Assistant Professor

Kami Holst, OTD

Kami Holst OTD, MOTR/L, CBIST is a professor of Occupational Therapy in the College of Health and Human Services. Holst is the author of OT's role in managing noise sensitivity in clients with post-concussion syndrome (2024). Dr. Holst has a passion for the neurological population. She is a certified brain injury specialist and a registered LSVT BIG certified clinician a specialty program for Parkinson Disease. Her clinical experience has been within inpatient, outpatient and skilled nursing related to neurological rehabilitation. Dr. Holst's doctoral thesis was related to brain injury as a chronic condition and brain injury clubhouse programming as a community-based model of intervention. Dr. Holst serves her community as a co-founder of the first brain injury clubhouse in the state of Iowa, Empower House QCA. Dr. Holst's scholarship closely aligns with serving the neurological population through the brain injury clubhouse model and outreach services for the neurodivergent populations.

Dr. Holst is the lead instructor for the coursework content in the first year of the occupational therapy program OTD 550/551 Interventions IA/IB, which is a series of six interventions courses taught throughout the duration of the program. She also is an instructor within the Intervention IIA/ IIB courses. Dr. Holst is a clinical site instructor for second year students completing Fieldwork IB rotations at clinical site Empower House QCA. Additionally, she is responsible for mentorship within the doctoral capstone experience related to her scholarly interest.

Contact Us

Center for Health Sciences Education

HolstKamiL@sau.edu

Education and Training

OTD, St. Catherine's University, St. Paul, MN, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
MOTR/L, St. Ambrose University, Occupational Therapy
BS, St. Ambrose University, Exercise Science

Recent Publications

Blackwell, C., Cary, K. A., Holst, K. L., Mandle, K. M., & Dryg, L. D. (2018). Dynavision Normative Data for Reaction Time. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(4_Supplement_1), 7211500030p1-7211500030p1.
Holst, Kami. (2020). Acquired Brain Injury as a Chronic Condition: Self-Management and Clubhouse Programs. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website:
Blackwell, C., Cary, K. A., Holst, K. L., Mandle, K. M., & Dryg, L. D. (2018). Dynavision Normative Data for Reaction Time. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(4_Supplement_1), 7211500030p1-7211500030p1. Poster Presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association National Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
Schmidt J., Petersen J., Kilburg L., McCombs A., Holst K., Lansing A., Phares S., Noble A., (2021) Developing and Implementing Level I Fieldwork Experiences to Meet Student Learning Objectives While Enhancing Faculty Scholarship and Service. American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit national conference, in person group panel presentation.
Schmidt J., Holst K., McCombs A., (2021) Person Centered Occupational Therapy Outreach Program: Promoting Occupational justice for families experiencing brain injury presented at the Annual Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa: State conference. Virtual recorded presentation, live question & answer session.
Holst K., (2020) How to Manage Neglected Chronic Conditions presented at the Annual Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa: State conference on Brain injury in Des Moines, Iowa.
Holst K., Heinrichs M., Motto, C., Owens M., (2020) Brain Injury Clubhouse Programming for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury presented at the Annual Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa: State conference on Brain injury in Des Moines, Iowa.
Holst K., Heinrichs M., Motto, C., Owens M., (2019) Brain Injury Clubhouse: Enhancing Community Engagement, Quality of Life & Empowerment for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury presented at the Annual Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa: State conference on Brain injury in Des Moines, Iowa.
Schmidt J., Petersen J., Kilburg L., McCombs A., Holst K., Lansing A., Phares S., Noble A., (2021) Developing and Implementing Level I Fieldwork Experiences to Meet Student Learning Objectives While Enhancing Faculty Scholarship and Service. Invited to present at the American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit national conference.
Schmidt J., McCombs A., Holst K., (2021) Occupational Therapy: innovative solutions upon returning home invited to present at the University of Iowa Neuroscience Conference with in person presentation, question & answer session.

Accepted National Conference Presentations

HOLST K., ABDELSAYED M., HAAS O., HILLARD J., MEDOZA A., KILANOWSKI T. (2024) ACCEPTED. PRESENTATION TITLE: Poster 1-801: OT's Role in Educating Community First Responders in Brain Injury Fundamentals Training AOTA Inspire 2024 Annual Conference Orlando, FL.
KILAWNOWSKI T., HOLST K., (2024) ACCEPTED. PRESENTATION TITLE: Poster 4013: OT's Role in Sleep Apnea Equipment Adherence for those with Traumatic Brain Injury: Reducing Secondary Hypoxia. AOTA Inspire 2024 Annual Conference Orlando, FL.
SCHMIDT J., JONES J., MCCOMBES A., LANSING A., PHARES S., PETERSEN J., HOLST K., (2024) ACCEPTED. PRESENTATION TITLE: Poster 4-113 -Faculty Led Level I Fieldworks: Utilizing the OT Framework to Prepare OTD Students for Level II Fieldwork. AOTA Inspire 2024 Annual Conference Orlando, FL.
HAAS O., HOLST K., (2024) ACCEPTED. PRESENTATION TITLE: Short Course 376: Get Sassy! Self-Advocacy Skills, Serve Yourself: Programming to Increase Self Advocacy Skills After an Acquired Brain Injury. AOTA Inspire 2024 Annual Conference Orlando, FL.

Courses Taught

Interventions IIIA

This is the fifth of a series of six interventions designed to critically examine how the environment impacts occupational participation across the lifespan. Students will examine how the context and environment may alter the assessment of client factors, treatment planning, intervention strategies, and discharge planning in various practice settings. This course emphasizes environmental theories and models of service provision. Students will understand how clients access the continuum of care including treatment progression, discharge planning and termination of services provided by OT practitioners as part of an interprofessional team. Beyond direct intervention students will gain an appreciation of the complex issues facing individuals, families, and communities.

Interventions IB

Second of six interventions designed to critically examine the OT process, client factors, assessment and intervention strategies to promote occupational engagement across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on understanding theoretical constructs to guide assessment and intervention strategies. Use theories, models and frames of reference based on developmental, biomechanical, and rehabilitative content. Focus will be placed on the occupational impact that development, disease, and injury can have for individuals across the lifespan. Integration of all concepts from the first interventions course will be used to complete case-based learning modules.
Fieldwork IB on site clinical supervision for occupational therapy doctoral students

Doctoral Capstone Project ( I, II, III)

Students will work with their mentor during this course as focused on their proposed area of interest for their doctoral capstone project. Students will utilize critical thinking as they examine and reflect on the literature and research and network with persons having content expertise. Students will be encouraged to think beyond current practice skills to promote the development of advanced knowledge. Prerequisites: Completion of OTD 575 and OTD 580.
Doctoral Capstone Proposal II

Professional Service

Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee

Search Committee for Nursing Tenure Track Faculty

College of Health and Human Sciences: Strategic Planning Community Partnerships Committee Subgroup Priority 2

College of Health and Human Services Racial Justice Task Force

College of Health and Human Sciences: Nursing Department Guest Lecture

Empower House Board of Directors, President