Therapy Practice Forward.

Sajdak, K. & VanOss, T.

Home and Community Special Interest Sections Quarterly 1-9 (2022)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Social Determinants of Health: Using Simulation to Train Occupational Therapy Students

Zapletal, A., Prast, J., Hoppe, M., Van Oss, T., & Baird, J.

American Occupational Therapy Education Summit, Orlando, FL, Quinnipiac University (2022)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Using Standardized Assessments to Enhance Evaluation of Students and SP Programs

Baird, J., Van Oss, T., Zapletal, A., Prast, J., & Hoppe, M.

Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE), virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Poster

SP Simulation and Debriefing: What works

Baird, J., Prast, J., Hoppe, M., Van Oss, T., & Zapletal, A.

Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE), virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Development of Chronic Disease Intervention Scenarios

Van Oss, T., Hewlett, H., Muehlberger, K., Pasquarose, R., & Taylor, R

Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE), virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Development of Standardized Patient Scenarios

Van Oss, T., Hewlett, H., Muehlberger, K., Pasquarose, R., & Taylor, R

New England Faculty Development Consortium, Virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Experiential Learning Project to Support Well-Being

Van Oss, T., Barry, J. & DiGiacinto, J.

New England Faculty Development Consortium, Virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Multi-Site Pilot Study: Simulation Compared to Traditional Clinical Learning Activities

Zapletal, A., Baird, J., Van Oss, T., Prast, J., & Hoppe, M

American Occupational Therapy Association, virtual (2021)

Conference Presentation

Virtual Teaching: Remote Learning Best Practices for Health Profession Education

Zapletal, A., Hoppe, M., Baird, J., VanOss, T., & Prast, J.

International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), Virtual (2021)

Conference Presentation

Student Perceptions of Learning: Comparing Traditional to Simulated Clinical Environments.

Baird, J., Van Oss, T., Zapletal, A., Prast, J., & Hoppe, M.

The International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL). , Perth, Australa (2021)

Invited Speaker

Modifications for Home Accessibility

Fink, A., & Van Oss, T.

Lifeway Mobility CEU event, virtual (2021)

Conference Presentation

Evidence to Practice: Occupational Therapy Role in Chronic Disease Health Management and Maintenance

Van Oss, T., Barry, J., Hudson, K., Cicero, K., & Giordano, B.

People’s United Center for Women & Business , virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Health Needs Assessment of Unhoused and Marginally-Housed People in New Haven, CT During the COVID- 19 Pandemic

Leubner, M. & Van Oss, T.

Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA) annual conference, virtual (2021)

Conference Presentation

Home Health Community of Practice

Van Oss, T., Schlegel, G., McIvor, S., Collazo, A., & Giannitti, S.

Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association (ConnOTA) SIS annual conference, virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Stimulation vs Clinical Sites: Methods to Teach Communication

VanOss, T., Prast, J., Zapletal, A., Hoppe, M. & Baird, J

Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapist (ACOT) 15th Biennial Scientific Conference, Cayman Islands - virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Student Perceptions of Learning: Comparing Traditional to Simulated Clinical Environments

Baird, J., Van Oss, T., Zapletal, A., Prast, J., & Hoppe, M.

International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Perth, Australia - virtual (2021)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Reinventing Standardized Patient Experience During Covid: A Sustainable Approach

Majeski, K., Van Oss, T. & Ceccolini, G.

Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions, Long Beach, CA - virtual (2021)

Chapter

Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction

Van Oss, T. Sanders, M. & Hewitt, P.

Environmental Assessment and Modification: Home and Community 8th Philadelphia, PA (Wolters Kluwer 2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Identifying Occupation-Based Needs and Services for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness Using Interviews and Photovoice

Van Oss, T., Duch, F., Frank, S. & Laganella, G.

65 Work 247-255 (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Homelessness: Understanding Unmet Needs and Identifying Resources

Van Oss, T., Barnes, S., Carmona, C., Dobranski, K., Duffy, C., Duffy, K., & Shaw, S

65 Work 257-263 (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Incorporating Injury Prevention Into Energy Weatherization Programs

Tohn, E., Wilson, J., Van Oss, T., & Gurecka, M

26(1) Journal of Public Health Management & Practice 80-82 (2020)

Conference Presentation

Assess Performance to Promote Clinical Development

Baird, J., Zapletal, A., Prast, J., Hoppe, M., & Van Oss, T..

International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) , San Diego, CA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Standardized Patients: Recruiting, Screening, and Training Delivery

Zapletal, A., Fulmer, V., Hoppe, M., Prast, J., Van Oss, T., & Baird, J

International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) , San Diego, CA (2020)

Conference Presentation

Reducing Inequalities for Persons who are Homeless in New Haven, CT

Duffy, S., VanOss, T., Cunningham, A. & Kudisch, H. & Ray, K.,

United Nations 58th Commission on Social Development , New York, NY (2020)

Conference Presentation

Assessing Simulation in Occupational Therapy: Learner, Scenario, and Curriculum Scenarios.

Baird, J., Zapletal, A., Prast, J., Hoppe, M., & Van Oss, T

American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Medication Management: A Tool Kit for OT Practitioners

Sanders, M., & Van Oss, T

American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Identifying Occupation-Based Needs & Services for Persons Experiencing Homelessness (PEH) Using Interviews & Photovoice

Van Oss, T., Laganella , G., Frank, S., & Duch, F

American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Homelessness, Understanding Unmet Needs & Identifying Resources.

Van Oss, T., Dobranski , K., Shaw, S., Barnes, S., Duffy, C., Latella, K., & Carmona, C

American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Assessing Simulation in Occupational Therapy: Learner, Scenario, and Curriculum Scenarios

Van Oss, T., Zapletal, A., Hoppe, M., Prast, J., & Baird, J

American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Homelessness: Understanding Unmet Needs and Identifying Resources.

Van Oss, T., Barnes, S., Carmona, C., Dobranski, K., Duffy, C., Duffy, K., & Shaw, S.

65 Work 257-263 (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Identifying Occupation-Based Needs and Services for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness Using Interviews and Photovoice.

Van Oss, T., Duch, F., Frank, S. & Laganella, G.

65 Work 247-255 (2020)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Community Service in the Era of COVID-19: Responding to the Needs of the New Haven Homeless Community.

Leubner, M. & VanOss, T.

CPHA annual conference , virtual (2020)

Peer Reviewed Presentations

Acute Care Occupational Therapist Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Racamato, M., Piselli, J., Featheringham, J., Kuo, P. & VanOss, T (moderator)

ConnOTA SIS conference, virtual (2020)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Virtual Teaching: Simulation Best Practices

Zapetal, A., Hoppe, M., VanOss, T., Baird, J., & Prast, J.

AOTA Education Summit, virtual (2020)

Conference Presentation

Simulation Compared to Traditional Clinical Learning Activities: Multi-Site Pilot Data

Zapletal, A, Prast, J., Hoppe, M., VanOss, T., & Baird, J.

AOTA Education Summit, virtual (2020)

Invited Speaker

Emerging and Innovative Leadership

VanOss, T.

AOTA OT Leadership Live , virtual (2020)

Conference Presentation

The Cardiac Journey: An Interprofessional Simulation Tool

Pata R.W., Van Oss T., & Kappus, L

Human Patient Simulation Network New Jersey Regional Simday, Vineland, NJ (2019)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Use of Evidence Based Assessments to Enhance Occupational Therapy Simulation Encounters

Van Oss, T., Zapletal, A., Hoppe, M., Prast, J., Baird, J

American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit, Las Vegas, NV (2019)

Peer Reviewed Poster

Facilitating Development of Future Reflective Practitioners Through Simulation & Experiential Learning

Van Oss, T., Prast, J., Hoppe, M., Zapletal, A., Baird, J

American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit, Las Vegas, NV (2019)

Conference Presentation

Exploring Innovative And Creative Tools For A Comprehensive Assessment For Persons With Neurological Impairments.

VanOss, T., Toussaint, L., & Nadeau, B.

Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapist Scientific Conference, Christ Church, Barbados (2019)

Invited Speaker

Home Modification and Safe Patient Transfers

VanOss, T & Fink, A

Wallingford, CT, Masonicare (2019)

Professional Designation