Sandra Brown

Dr. Sandra Brown is an assistant professor in the occupational therapy department at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Brown has been an occupational therapist for more than 25 years. She specializes in pediatrics; however, she has worked in a variety of settings, including home-based schools, residential facilities, and outpatient clinics. Dr. Brown is board-certified in pediatrics (BCP) through the American Occupational Therapy Association, is a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS), and is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Brown discovered her love for teaching at Thomas Jefferson University. Upon moving to Florida, she continued this passion while pursuing her PhD in rehabilitation science at the University of Florida in Gainesville. As an OT and BCBA, in fulfillment of her PhD, she explored the impact of challenging behaviors on a child’s participation in therapy and is dedicated to bringing her experience addressing challenging behaviors into healthcare. Dr. Brown’s scholarly work examines quality of life, pediatric challenging behaviors, knowledge translation, implementation science, and pedagogy. Dr. Brown is a frequent invited speaker at conferences, academic institutions, and community events. She has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences. Dr. Brown loves to teach and brings that enthusiasm into the classroom. She was the recipient of Jacksonville University’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2022 and received the inaugural Anatomage Outstanding Teaching Award Graduate/Professional Division in 2023 for her innovation in teaching anatomy.