Occupational Therapy Education Needed a Reset. So We Built One.

In February of 2024 I left my prior academic role and wrote about some of the challenges and questions facing occupational therapy (OT) education. What should the next generation of OT programs look like? How do we ensure graduates are prepared for where the profession is headed? What does it mean to build something that contributes meaningfully to both students and the field? Most importantly, how do we rationalize the occupational therapy education market?

These weren’t rhetorical questions. Over the past 18 months, I’ve had the opportunity to help shape the answers. Today, I’m proud to share that the Rochester Institute of Technology’s entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is officially live on OTCAS, the centralized application system used by occupational therapy programs nationwide.

While some programs have already begun evolving, too much of OT education in the region remains tethered to outdated models. It’s not enough to add more programs. We need to build the right ones, with purpose and clarity.

But this launch is more than a milestone. It’s the result of a shared vision and a collective effort to build something new and something needed.

Why RIT’s OTD Program Matters

RIT has long been known for its strengths in technology, the arts, and design. That distinctive identity laid the foundation for developing a forward-thinking occupational therapy program, one that brings creative problem solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, design thinking, and technological fluency to the center of OT education.

This program would not exist without the leadership of our Dean, who challenged us to create a 21st-century occupational therapy program that is bold, responsive, and future-focused. It would not exist without institutional support across every level of RIT from space planning to marketing to research infrastructure. It would not exist without the exceptional faculty who have joined the program, or the national consultants, advisory board members, and professional colleagues who gave their time and wisdom to help us ask the right questions.

And it certainly would not exist without the full support of a university administration and board committed to building something different and that has long-term value.

What Makes RIT’s OTD Program Distinct

This is not occupational therapy as usual. We designed this program from the ground up with four priorities in mind:

1. A Curriculum That Looks Ahead

Rather than replicating what already exists, RIT’s curriculum emphasizes areas that expand what OT can be. From virtual and augmented reality to artificial intelligence, bionics, informatics, and telehealth, students are immersed in learning that reflects where healthcare is going and not where it has been.

2. Building the Faculty Pipeline

Faculty development is built into the structure of the program. Through mentorship, research opportunities, and professional growth pathways, we aim to strengthen the academic workforce. Our program also prepares graduates who may go on to teach, lead, and innovate themselves.

3. Clinical Education That Expands Access

We approached fieldwork planning with intention and care, developing strong relationships with regional health systems partners early and seeking opportunities in new practice areas. Our students will help define what new and innovative placements can be.

4. Preparing Graduates to Lead

Students will work with engineers, designers, and technologists. They’ll use motion capture, sensor-based analysis, and 3D printing. They’ll design functional interventions grounded in clinical utility and meaningful daily outcomes. In short, they’ll be equipped to lead in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

A Moment of Validation

When the New York State Education Department granted final approval, it validated not just the program, but the planning, collaboration, and shared belief behind it. OT education doesn’t need more duplication. It needs differentiation. And that’s what we set out to create.

This is what happens when you ask the best people what needs to happen next and then have the environment to build it.

Looking Ahead

Now the real work begins. We are focused on welcoming our first class, supporting our new faculty, growing research and scholarship, and living up to the promise of what this program is designed to be.

For those who have followed the evolution of OT education, this moment represents more than a new program. It’s a case study in how to respond to real challenges with collaborative solutions.

I am grateful to have played a role in this work, but more grateful still to be surrounded by a team and an institution that made it possible.

Occupational Therapy at RIT
Be the Difference. Be First.

 And stay tuned. There is so much more to come.

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