AWARD OF MERIT 

Julie Patrick Bonham, OTD, MSOTR/L, C/NDT

Julie embodies excellence in education. She is a devoted educator who upholds high standards, ensuring students who graduate from our program are highly qualified. She focuses upon what’s most important, ensuring that future practitioners who graduate from our program are not only highly skilled practitioners but are also caring and compassionate. She emphasizes collaboration with clients and the utilization of occupations practice. makes a profound impact upon all those who she encounters. She is universally respected and loved by JMU students and alumni base.

She brings to academia diverse clinical experience in pediatric occupational therapy. She previously worked at Children's National Hospital, owned her own practice, managed the JMU OT CES (on campus clinic), worked as a school-based therapist for the Albemarle Public School System.

As the Program Director of the JMU Occupational Therapy Program Dr. Bonham excels in leadership. She is a visionary and transformative leader who motivates the faculty and staff who work for her to excel and to continuously grow. Julie fosters the professional development of everyone around her. She continuously expands opportunities for occupational therapy in our community while addressing the needs of underserved populations. Her leadership has expanded psychosocial fieldwork opportunities for students while building collaborations with community partners who address the needs of unhoused people in our community, provide suicide intervention programming, provide programming for adults with intellectual disabilities, and address substance use disorder. All of these programs strengthen our students' capacity to address society's mental health needs and advanced our community's understanding of occupational therapy. She leads research projects focused on flourishing, the KAWA Model, and Interprofessional Collaborations.

Despite working a demanding full-time job as the Program Director, Julie creates time to volunteer as the co-director for the Central Virginia Burn Camp for pediatric burn survivors. Throughout the year, she engages in activities related to providing summer camp opportunities for children and teens recovering from burn injuries. She is ever committed to promoting opportunities for campers to build lasting friendships and participate in activities that foster their confidence, provide opportunities to develop skills, and enhance their quality of life. Julie's passion has inspired countless campers, volunteers, students, firefighters and health care professionals.