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Marianne H. Mortera, PhD, OTR/L is an Associate Professor in the OTD Program at Rutgers University. In 1987, her initial clinical expertise began in neurological, cognitive, brain injury, and spinal cord injury in the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University Medical Center, New York City.
Her research has focused on the return to productivity in OEF/OIF Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the development and initial testing of the Mortera Cognitive Screening Measure and the Cognitive Screen for Grooming. Her research includes reviews of clinical reasoning in rehabilitation professional students, pharmacological and yoga interventions for individuals with TBI, community participation and reintegration, rehabilitation treatment specification, and developing validity standards in rehabilitation research and practice. She is also a strong advocate of research that is conducted with interdisciplinary teams of rehabilitation professionals, educators, and researchers through the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
For the last 37 years, she has been a faculty member in entry-level through post-professional occupational therapy educational programs where she has supported the education and learning in occupational and physical therapy students at Long Island University, Columbia University, New York University, Mercy College, A.T. Still University, SUNY Downstate, Pacific University, and Nova Southeastern University. She has developed and taught more than 45 courses in neuroscience, kinesiology, neurorehabilitation, physical disabilities, cognitive rehabilitation, clinical practice guidelines, academic and clinical fieldwork education, research design, research methods and proposal writing, measurement and assessment, theory and applied scientific inquiry.
She recently co-authored a neuroscience textbook (Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. Quick reference neuroscience for rehabilitation professionals: The essential neurologic principles underlying rehabilitation practice, 4th Edition; Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, United Kingdom; 2024) that has been a staple in occupational therapy education programs for over two decades.
Dr. Mortera has authored book chapters and journal articles on brain injury rehabilitation, functional cognitive assessment, and occupational therapy interventions. She is a continuing education provider in over 70 peer reviewed and invited presentations, nationally and internationally, on neuroscience underlying occupational therapy interventions, functional cognitive assessment, treatment effectiveness, and study quality in brain injury rehabilitation research.
Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy, New York University, New York, NY
M.A. (Occupational Therapy), New York University, New York, NY
B.A. (Biology), Minor in Spanish, Capital University, Columbus, OH
| Award | Year |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM MISIG Applied Cognition TBI Task Force | 2025 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM MISIG Applied Cognition TBI Task Force | 2024 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM MISIG Applied Cognition TBI Task Force | 2023 |
| Star Educator Award, New York University, NYU Steinhardt Graduate Student Organization, | 2022 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM MISIG Applied Cognition TBI Task Force, 2023 | 2023 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM MISIG Applied Cognition TBI Task Force, | 2022 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM MISIG Applied Cognition TBI Task Force | 2021 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM Complementary Integrative Rehabilitation Medicine Networking Group |
2022 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM Complementary Integrative Rehabilitation Medicine Networking Group |
2021 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM Complementary Integrative Rehabilitation Medicine Networking Group |
2020 |
| Certificate of Appreciation, Co-Chair, ACRM Complementary Integrative Rehabilitation Medicine Networking Group |
2017-2018 |
| Certificate of Appreciation, Co-Chair, ACRM Complementary Integrative Rehabilitation Medicine Networking Group |
2016-2017 |
| American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, 93rd Annual Conference Best Poster Award: Long-term neurobehavioral symptoms in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans |
2016 |
| Association of Asian-Pacific Occupational Therapists Distinguished Lectureship Award in Occupational Therapy |
2009 |
| AOTA Service Commendation for PD SIS Quarterly Editor | 2008 |
| Long Island University Faculty Research Award | 2001 |
| Service Commendation, Co-Chair, ACRM MISIG Applied Cognition TBI Task Force, 2024 | 2024 |
Dr. Mortera’s research includes reviews of clinical reasoning in rehabilitation professional students, pharmacological and yoga interventions for individuals with TBI, community participation and reintegration, rehabilitation treatment specification, and developing validity standards in rehabilitation research and practice.
She is also a strong advocate of research that is conducted with interdisciplinary teams of rehabilitation professionals, educators, and researchers through the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
| Title | Sponsor | Effective Dates | Role |
| Dissertation Research Grant | Metropolitan New York Occupational Therapy District (MNYD) | 2001 | Principal Investigator |
| Title | Authors | Where and When |
| Quick reference neuroscience for rehabilitation professionals: The Essential NeurologicPrinciples Underlying Rehabilitation Practice, 4th Edition | Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. | Routledge, Taylor & Francis (2024) |
| Perception and use of complementary and integrative health practices among rehabilitation professional: A survey. |
Wen, P-S., Vora, A., Mortera, M., Sasson, N., Reed, W. R., Ehsanian R., Galantino, M.L., Erb, M., Hu, X, Kim, S. | European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 55(10) 102173. 2022 |
| An overview of systematic reviews on the pharmacological randomized controlled trials for reducing intracranial pressure after traumatic brain injury. | Kim, S., Mortera, M., Heyn, P., Sood, P., Wen, P., Wong, D.C., Tanveer, S., & Hu, X. | Brain Injury. 36(7), 829-840. 2022 |
| The impact of complementary and integrative medicine following traumatic brain injury: A scoping review. | Kim, S., Mortera, M. H., Wen, P., Thompson, K. L., Lundgren, K., Reed, W. R., Sasson, N., Wright, S., Vora, A., Krishnan, S., Joseph, J., Heyn, P. C., & Chin, B. S. | Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, E33-E43(11). 2022 |
| Using a survey to characterize rehabilitation professionals’ perceptions and use of complementary, integrative, and alternative medicine. | Kim, S., Capo-Lugo, C., Reed, W. R., Vora, A., Ehsanian, R., Krishnan, S., Hu, X., Galantino, M., Mortera, M. H., Beattie, A., Sasson, N., Theodore, B. R., Erb, M., & Heyn, P. | Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 00 (00), 1-3. 2020 |
| Overview of pharmacological interventions after traumatic brain injuries: impact on selected outcomes. | Kim, S., Mortera, M. H., Hu, X., Krishnan, S., Hoffecker, L., Herrold, A., Terhorst, L., King, L., Machtinger, J., Zumsteg, J. M., Negm, A., Heyn, P. | Brain Injury, 33 (4), 442-455. 2019 |
| Overview of common complementary and integrative approaches to managing chronic pain: A guide for patients with chronic pain. | Krishnan, S., Anderson, D., Chan, S., Kim, S., Reistetter, T., Sood, P., Mortera, M. H., Heesakker, J. M., Heyn, P. C. | Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 99(11), 2393-2394. 2018 |
| Long term neurobehavioral symptoms and return to productivity in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans with and without traumatic brain injury. | Mortera, M. H., Kinirons, S., Simantov, J., & Klingbeil, H. | Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 99(2 Suppl):S50-7. 2018 |
| The Issue Is: Revision of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. | Gutman, S. A., Mortera, M., Hinojosa, J., & Kramer, P. | American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61(1), 119-126. 2007 |
| The Issue Is-Applied scientific inquiry: An answer to manage care’s challenge? | Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. | American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51, 704-709. 1997 |
| The Centennial Vision and physical disabilities practice. | Amini, D., Mortera, M., Gulick, K., Oertli, S., Sheffield, F., & Patria, L. | Physical Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly, 31 (1), 1-4, 2008 |
| The occupational therapy researcher: Achievement through applied scientific inquiry. | Mortera, M. H. | OT Practice, July 9, 13-16, 2007 |
| Instrument development in brain injury rehabilitation: Part 1. | Mortera, M. H. | Physical Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly, 29 (3), 1-4, 2006 |
| Instrument development in brain injury rehabilitation: Part 2. | Mortera, M. H. | Physical Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly, 29 (4), 1-2, 2006 |
| Disability status assessments. | Mortera, M. H., & D’Amico, M. | Occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index, 5th Edition; In Press. |
| Chapter 12: Interventions to improve upper extremity skills. | Mortera, M. H., & Gutman, S. A. | Training to improve functional outcomes for physical rehabilitation, 3rd Edition; S. B. O’Sullivan & T. Schmitz; 307-331; FA Davis, Philadelphia, PA; 2021 |
| Chapter 28: Restoring family, parenting, and social roles. | Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. | Occupational therapy for physical dysfunction, 8th Edition; D. P. Dirette & S. A. Gutman; 603-616; Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, PA; 2020 https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2021.1980643 |
| Chapter 11: Interventions to improve upper extremity skills. | Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. | Training to improve functional outcomes for physical rehabilitation, 2nd Edition; S. B. O’Sullivan & T. Schmitz; 262-281; FA Davis, Philadelphia, PA; 2016 https://fadavispt.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1860§ionid=140751816 |
| The acute inpatient rehabilitation phase of recovery. | Mortera, M. H. | Neurorehabilitation self-paced clinical course series: Neurorehabilitation for traumatic brain injury; G. Giles; 175-229; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2015 |
| Disability status and adaptive behavior assessments. | Mortera, M. H., & D’Amico, M. | Occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index, 4th Edition; I. Asher; 99-154; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2014 |
| Chapter 9: Interventions to improve upper extremity skills. | Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. | Training to improve functional outcomes for physical rehabilitation; S. B. O’Sullivan & T. Schmitz; 216-231; FA Davis, Philadelphia, PA; 2010 |
| Disability status and adaptive behavior assessments | Mortera, M. H., & D’Amico, M. | Occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index, 3rd Edition; I. Asher; 673-707; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2007 |
| Coping and adaptive behavior assessments. | D’Amico, M., & Mortera, M. | Occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index, 3rd Edition; I. Asher; 633-671; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2007 |
| Chapter 27: Restoring family, parenting, and social roles. | Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. | Occupational therapy for physical dysfunction, 9th Edition; D. P. Dirette & S. A. Gutman; Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, PA; In Press |
| Chapter 2: Activity analysis and activity synthesis. | Mortera, M. H., & Gutman, S. A. | Occupational therapy for physical dysfunction, 9th Edition; D. P. Dirette & S. A. Gutman; Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, PA; In Press |
Clancy, M. J., Bell, A., O’Brien, K. H., Jones, G. D., Packel, A., Beaulieu, C. L., Mortera, M. H., Gibson, J., Sisto, S. A., Katz, L. W., Schiffrin, L., Recigno, T. E., Meulenbroek, P., Gopaul, U., Tarver, T., Reynolds, S. (under review): Tools for assessing clinical reasoning in rehabilitation: A scoping review, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Kim, S., Sood, P., Gopaul, U., Mohapatra, B., Mortera, M. H., Wen, P., Heyn, P. C., McGowan, R., Wong, D. & Hu, X. (21 May 2026): A systematic review on pharmacotherapy of post-traumatic attention impairments, Brain Injury, DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2673977
Wen, P-S., Vora, A., Mortera, M., Sasson, N., Reed, W. R., Ehsanian R., Galantino, M.L., Erb, M., Hu, X, & Kim, S. Perception and use of complementary and integrative health practices among rehabilitation professional: A survey. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 55(10) 102173. 2022 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2022.102173
Kim, S., Mortera, M., Heyn, P., Sood, P., Wen, P., Wong, D.C., Tanveer, S., & Hu, X. An overview of systematic reviews on the pharmacological randomized controlled trials for reducing intracranial pressure after traumatic brain injury, Brain Injury. 36(7), 829-840. 2022 https://doi:10.1080/02699052.2022.2087102
Kim, S., Mortera, M. H., Wen, P., Thompson, K. L., Lundgren, K., Reed, W. R., Sasson, N., Wright, S., Vora, A., Krishnan, S., Joseph, J., Heyn, P. C., & Chin, B. S. The impact of complementary and integrative medicine following traumatic brain injury: A scoping review. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, E33-E43(11). 2022 https://doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0000000000000778
Kim, S., Capo-Lugo, C., Reed, W. R., Vora, A., Ehsanian, R., Krishnan, S., Hu, X., Galantino, M., Mortera, M. H., Beattie, A., Sasson, N., Theodore, B. R., Erb, M., & Heyn, P. Using a survey to characterize rehabilitation professionals’ perceptions and use of complementary, integrative, and alternative medicine. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 00 (00), 1-3. 2020 https://doi:10.1089/acm.2019.0383s
Kim, S., Mortera, M. H., Hu, X., Krishnan, S., Hoffecker, L., Herrold, A., Terhorst, L., King, L., Machtinger, J., Zumsteg, J. M.,Negm, A., Heyn, P. Overview of pharmacological interventions after traumatic brain injuries: impact on selected outcomes. Brain Injury,33 (4), 442-455. 2019 https://doi:10.1080/02699052.2019.1565896
Krishnan, S., Anderson, D., Chan, S., Kim, S., Reistetter, T., Sood, P., Mortera, M. H., Heesakker, J. M., Heyn, P. C. Overview ofcommon complementary and integrative approaches to managing chronic pain: A guide for patients with chronic pain. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 99(11), 2393-2394. 2018 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2018.06.004
Mortera, M. H., Kinirons, S., Simantov, J., & Klingbeil, H. Long term neurobehavioral symptoms and return to productivity in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans with and without traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 99(2 Suppl):S50-7. 2018 https://doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2016.11.026
Gutman, S. A., Mortera, M., Hinojosa, J., & Kramer, P. The Issue Is: Revision of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. AmericanJournal of Occupational Therapy, 61(1), 119-126. 2007 https://doi:10.5014/ajot.61.1.119
Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. The Issue Is-Applied scientific inquiry: An answer to manage care’s challenge? American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51, 704-709. 1997 doi:10.5014/ajot.51.8.704
Books
Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. Quick reference neuroscience for rehabilitation professionals: The essential neurologic principlesunderlying rehabilitation practice, 4th Edition; Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, United Kingdom; 2024
Chapters
Mortera, M. H., & D’Amico, M. Chapter 5: Disability status and adaptive behavior assessments. Asher’s occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index, 5th edition; N. Grampurohit; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2026
Mortera, M. H., & Gutman, S. A. Chapter 12: Interventions to improve upper extremity skills. Training to improve functional outcomesfor physical rehabilitation, 3rd Edition; S. B. O’Sullivan & T. Schmitz; 307-331; FA Davis, Philadelphia, PA; 2021 https://lccn.loc.gov/2021037394
Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. Chapter 28: Restoring family, parenting, and social roles. Occupational therapy for physical dysfunction, 8th Edition; D. P. Dirette & S. A. Gutman; 603-616; Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, PA; 2020 https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2021.1980643
Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. Chapter 11: Interventions to improve upper extremity skills. Training to improve functional outcomesfor physical rehabilitation, 2nd Edition; S. B. O’Sullivan & T. Schmitz; 262-281; FA Davis, Philadelphia, PA; 2016 https://fadavispt.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1860§ionid=140751816
Mortera, M. H. The acute inpatient rehabilitation phase of recovery. Neurorehabilitation self-paced clinical course series: Neurorehabilitation for traumatic brain injury; G. Giles; 175-229; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2015
Mortera, M. H., & D’Amico, M. Disability status and adaptive behavior assessments. Occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index, 4th Edition; I. Asher; 99-154; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2014
Gutman, S. A., & Mortera, M. H. Chapter 9: Interventions to improve upper extremity skills. Training to improve functional outcomes for physical rehabilitation; S. B. O’Sullivan & T. Schmitz; 216-231; FA Davis, Philadelphia, PA; 2010
Mortera, M. H., & D’Amico, M. Disability status and adaptive behavior assessments. Occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index, 3rd Edition; I. Asher; 673-707; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2007
D’Amico, M., & Mortera, M. Coping and adaptive behavior assessments. Occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index, 3rd Edition; I. Asher; 633-671; American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; 2007
Other Articles
AOTA Special Interest Section Quarterly and OT Practice Magazine Articles
Amini, D., Mortera, M., Gulick, K., Oertli, S., Sheffield, F., & Patria, L. The Centennial Vision and physical disabilities practice. Physical Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly, 31 (1), 1-4, 2008
Mortera, M. H. The occupational therapy researcher: Achievement through applied scientific inquiry. OT Practice, July 9, 13-16, 2007
Mortera, M. Instrument development in brain injury rehabilitation: Part 1. Physical Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly, 29 (3), 1-4, 2006
Mortera, M. H. Instrument development in brain injury rehabilitation: Part 2. Physical Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly, 29(4), 1-2, 2006
Abstracts
Wen, P.S., Mortera, M.H., Herrin, I., Waid-Ebbs, J.K. Yoga in adults with brain injury: A systematic review. 15th World Congress on Brain Injury Abstracts, Brain Injury, 2025, 39:sup1, S2-S287, DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2025.2507554
Mortera, M. H., Kim, S., Wen, P., Thompson, K. L., Lundgren, K., Reed, W. R., Sasson, N., Wright, S., Vora, A., Krishnan, S., Joseph, J., Heyn, P. C., & Chin, B. S. The impact of complementary and integrative medicine following traumatic brain injury: A scoping review. 14th World Congress on Brain Injury Abstracts, Brain Injury, 2023; 37:sup1, 1-278. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2023.2247822
Mortera, M. H. Ecologically valid instrument development: Functional cognitive assessment for individuals with brain injury. Archives ofPhysical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2018; 99(10), e26-e27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2018.07.090
Kim, S., Theodore, B., Capó-Lugo, C.E., Krishnan, S., Ehsanian, R., Hu, X., Beattie, A., Vora, A.,
Mortera, M., Chan, S., Sasson, N., Tyson, A., Ginsberg, J.P., Appel, P.R., Tibbett, J., & Heyn, P. Complementary and integrative medicine utilization among rehabilitation professionals: Attitudes and practice. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2018; 99(12), e196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2018.09.023
Kim, S., Mortera, M. H., Hoffecker, L. T., Herrold, A., King, L., Terhorst, L., Hu, X., Krishnan, S., Machtinger, J., Heyn, P. C. An umbrella review of systematic reviews of pharmacological treatments post-TBI. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2017; 98(10), e142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2017.08.464
Mortera, M. H., Kinirons, S., Simantov, J., & Klingbeil, H. Long term neurobehavioral symptoms in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans suspected of traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2016; 97(10), e90-e91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2016.08.279
Mortera, M. H., Kinirons, S., Simantov, J., & Klingbeil, H. Accepted abstracts from the International Brain Injury Association’s Eleventh World Congress on Brain Injury: Patient profile: Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans suspected of traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 2016; 30(5-6), 488. https://doi:10.3109/02699052.2016.1162060
Mortera, M. H., Kinirons, S., Simantov, J., & Klingbeil, H. Patient profile: Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans suspected of traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2015; 96(10), e57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.08.191
Mortera, M. H. International Brain Injury Association’s 10th World Congress on Brain Injury. Meeting the need for ecologically valid and innovative instrument development: Structured Functional Cognitive Assessment (SFCA) for individuals with acquired brain injury. Brain Injury, 2014; 28(4-5), 3.
Mortera, M. H. International Brain Injury Association’s 9th World Congress on Brain Injury. Meeting the need for ecologically validinstrument development: Innovation in Structured Functional Cognitive Assessment (SFCA) for individuals with traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 2012; 26(4-5), 318.
Mortera, M. H. International Brain Injury Association’s 9th World Congress on Brain Injury. The development of the Mortera CognitiveScreening Measure (M-CSM) for individuals with acquired brain injury: Initial examination of content validity and interrater reliability. Brain Injury, 2012; 26(4-5), 320.
Dissertation
Mortera, M. H. (2004). The development of the Cognitive Screening Measure for individuals with brain injury: Initial examination of content validity and interrater reliability (Doctoral dissertation, New York University, 2004). Dissertation Abstracts International, 65, 906.