Congratulations to Dr. Panczykowski!

Dr. Heather Panczykowski, Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy was awarded new funding from the North Carolina Horse Council. The funding supports a collaborative research effort between Rocking Horse Ranch and OT called Partners in Interactive Vaulting and Occupational Therapy (PIVOT).

Dr. Panczykowski’s current study is examining the influence of the PIVOT program on the social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development in children with disabilities. Additionally, the study is focused on exploring the parental perceptions of the benefits and challenges of the program. The interactive vaulting program is an equine assisted activity in which students perform movements on or around the horse to increase strength, balance, and coordination. Interactive vaulting also incorporates games and activities in a group environment to improve confidence, teamwork, concentration, and communication. The occupational therapy group interventions also allow participants to practice and utilize individualized social skills and emotional regulation strategies.