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Rachel Allen-McHugh
Title: Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Rank: Associate Professor
Phone: (515) 271-2080
Email: rachel.allen-mchugh@drake.edu
Began at Drake: 2016
Education: BS Psychology, St. Ambrose University; BS Occupational Therapy, St. Ambrose University; MOT, Mount Mary University; OTD, Mount Mary University
Current classes I teach:
- OTD 207: Health, Wellness & Well-Being
- OTD 230: Pediatrics I with Labs
- OTD 257: Population Health Promotion
- OTD 253: Special Topics
Experience
- Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy - Drake University, 2019-2025
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy - Drake University, 2018 - 2019
- Occupational Therapy Learning Facilitator - Drake University, 2018 - 2019
- Occupational Therapy Lab Manager - Drake University, 2016-2018
Professional Affiliations
- American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
- Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI)
- Council for Occupational Therapists for the European Countries (COTEC)
- Iowa Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA)
- World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)
- Yoga Alliance
College Service
- CPHS Faculty Affairs Committee Chair, 2024-2025; Member, 2025-2026
- OTD Admissions Committee Member, 2023-present
- CPHS Ad Hoc Global Engagement Committee Member, 2023-2024
- OTD COTAD Student Organization Founding Faculty Mentor, 2021-present
- OTD Curriculum Committee Member, 2019-2020; Chair, 2020-2023
- Student Affairs Committee, 2019-2020
- Occupational Therapy Faculty Search Committee, 2019-2020
- Occupational Therapy Staff Search Committee, 2019-2020
University Service
- Drake University Search Committee: CPHS Dean Search Committee Co-Chair 2023-2024
- Drake University Faculty Senate Executive Committee elected 2022-2023
- Drake University Faculty Senate elected 2021; 3-year term
- Drake University Embodied Learning Faculty Research Group, 2020-2023
Certifications & Registrations
- Licensed Occupational Therapist in the state of Iowa August 2006-current
- National Board Certification of Occupational Therapists-certified since 1999-current
- Qualifications Verified by AOTI to practice in Ireland-received 2002; renewed 2018
- CORU Registration to practice in Ireland-Renewal in process
- CPR/First Aid- September 2000-current
- Registered Yoga Teacher-200 hour- May 2015-current
- WellCoach Certification 2025-current
Honors & Awards
- American Occupational Therapy Association Leadership Institute Participant 2020
- Granberg Professional Leadership Award 2022-2023
- Olsen Fellow for Global Service Learning 2024-2026
Current Research Projects
- Reinoso, G., Allen-McHugh, R.M., Decker, T., Griffiths, Y., Huffman-Main, S., Jackson, L., Murray, A., Rognes, J., Urish, C.K. (Accepted for publication, in press). A Study of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Utilization Among Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy.
- Allen-McHugh, R., (2018). Facilitation of Therapeutic Use of Self: Utilization of Instructional Relationship Model and the Therapeutic Modes.
- Perceptions of Family-Centered Care in a Rural NICU in India: A Pilot Study
- Exploring the Use of Sensory Integration by Occupational Therapy Practitioners in Rural America
- Developing Global Community Engaged Learning Through International Immersion
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November 21, 2025
November 17, 2025
September 16, 2025
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