Richelle L. Gray, OTD, OTR/L, ATP, CDP

Assistant Professor

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Department:

Human Performance - Occupational Therapy

Classification:

Faculty

• OTD, The University of Toledo, 2016
• BS, The University of Toledo, 2013

Gray, R. (2024). The experiences of routine powered mobility users in an assisted living facility: A case study [Manuscript approved for publication]. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Practice, The University of Toledo, 2016

Dr. Richelle Gray joined WVU in 2023. Her clinical experience was in various adult settings including skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, home health, outpatient, acute care, and long-term acute care. Richelle ran as an NCAA Division I student-athlete in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track for The University of Toledo while pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy. She earned her Occupational Therapy Doctorate and Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Practice in 2016 from The University of Toledo with honors as a member of Pi Theta Epsilon. As a lifelong learner, Richelle holds professional certifications as an Assistive Technology Professional, Certified Dementia Practitioner, and Certified AOTA Fieldwork Educator. She also sought specialty training in aquatic therapy, NEURO-IFRAH, Ride Designs seating, and contracture management. Richelle has presented at the state and national level in the areas of safe patient handling, level I fieldwork experiences, and the use of the Care Tool for Medicare reimbursement. Richelle just recently transitioned into full-time academia here at WVU. Prior, she was an adjunct faculty for The University of Toledo for 6 years and was working full-time as an occupational therapist in a continuum care community. Her previous teaching experience has been in the areas of inter-professional education, assistive technology, and theory. With a continued desire to engage in research and mentor students, Richelle is a Doctor of Philosophy candidate in Occupational Therapy at Texas Woman’s University. Her research interests include powered mobility assessments with cognitive influences, power wheelchair mobility training, incontinence in older adults, inter-professional education, and maintenance therapy for neurological diagnoses. 

Occupational Therapy

Dr. Gray has a desire to contribute to the occupational therapy profession through dissemination of research. Her clinical experience as an OT with older adults led to research interests in powered mobility assessments with a cognitive influence, power wheelchair mobility training, interventions to improve dementia care, managing incontinence in older adults, and maintenance therapy for neurological diagnoses. As an instructor, Dr. Gray is interested in research focused on interprofessional education and fieldwork teaching/learning strategies.

Ms. Gray provides off-road driving risk evaluations using simulation and a series of clinical tests to assess driving skills and safety needed to return to on-road driving. She is a certified assistive technology professional and performs pediatric and adult mobility and seating evaluations in our multi-disciplinary clinic in conjunction with our speech and physical therapy specialists.