I graduated with my bachelor of science in occupational therapy in 1997 from Pacific University and began practicing in community mental health at the County Health and Human Services in McMinnville. I have developed expertise in working with people with co-occurring disorders (mental illness and substance abuse, etc.), and was a key team member on a project to identify and treat people with early stages of psychosis in hopes of creating better prevention and treatment programs.
In 2007, I earned my OTD degree from Creighton University and began teaching the OT re-entry program for occupational therapists in Fall 2007. In Fall 2009, the OT faculty, students and staff welcomed me as the newest faculty member.
My research interests center around the early identification and intervention among young people at high risk for or experiencing first episode psychosis. More specifically, I'm interested in how the onset of psychotic symptoms affects occupational identity as defined in the Model of Human Occupation and by noted occupationl therapist Dr. Charles Christiansen. I hope to use the findings of my research to assist young people to develop healthy and functional occupational identities in order to help them make sense of their experiences, develop satisfying and productive lives beyond the symptoms they experience, and achieve their goals and dreams. I also have a more global goal of revitalizing mental health practice within the field of OT and foresee a future when OT is universally recognized as an essential element of the mental health treatment team and there are OTs lined up to fill the positions.
I enjoy balancing my life by riding my retired police motorcycle, traveling with my wife, Barb, and two boys, Vince and Alex, and amassing an eclectic music collection. I revitalize myself by spending time in the outdoors, attending live music events, and reading science fiction and biographies of famous performers of the 20th century.
2007 | OTD, Creighton University
1997 | BS, Occupational Therapy, Pacific University
Melton, R., Roush, S., Sale, T., Wolf, R., Rodriguez, C., & McGorry, P. (2013). Early intervention and prevention of long-term disability in youth and adults: The EAST model. In K. Yeager, D. Cutler, D. Svendsen & G. Sills (Eds.) Textbook of Modern Community Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Approach. NY, NY: Oxford University Press.
Roush S. (2009) The menu approach to supported employment for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness: Outcomes in an Oregon community based program. WORK A Journal of Presentation Assessment and Rehabilitation 34(1), 45-51
Roush, S. (2009). Making inroads into early psychosis treatment: Improving sense of self through environmental context manipulation. Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners, 25(17), 28-29.
Roush, S. (2009). The link between early psychosis and substance abuse: Quick identification is essential to treatment. Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners, 25(15), 27-28.
2012 Poster: Sensory Processing and First Episode Psychosis: A Functional Approach.International Early Psychosis Association Conference. San Francisco, Calif.
2012 Poster: Occupational Therapy and First Episode Psychosis. International Early Psychosis Association Conference. San Francisco, Calif.
2012 Presentation: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing (With Caroline Bader, MPH, MOTS). Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon State Conference. Hood River, Ore.
2012 Presentation: Design and Implementation of an Online Class for Non-Traditional Students. Oregon Technology in Education Network Annual Conference. Forest Grove, Ore.
Oct. 2011. Poster: Development of a Pharmacist-Assisted Tobacco Cessation Pilot Project Using a Multidisciplinary Team Approach (with James Ferguson, PA-C, MPH; Chuck Bentz, MD, FACP; Mark A. Della Paolera, PharmD, BCPS; Lauren Stillman-Smith, MSW, LCSW). Poster presented at: Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions Annual Conference, Scottsdale, Ariz.
April 2011. Contributing Author: Recovery in High Definition: Using an Occupation-Based Social Skills and Identity Group To Enhance Mental Health Recovery. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, Pa.
October 2011. Presentation: What’s Happening at the AOTA Representative Assembly?Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon State Conference, Portland, Ore.
October 2011. Presentation: What is an IADL? Introduction to the OT Practice Framework.Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon State Conference, Portland, Ore.