Dr. Denise Hoffman, OTD, OTRL, BCP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Program in the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences at Indiana University South Bend. Dr. Hoffman received her BS in Biological Sciences from Central Michigan University and a professional BS in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University. She graduated from Quinnipiac University with her MS degree and a clinical doctorate degree researching pediatric feeding disorders and advocacy within professional associations. Dr. Hoffman is board certified in pediatrics from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
Her teaching interests include sensory processing and feeding skills with children and adolescents; literacy across the lifespan; disability cultural awareness and animal-assisted therapy. Denise is actively involved with clinical practice at WMU Homer Stryker School of Medicine within the cleft palate and medically complex multidisciplinary programs. Additionally, she is a literacy and tradeshow educator for Learning Without Tears™.
Denise is an active member of the Literacy Community of Practice through AOTA. She serves as a parent advocate for Feeding Matters and is a mentor for the Michigan LEND program. Denise is a member of AOTA, Michigan Occupational Therapy Association (MIOTA), and Indiana Occupational Therapy Associations (IOTA). She received the Fellow of Michigan Occupational Therapy Award for her passionate advocacy from MIOTA.
Denise teaches from a growth mindset approach supporting diverse learning styles. She fosters community collaborations and creates local and national clinical opportunities for student engagement.