Jennie Dapice, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCP, C-AAIS

Dr. Jennie Dapice serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of New England. Dr. Dapice is a licensed occupational therapist specializing in pediatric care and Animal-Assisted Interventions/Services. She is also a part-time Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Maine where she supports OTD students.

Dr. Dapice earned her M.A. in occupational therapy from Tufts University in Medford, MA. Her master's thesis examined the perceptions and participation of occupational therapists in the service dog community. Dr. Dapice received her Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015, where her research focused on the efficacy of animal-assisted interventions in school-based occupational therapy practice, specifically related to playfulness and participation.

Her clinical experience has been primarily in pediatrics, having worked at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Perkins School for the Blind, and Cambridge (MA) Public Schools. Additionally, she has worked in adult acute care at Tufts Medical Center and at Skilled Nursing Facilities around the Boston Area. Dr. Dapice received a Facility Dog from Canine Companions, and continues to work closely with the Canine Companions Therapy Dog Program. 

In addition to her research and academic pursuits, Dr. Dapice serves as a Board Member for ElderPet, a PetPartners Community Organization, and as a Faculty Fellow for the Tufts University Center for Animals and Public Policy. She is board certified in Pediatric OT by the American Occupational Therapy Association (BCP), and a Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist by the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (C-AAIS).

Dr. Dapice's research interests include the integration of AAI in occupational therapy, school-based occupational therapy, and youth mental health. She lives in Southern Maine with her children and dogs.