Kersti Pettit-Kekel, OTR/L

  • Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine

Biography

Kersti Pettit-Kekel is a pediatric occupational therapist who works with children diagnosed with autism. She is on the autism diagnostic team and provides therapy for children and training for their families. She finds it deeply gratifying to help children develop new skills to be more engaged with their families.

­ In her spare time, Kersti enjoys running, hiking, paddleboarding and traveling with her family and friends.

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • B.S., 1985, Oregon State University
    • B.S., 1987, University of Puget Sound

  • Certifications

    • National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy, 1988-current
    • Sensory Integration and Praxis Test, Certified 1993
    • Therapeutic Listening-Level 1, November 2002
    • Oregon State Occupational Therapy, 1988-current

Publications

Elsevier pure profile

Selected publications

  • Freeman KA, Eagle R, Merkens L, Sikora DM, Pettit-Kekel K., Nguyen-Driver M & Steiner RD (2012). Aberrant Behavior in Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome: Initial Test of Bio-Behaioral Influences. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology.
  • Sikora, D., Pettit-Kekel, K., Penfield, J., Merkens, L., & Steiner, R. (2006) The Near Universal Presence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in children with Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 140(14): 1511-8.
  • Sikora, D., Ruggerio, M., Pettit-Kekel, K., Merkens, L., Connor, W., & Steiner, R. (2004) Cholesterol supplementation does not improve developmental progress in Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome. Journal of Pediatrics 144, 783-79.

Publications