PERSPECTIVES 25th Anniversary - Fall-Winter 2018

Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences 39 Postprofessional Program Beginnings The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Dr.O.T.) Program began in 1995, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Therapy (Ph.D.) Program was added in 1999 to prepare occupational therapists for leadership opportunities and to provide sub- stantive knowledge, competency, and skill development in research. All courses were taught on campus until 2000, when it became apparent there were many potential applicants who were unable to relocate to pursue doctoral study because of family and employment obligations. NSU prides itself on distance education and had many resourc- es available to support it. The faculty decided to change the program to a hybrid model with courses primarily online and students coming to campus for three four-day weekends a year. This resulted in one midsession on campus each semester. Faculty members also worked on additional ways to distin- guish the Dr.O.T. and Ph.D. programs from each other. Core course requirements, outcome objectives, mission, and emphasis among the areas of leadership, advanced practice, research, and entrepreneurship were reexamined and modified to separate the two programs. The mission of the Ph.D. Program is to develop a scholarly practitioner who will exert leadership in advancing the base of knowledge regarding the practice of occupational therapy. Ph.D. graduates also will demonstrate independent scholarly activities, such as independent clinical research and theory development. Graduates from the various academic programs are engaged in research and clinical and community leader- ship, as well as innovative practice, while making a difference in the lives of many through engagement in occupation. Impetus for starting the O.T.D. Program came from Richard Davis, Ed.D., PA-C, former dean, and Stanley Wilson, Ed.D., PT, CEAS, current dean, respectively, of the PCHCS. Sandee Dunbar, then chair of the Fort Lauderdale programs, and Judy Parker Kent, O.T.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, started plans for a Tampa program. In October 2010, Ricardo Carrasco, as program con- sultant, conducted a needs assessment and market analysis. Based on the results, Carrasco designed and, in March 2011, proposed the O.T.D. curriculum for delivery using a blended model. On April 13, 2011, the program received institutional approval. In June 2011, Carrasco became the founding director of the Department of Occupational Therapy and the O.T.D. Program in Tampa. The program accepted its inaugural class in 2012. In April 2014, the program received full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupa- tional Therapy Education. Since its inception, faculty members and students have published or presented at international venues and have received state, national, and international recognition. How many programs can claim having two of its students receive the NSU Student of the Year STUEY Award during a period of six years? Or have a student join the American Occupa- tional Therapy Association (AOTA) Summer Institute of Future Scientists and earn election as chair of the AOTA’s Assembly of Student Delegates? Or be one of the first four O.T.D. programs in the country? In November 2015, the program launched OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry for Students, Faculty, and Other Practi- tioners Advocating for Health Through Occupational Studies , which is published by NSUWorks at nova.campusguides.com ● O.T.D. Program Beginnings Rebecca I. Estes, Ph.D., OTR/L, CAPS, chair, Occupational Therapy, and interim program director, Master of Occupational Therapy Ricardo Carrasco, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) program director and professor, Tampa Campus