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Education

  • Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), Boston University, MA, USA — August 2015. — Doctoral Project: Proposed Curriculum for the First Bachelor of Science in OT in Morocco.
  • Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Salem State University, MA, USA — May 2011. — Thesis: Hand Exercises and Thermal Modalities in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study.
  • Bachelor of Science in Occupational Science, Salem State University, MA, USA — May 2009.
  • Associate of Science in OT Assistant, Quinsigamond Community College, MA, USA — May 2005 (Dean’s List).

Licenses, Certifications, & Memberships

  • Licensed Occupational Therapist, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA OTL #10476.
  • Licensed Occupational Therapist, State of Texas, OTL #126003
  • National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy: NBCOT#286153.
  • Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Monarch Education.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • 2003 – current: American Occupational Therapy Association
  • 2025– current: Texas Occupational Therapy Association 
  • 2009– current: Massachusetts Occupational Therapy Association 
  • 2017- current: World Federation of Occupational Therapists 

Research and Clinical Experience

Clinical Experience

  • Vice President of Clinical Operations, New England Therapy Associates, Needham, MA (2013–2015)
  • Per diem, Parsons Hills Nursing Home (2007-present)
  • Per diem, Fairlawn Hospital (2012-2024)

Teaching & Learning Expertise

  • OTR 303 Research and Outcomes
  • OTR 5525 Program Development in Health/Wellness
  • OTR 201 Group Dynamics
  • OTR 204 Occupation-Based Activity Analysis
  • OTR 4232 Assistive Technology
  • OTR 5431 Physical Occupations
  • OTR 6033 OT Process: Aging
  • OTR 5233 Service Delivery and Fieldwork
  • OTR 5040 Occupational Science
  • OTR 5110 Foundations of Occupational Therapy
    University of New England, Tangier, Morocco (Fall 2014)
  • HWOS 414: Stress Management
  • HWOS 405: Introduction to Occupational Science
    Bay Path University, East Longmeadow, MA (Fall 2012)
  • Assistive Technology (Adjunct Faculty)
    Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, MA (2011–Present)
  • Guest Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program (various topics)

Scholarly Focus

  • Service Learning 
  • Accessibility 
  • Global Practice
  • Rural Health 
  • Dementia 

Publications

  • Nafai, S. (2015). Proposed curriculum for the first Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy program in Morocco (Publication No. 2144/13999) [Doctoral dissertation, Boston University]. https://open.bu.edu/handle/2144/13999
  • Nafai, S. (2022). Leadership narrative. In S. Dunbar-Smalley & K. Winston (Eds.), An occupational perspective on leadership: Theoretical and practical dimensions (3rd ed., pp. 295–300). SLACK Incorporated.
  • Nafai, S., Crow, D., Stevens-Nafai, E., & Ferguson, H. (2022). The necessity of compression garments in managing lymphedema. Journal of Cancer Rehabilitation, 5, 88–89. https://doi.org/10.48252/JCR66
  • Nafai, S., Barlow, K., & Stevens-Nafai, E. (2017). OT in Morocco: Sustaining service-learning trips through telehealth. OT Practice, 22(2), 20–22.
  • Nafai, S., Stevens-Nafai, E., & Salman, H. (2017). Abstract: The effectiveness of hand exercise and thermal modalities agents in managing osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in hands: Randomized controlled study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(4_Supplement_1), 7111520286p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2017.71S1-PO4025
  • Nafai, S. (2024). Global occupational therapy perspective. In J. C. O’Brien & B. L. Conners (Eds.), Introduction to occupational therapy. Elsevier Health Sciences.
    Stevens-Nafai, E. W., & Nafai, S. (2019). Global perspectives on occupational therapy practice. In K. Jacobs & G. McCormack (Eds.), Occupational therapy manager (6th ed., pp. 55–64). AOTA Press.
  • Introduction to Occupational Therapy. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Service & Leadership

  • Chair, Annual Conference, OT Association of Morocco (2019–Present)
  • President, Arab OT Regional Group, WFOT (2018–Present)
  • Founder and President, OT Association of Morocco (2016–Present)
  • Founder, OT Project in Morocco (2013–Present)
  • Founder, Global Clinical Education LLC (2020–Present)
  • Cofounder, Arab American OT Group (2022–Present)
  • Guest Speaker, Malaga University (2024)

Teaching

  • Associate Clinical Professor, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX, USA (2025-Present)
  • Associate Professor, American International College, Springfield, MA, USA (2013–2024)
  • Adjunct Professor, University of New England – Tangier Campus, Morocco (2014)
  • Adjunct Professor, University of New England – Tangier Campus, Morocco (2014)
  • Adjunct Faculty, Bay Path University, East Longmeadow, MA (2012)