Joseph Pellerito Jr.

Joseph M. Pellerito Jr., PhD, OTRL, CDI Professional Biography (1984 - Present) Joseph M. Pellerito Jr's career highlights include working as an administrator, scholar, professor, entrepreneur, and therapy practitioner in the private, academic, and public sectors. He subscribes to the notion that effective administration, fundraising, education, scholarship, and service can lead to transformational ways of thinking and doing. Husband, father of three, and a member of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, he strives to live a life that is grounded in faith that is manifested in good works. He earned a Ph.D. in Medical Sociology in 2008, completing both quantitative and qualitative research tracks, from Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit, Michigan; a Masters of Science (M.S.) degree in 1995 in Technology for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM & R) from The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore, Maryland; and a Baccalaureate of Science (B.S.) degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) and a Minor in Medical Sociology in 1984 from Western Michigan University Lee Honors College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is a leader in his discipline, is prolific, has been highly funded, and is a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and their family caregivers. He has extensive experience and expertise in fundraising; grant-writing; developing and managing graduate education programs; facilitating strategic, business, and accreditation planning and implementation; program assessment and continuous quality improvement; and faculty, student, practitioner, and family caregiver education and training. Dr. Pellerito has held leadership and administrative positions as follows: Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM) in The Detroit Medical Center (DMC), he supervised more than 250 professionals providing physical medicine and rehabilitation services in 28 sites throughout Michigan; Associate Professor and Department Chairperson at Wayne State University (WSU); Vice President of Research and Consumer Technology for iCan!, the first online community in the world for people with disabilities and their caregivers; Chief Operating Officer (CEO) for Abilities Group LLC and its more than 500 therapy personnel providing assistive technology and independent living services to veterans with disabilities residing in 28 states; and Founder & Chief Consultant for HEROES NATION LC, a new and dynamic company that provides assistive and adaptive technology services to people