Sarah Jean Barton | Scholars@Duke

Sarah Jean Barton
Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery

Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Theological Ethics
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Division
Duke Divinity School

I hold a dual appointment in the School of Medicine and Duke Divinity School. My primary areas of scholarship include Christian theology and ethics, disability studies, spirituality, and occupational therapy. I focus on participatory research methodologies in partnership with people experiencing intellectual disabilities.

My current work includes final revisions of a book-length manuscript related to my participatory research on Christian theologies and practices of baptism in partnership with individuals experiencing intellectual disability. I am also conducting data analysis of interviews from a pilot study on the experiences of students with disabilities and chronic health conditions in health professions education programs. Finally, I am authoring several essay-length pieces on the following subjects: how the experience of disability challenges the medical industrial complex, a theological bioethics approach to issues of women's chronic pain, and the current state of engaging participatory methodologies within occupational therapy and occupational science.

Education

Doctor of Theology
Dissertation: “Becoming the Baptized Body: Disability, Baptism, and the Practice of Christian Community”
Certificate in Reflective and Faithful Teaching
Duke Divinity School (Durham, NC, USA), 2014 - 2019

Master of Theological Studies
summa cum laude , Certificate in Anglican Studies
Thesis: “Toward Human Flourishing: Theological Perspectives in Occupational Therapy”
Duke Divinity School (Durham, NC, USA), 2012-2014

Master of Science
Occupational Therapy, Pi Theta Epsilon
Boston University (Boston, MA, USA), 2009-2012

Bachelor of Science
magna cum laude , Biology
Seattle Pacific University (Seattle, WA, USA), 2005-2009

Office Hours

Please contact me via email to set-up a Zoom meeting.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery, Occupational Therapy, Orthopaedics 2021
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Theological Ethics, Divinity School, Duke University 2020

Contact Information

Background
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery, Occupational Therapy, Orthopaedics 2020
- Instructor, Medical Center in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Occupational Therapy, Orthopaedics 2019 - 2020
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
- Senior Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Duke University Hospital and Lenox Baker Children's Hospital; 2013-2018; 2020-Present
Recognition
In the News
- OCT 27, 2020 Bass Connections
  
  A Faculty Career Boosted by a Bass Connections Project
- APR 12, 2018
  
  Three Graduate Students Honored for Outstanding Bass Connections Project Team Mentorship
Awards & Honors
- "Building an Inclusive, Anti-Racist Knowledge Community Among Faculty, Staff, and Students in the New Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program" Seed Grant. Duke Office of Faculty Advancement. 2021
- Award for Outstanding Mentorship. Bass Connections Program, Duke University. April 2018
Expertise
Subject Headings
Research
Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants
- Seed Grant: Building an Inclusive, Anti-Racist Knowledge Community Among Faculty, Staff and Students in the New Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program awarded by Duke Office for Faculty Advancement 2021
- Duke AHEAD Certificate in Health Professions Education and Teaching awarded by Duke AHEAD 2020 - 2021
- Dissertation Fellowship (Honorary) awarded by The Louisville Institute 2018 - 2019
- Fellowship Partners Program - Academic Track awarded by Episcopal Church Foundation 2018 - 2019
- The Nouwen Fellowship in Disability Studies awarded by Western Theological Seminary 2018 - 2020
- Dissertation Research Grant awarded by The Calvin Institute on Christian Worship 2017 - 2018
- Graduate Fellow awarded by The Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke University 2017 - 2018
- Doctoral Fellow awarded by The Louisville Institute 2015 - 2017
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Barton, Sarah Jean, Sahil Sandhu, Isabelle Doan, Lillian Blanchard, Alex Dai, Alexandra Paulenich, Emily R. Smith, et al. “Perceived barriers and supports to accessing community-based services for Uganda's pediatric post-surgical population.” Disabil Rehabil 43, no. 15 (July 2021): 2172–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2019.1694999.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Barton, S. J. “Access and Disability Justice in Theological Education.” Journal of Disability and Religion 25, no. 3 (January 1, 2021): 279–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/23312521.2021.1895025.
    Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Barton, S. J. “Re-Membering Methodology in Theologies of Disability.” Journal of Disability and Religion, January 1, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/23312521.2021.1988883.
    Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Barton, Sarah. “Remember Your Baptism: Engaging People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from a Wesleyan Perspective.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 55, no. 2 (September 1, 2020): 207–25.
    Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Smith, Emily R., Brittney J. van de Water, Anna Martin, Sarah Jean Barton, Jasmine Seider, Christopher Fitzgibbon, Mathama Malakha Bility, et al. “Availability of post-hospital services supporting community reintegration for children with identified surgical need in Uganda.” Bmc Health Serv Res 18, no. 1 (September 20, 2018): 727. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3510-2.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Barton, S. J. “A Critical Approach to Integrating Christian Disability Theology in Clinical Rehabilitation.” Journal of Disability and Religion 21, no. 1 (January 2, 2017): 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/23312521.2016.1269255.
    Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Barton, Sarah. “Expanding the Theological Classroom.” The Wabash Center Journal on Teaching 2, no. 1 (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.31046/wabashcenter.v2i1.1704.
    Full Text Open Access Copy
- Book Sections
  - Barton, S. “Theologizing Disability: The Future of Critique and Collaboration at the Intersections of Theology and Disability Studies.” In Interdisciplinary Approaches to Disability, edited by Mike Kent, Rachel Robertson, and Katie Ellis. Ashgate, 2018.
  - Barton, S., and Ray Barfield. “Religion and Spirituality in Pediatrics.” In Spirituality and Religion Within the Culture of Medicine From Evidence to Practice, edited by Michael Balboni and John Peteet. Oxford University Press, 2017.
- Other Articles
  - Barton, S., Sue Berger, Sue Coppola, H. Colter, K. Gleason, and C. Kaminski. “Infusing Occupational Justice into Gerontology Practice.” Gerontology Special Interest Section Quarterly. American Occupational Therapy Association, 2012.
- Digital Publications
  - Barton, S. “Time in New Creation: Apocalypse, Baptism, and Remembering.” Syndicate, n.d.
    Link to Item
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Presentations & Appearances
Outreach & Engaged Scholarship
Service to the Profession
Service to Duke
- Duke Disability and Access Initiative. August 2017 2017
- Duke Divinity School. Duke Graduate Conference in Theology Executive Planning Committee. 2015 - 2016 2015 - 2016
Clinical Activities
- I worked from June 2013-June 2018 as a senior pediatric occupational therapist at Duke University Health System. I resumed clinical work in July 2020 and continue to serve as an outpatient pediatric occupational therapist at Duke. I am one of six occupational therapists in North Carolina board certified in pediatrics. I hold an active license in North Carolina and Michigan. I am also a currently registered Occupational Therapist with the NBCOT.
  
  The following represent some of my recent presentations as a clinician in occupational therapy and other interdisciplinary settings:
  - Barton, S. J., Hall, A., and Newton, R. Supporting Function and Participation Across the Lifespan with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Poster presentation delivered at the American Occupational Therapy Association's Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, April, 2019.
  - Barton, S. J., Hall, A., and Newton, R. Supporting Function and Participation Across the Lifespan with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Short course delivered at the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Raleigh, NC, November, 2017.
  - Barton, S. J. Collaborating with Chaplains to Address Client Spirituality. Poster presentation delivered at The American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, April, 2016.
  - Barton, S. J. Expanding the Scope of Interprofessional Dialogue in Occupational Therapy. Short course presentation delivered at The American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, April, 2015
  - Barton, S. J. Engaging Theological Perspectives in Occupational Therapy. Poster presentation delivered at The American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, April, 2014.
  - Barton, S. J. Integrating Spirituality and Clinical Practice: Occupational Therapy and Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Poster presentation delivered at The American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, April, 2013.
  - Barton, S. J., Porcello, D. R., and Wilske, G. C. The Collaborative Fieldwork Model: Student and Supervisory Perspectives. Poster presentation delivered at The American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, April, 2013.
  - Alaniz, A. E., Barton, S. J., and Sachs, L. Occupational Therapy and Sexuality: The Role of the Therapist in the Sexual Health and Sexual Expression of Clients. Session presentation delivered at Boston University’s annual Lead the Way Symposium, Boston, MA, May, 2011.
  I hold the following professional clinical affiliations:
  
  Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (2020-Present)
  
  North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association (2012-Present)
  
  World Federation of Occupational Therapists (2010-Present)
  
  American Occupational Therapy Association (2009-Present)
  
  Michigan Occupational Therapy Association (2018 - 2020)

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Previous Appointments & Affiliations

Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke

In the News

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Book Sections

Other Articles

Digital Publications

Recent Courses

Presentations & Appearances

Outreach & Engaged Scholarship

Service to the Profession

Service to Duke

Clinical Activities