Kylie Widhelm, OTD, OTR/L
NOTA Guest Instructor
Dr. Widhelm graduated from Creighton University with her OTD in 2009. For 10 years, she specialized in the ICU and inpatient mental health. She then took the position of Education Coordinator in which she coordinated OT, PT, SLP, and athletic training students for the CHI Health sites in the metro Omaha area. After serving in that position, she took the supervisor position over inpatient rehab at Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy campus. She made the transition to academia in fall 2020, teaching various classes in the occupational therapy program at College of St. Mary. Recently, Dr. Widhelm started a community pro bono clinic at the Stephen Center, a homeless shelter and inpatient recovery program for those addicted to drugs and alcohol. She currently serves as the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association Vice President of Mental Health and Wellness. Research interests include complex medical clients, mental health, addiction recovery, community health, program development, and clinical supervision. Dr. Widhelm is married with three small girls who enjoy camping and boating together. They also spend time at the Widhelm family farm outside of Valley, NE. She enjoys all sports and working out.
Amanda C. Wise, OTD, MS, OTR/L, NBC-HWC, CPAM
NOTA Guest Instructor
Dr. Amanda C. Wise graduated from University of Omaha in 1995 with a Bachelors in Biology, and from Creighton University in 1998 with her Bachelors in OT, in 2019 with her Masters in Integrated Health and Wellness, and in 2021 with her Post Professional OTD. She worked full-time in outpatient, mental health, pediatric, home health, community, and administrative positions in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa before entering higher education in 2021. Her research and scholarship interests are in wholistic health and wellbeing, community-based services, and preventive care. Optimizing others’ wellbeing is her passion, striving to achieve this through scholarship, mentoring, volunteering, program development, and leadership. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time hosting family and friend gatherings, golfing, camping, reading, travelling, and baking.
Ashley Fecht, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
NOTA Guest Instructor
Ashley graduated from Creighton University in 2004 with her entry-level occupational therapy doctorate. She worked full time as a school-based, early intervention, and pediatric outpatient therapist in Omaha and later in Las, Vegas, Nevada before entering into Academia in 2011. She received her board certification in pediatrics from the American Occupational Therapy Association in 2020. Ashley is a current member of the occupational therapy faculty at Creighton University and serves as the Director of Academic Clinical Education. Her current scholarship and research focus include best practices in clinical education, the impact of standardized patient experiences on student learning/performance, interprofessional education/learning, mental health, and various pediatric topics.
