Joanne L. Ward, OTR/L, CPI Certified Instructor-Associate

with UNIVERSAL INSTITUTE since April 2014

Joanne graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center and has worked nearly 35 years in a variety of settings including JFK Medical Center, Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, and Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC. In 1989 she assumed the role of Director of Occupational Therapy, following the grand opening of Universal Institute’s first rehabilitation facility in New Jersey. She later went on to work in many other rehabilitation settings in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, before returning to UIRehab in April of 2014 when she joined our Pennsylvania facility as Executive Director. Joanne has always had a passion for assisting brain-injured individuals and remains an advocate within the brain injury community.

Fun Fact: Joanne was the Occupational Therapist that worked for NFL football player, Dennis Byrd throughout his rehabilitation at Mount Sinai Medical Center. His therapy and recovery were chronicled in the book “Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story” as well as a TV movie of the same title.