Julia M. Hawkins-Pokabla

Internal- Erie GAINS Mini Grant: GU FamilyRoot, $1,195.80, December 2021- Gannon University

External- Edith Trees Grant: An Interdisciplinary Equine Assisted Program for Children with Autism program, $8,460, October 2021 

External- Erie Community Foundation Grant-Helping Today: The Little Knights Clinic, $15,000 August 2021 

External- Palumbo Foundation Grant: The Little Knights Pro Bono Pediatric Occupational Therapy Clinic at Gannon University, $29,442.00, April, 2019

• Pediatrics and Developmental Disabilities I and II
• Community Based OT Interventions
• OT Theory
• Advanced Interventions Theory and Techniques Lab
• Thesis Advisor

University of Scranton, BS, 2000

Chatham University, OTD, 2015

Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialty Certification (ASDSC)

Pediatric Expert

American OT Association: Community of Practice- Feeding, Eating and Swallowing

Staff OT, Shriners Outpatient Speciality Care Center, Erie, PA, (10 years)

OT, Early Intervention, Erie County, PA (2004 to present)

Developmental Evaluator- Early Intervention, Erie County, PA (4 years)

Baltimore City Schools and Infant and Toddler Specialist- Care Resources, Baltimored, MD (2 years)

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Erie, PA (6 years)

Pro-bono OT lead- The Little Knights Clinic Erie, PA

Pro-bono OT lead- Mother Teresa Academy Erie, PA

American Occupational Therapy Association

Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association

Roster of Accredidation Evaluations- Accredidation Council for Occupational Therapy Education

Community of Practice- Feeding Eating and Swallowing Mealtime Occupations- AOTA

Executive Board- Mission Empower

Association of Schools Promoting Health Professions- Parnerships and Alliances Committee

Hawkins-Pokabla, J. & Brzuz, A. (2025). Preparing future OT students: A look at high school variables and their affect on first time pass rates. The American Journtal of Occupational Therapy, 79 (2). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.79S2-PO132

Green, I, Byers, M., Habursky, L., Lang, S., Bohman, J.,& Hawkins-Pokabla,J. (2025). Impact of play in wet food items versus wet nonfood items on pediatric food aversions. The American Journal of Occupationtal Therapy, 79 (2). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.79S2-PO381

Hawkins-Pokabla, J & Garber, M. (2024). In VanWye, R., Lunsford, D., eds. Chapter 9- Communication with Clients and Providers in Health System Management and Policy (First Edition). Elsevier.

Brzuz, A. L., Hawkins-Pokabla, J. M., & Prier, D. (2024). Variables impacting first time pass rates of MSOT students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 8 (4). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku/jote/ vol8/iss4/11

Hawkins-Pokabla, J., Brzuz, A., & Prier, D. (2022). The effect of allied health international internships on subsequent internships. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 34(1), 108-117.https://isetl.org/ijtlhe/pdf/IJTLHE4303.pdf

Hawkins-Pokabla J., Bileck, A., Brown, A., Eckert, H., Smith, D., (2022). The impact of tactile play on the oral acceptance of wet foods via teletherapy. Poster Presentation. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference: San Antonio, TX. https://doi.org/10. 5014/ajot.2022.76SI-PO45

Hawkins, J., Ferringer, J., Grambo, E., Murkens, H., Scifo, E., Smith, J. (2021, April). Tactile Play and Oral Acceptance of Wet Food Items. Poster Presentation. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference: San Diego, CA. [online]. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75S2-PO127

Burnett, B., Corello, J., Hawkins, J., Heath, K., Ishman, A., Schmidt, A., & Scott, C. The Impact of Tactile Play on the Oral Acceptance of Wet Food Items. Poster Presentation. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference: April, 2020. Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S1-PO1129

Dr. H-P has focused her research mainly in the area of pediatric feeding, eating and swallowing along with caregiver education in pediatric care. She also studies the academic impact related to national board certification examination in OT. She additionaly researches the impact of international OT fieldwork on successful student outcomes. Her work has also looked at equine assisted therapy and student satisfaction related to pro-bono pediatric outpatient clinic experiences. 

Visual Motor Interventions

Stress Management in OT Fieldwork Education

Impact of Sensory Play on Oral Acceptance of Wet Food Items (Feeding)

International Fieldwork

Equine Assisted Therapy

NBCOT exam outcomes

Student Satisfaction with pro bono clinic experiences

Caregiver perspectives in pediatric care and outpatient care

Chair- Graduate Council, University Academic Affairs

Chair: Faculty Advisory Board and Student Board- The Little Knights Clinic (LKC) (2018-present)

Member: Graduate Council (2018-present) Subcomittee Chair

Lead Group Member: Pre-Tenure Review Committee (Summer 2024 and 2025)

Faculty Mentor- CETL Rank and Tenure Launch Day (September 30, 2024)

Mission Empower Executive Board Secretary present

ASAHP Committee member

Member: Pre-Tenure Review Committee (2023-present)

Member: Presidential Inauguration Hospitality group (2023)

Member: International Fieldwork Outcomes Pilot (2023)

Advisor: Honors Program Student Capstone (2023, 2024)

Member: Post-professional OTD Advisory Committee (2023-2024)

Member: University Review Council (URC) (2021-2023)

Member: Liberal Studies Task Force- Professional/Vocational Core (2021-2022)