Dr. Akselrud is the Program Director and a Professor for the All-Women's section of the OT program at Touro University. Prior to joining Touro, Dr Akselrud held faculty and leadership positions and continues to be active in clinical work, scholarship, community service, and OT professional organizations. Dr Akselrud established Forward OT PLLC, a private practice serving both adults and children and is a Certified Early Intervention provider. Dr. Akselrud served two terms (2018-2024) as the Leadership and Management Coordinator for the Home and Community Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Dr. Akselrud is on the Leadership and Management Committee of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions. In addition, she is a member of the New York State Occupational Therapy Association, and a Parent Educator at Miriam’s Motherhood Center. Dr Akselrud has also developed the My OT Journey podcast platform, which she uses to build necessary skills in her students. 

Several of Dr. Akselrud’s publications have received recognition, including My OT Journey (2021) and Quintessential Occupational Therapy (2023). Dr. Akselrud has received awards and recognition for leadership, including the Touro College Distinguished Leadership Award in 2022. Dr. Akselrud earned a Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University in and a BS/MS in Occupational Therapy from Touro College.

Areas of Expertise

Pediatrics, Early Intervention, Maternal Health, Healthy Aging

Clinical Specialty

• Pediatrics
• Leadership/Entrepreneurship

Education

• BS/MS, Touro University, 2004
• PP-OTD, Quinnipiac University, 2017

Honors and Awards

• Distinguished Leadership Award, Touro University, May 2022

Professional Service

• Volunteer, Emergency Volunteer Project, ADI Negev, August 2024
• Member, ASAHP Leadership Committee, 2020-present
• AOTA, Leadership and Management Coordinator in the HCSIS, 2019-2024
• Ad Hoc Committee for Fieldwork Education, 2018-2019
• TOM Global, Mentor for Abraham Accords Challenge, 2022
• Miriam’s Motherhood Center, Parent Educator, 2021-present
• UND OT Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) event, Panel Speaker, 2022