Dr. Brzykcy graduated from the D'Youville OT Department in 1996 and returned in 2011 as a Clinical Faculty member. She has experience working in both pediatric and adult rehab settings. In the OT program, she teaches the Fieldwork Seminar courses, Occupational Development II labs, and is active as an Interprofessional Education (IPE) facilitator in the Simulation Center. She has been the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the OT Programs since 2014. Dr. Brzykcy was previously a board member for both the New York State Occupational Therapy Association and West Side Community Services. For the 2022-2023 AY, she served as an AOTA Academic Fieldwork Coordinator Mentor
Education & Training
Doctorate in Health Professions Education, D'Youville University, 2025
Team STEPPS Health Care Professions, D'Youville University, 2023
President's Excellence Award for Community Engagement in 2024
Merit for Service Award, New York State Occupational Therapy Association, 2017
Faculty of the Year, D'Youville Occupational Therapy Program, 2014
Research Interests
While pursuing her Ed.D. Dr. Brzykcy researched the benefits of community-based Level II fieldwork for occupational therapy students.
Publications and Links
Donna Brzykcy MS, O. T. R., Jamie Geraci, M. S., Renee Ortega MA, C. O. T. A., Tamra Trenary, O. T. D., & Kate McWilliams, M. S. O. T. (2016). Occupational therapy fieldwork education: Value and purpose. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70, 1-2.
Panzarella, K., Rivers, L., Bright, B., Whelan, M., Butterfoss, K., Russ, L., ... & Reddington, M. (2013). Using actors as simulated patients for interprofessional education. Medical science educator, 23, 438-448.