Pedretti, Lorraine A.
Date Updated
10-29-2019
Department
Occupational Therapy
Academic Rank
Professor
Year Retired from SJSU
1994
Educational Background
San Jose State College, 1964, M.S.
New York University, 1959, B.S.
Teaching Experience
Metropolitan Education District, ESL Instructor, 2000-2010
San Jose State University, 1968-1994
- Assistant Professor, 1968-1979
- Associate Professor, 1979-1990
- Professor, 1990-1994
Administrative and Professional Experience
Occupational Therapist, Bellevue Hospital, New York City
Occupational Therapist, Mountainside Hospital, Montclair, New Jersey
Occupational Therapist, Hartford Rehabilitation Center, Hartford, CT
Editorial Consultant: The Health Information Network, Inc., San Ramon, CA
Selected Publications
Textbook: Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction, 1981; 1985; 1990; 1996; 2001. (5 Editions).
The Use of Adjunctive Modalities in Occupational Therapy, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, December, 1992.
A Frame of Reference for Occupational Therapy in Physical Dysfunction, OT Week, Feb. 20, 1992.
Larson, O, Ratchford-Stevens, R, Pedretti, LW, Crabtree, J (eds.): The Role of Occupational Therapy with the Elderly, second edition, Bethesda, MD, 1996, The American Occupational Therapy Association.
Instructional Videotapes (8) for self-paced learning; completed during tenure at SJSU, were marketed to occupational therapy programs and clinics throughout the country
Published four articles in occupational therapy journals and wrote the forewords for two textbooks in occupational therapy
Files
Personal Commentary
I have enjoyed several professional roles in my career in occupational therapy. I started as an occupational therapist and practiced on the east coast for about 8 years. I became interested in teaching after earning my master’s degree at San Jose State College in 1964. After a few more years of clinical work, I returned to San Jose State to assume a teaching position. I enjoyed 26 rewarding years as a teacher and mentor to students. During that time I authored and edited five editions of an occupational therapy textbook, and several instructional videotapes that changed the way I taught clinical skills.
After my retirement I became involved in teaching English as a Second Language and earned the teaching credential required to become a certificated teacher with the Metropolitan Education District.
My professional colleagues at SJSU mentored and supported me over the years and helped my career progress. I am especially indebted to Anne Murany, Amy Killingsworth, Lela Llorens, Jean Still, and the late Gwen Wright. The faculty and staff of Instructional Technology, especially Jerry Kemp and Bob Reynolds were so helpful in the development of the self-instructional video modules that I used for many years. I had a rich and rewarding career as a therapist, teacher, writer and editor.
Updated: 10/23/2010
I was introduced to teaching at the college level, and to SJSU, when I was here as a student earning my Master’s degree. After receiving the degree, I returned to clinical practice in Connecticut for 4 years. While I was there, I was supervisor of student training and did some clinical instruction. That affirmed my interest in teaching.
I applied for a position at SJSU. About a year later an appropriate position opened and I was asked if I was interested in teaching by way of a late night telegram from Professors Eleanor Mann and Anne Murany. I accepted the position. At the time, it never occurred to me that I would teach for 26 years! I wasn’t sure I’d like California or teaching, but within 3 years I decided I loved teaching and I was married to a California native.
I most enjoyed teaching laboratory courses with practical instruction. Thanks to my mentor, Professor Jerry Kemp, I developed a method of self-paced learning for laboratory instruction. Videotapes that I developed, with the assistance of Jerry Kemp and the Instructional Television producer, Bob Reynolds, were used. This was quite successful and very rewarding. Self-paced learning is still being used as a mode of instruction in the Department. The videotapes were marketed to schools and clinics across the country.
Perhaps most memorable in my career as an educator are all the wonderful people I was privileged to know: A diverse student body taught me so much about life, teaching, and learning; the many faculty members who were mentors, esteemed colleagues, and good friends; school and University administrators who encouraged scholarship and faculty development; and the skilled staff and technicians who provided support for my scholarly endeavors.
Date Completed: 9/96
Adapted from: Biographies of Retired Faculty San Jose State University 1997: A Project of the Emeritus Faculty Association of San Jose State University. San Jose, CA: The University, 1997.