Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Develop, enhance and advance practice through knowledge translation and application Heading link
UIC’s post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (P-OTD) program produces practice-scholars who specialize in advanced practice, education, applied research, leadership and management in occupational therapy. Our program is designed for students who want to take on roles as advanced clinicians, applied scholars, managers and educators in a wide range of settings.
We focus on developing your skills through a strong mentorship model. You’ll work closely with a faculty mentor to tailor the program to your specific career goals, and immerse yourself in areas of study like:
- Advanced practice in a specific area, setting population, age range or community
- Advanced education, teaching and learning, knowledge, skills and evidence
- Leadership in management, administration, program development and education, policy systems, and innovative, evidence‐based practice
Like our associated Ph.D. programs in disability studies and rehabilitation sciences, the P-OTD program provides applied research knowledge and skills, but shifts that focus to using existing evidence to applying existing evidence to professional and community-based practice.
Our students fall into three categories:
- Currently practicing occupational therapists with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in OT
- Students who are currently enrolled in the UIC MS program or want to co-enroll in the MS and P- OTD programs
Links Heading link
Pride points Heading link
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1st qualitative research paper to win Best Paper Award from the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers authored by Joy Hammel and Susan Magasi
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What to expect A semester-by-semester look at the program
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Your career Heading link
As the field of occupational therapy continues to grow, many OTs find themselves needing advanced knowledge and skills in evidence-based practice, education and applied research.
Entry-level degrees in occupational therapy focus on developing generalist practitioners. The P-OTD program focuses on developing advanced practitioners with specialized expertise, advanced knowledge and skills, and the ability to take on leadership and educational roles in the field. We focus on evidence-based practice and research that can be applied to improving your practice and developing new areas of innovative practice.
For the currently practicing occupational therapist, a P-OTD offers opportunities for career development and advancement. For a currently enrolled master’s student, a P-OTD offers the opportunity to enter the field with advanced knowledge and skills
Learn from the best Heading link
Understanding by doing Heading link
Our program is based in a Scholarship of Practice, embedding real-life learning experiences through applied projects, advanced practicums and self-directed learning. You’ll work closely with faculty members within your lines of inquiry, ensuring that you have quality experiences doing mentored work that is relevant, forward-thinking, and will make a difference both in practice, and in the lives of diverse OT clients, families and communities.
You’ll complete a P-OTD project representing major applied work done with your faculty mentor and community of learning, involving planning, implementation, evaluation and dissemination. This gives you the opportunity to experience how a program of scholarship is developed, advances over time, and fits different components together. This project can be an evidence-based practice review, educational case study, or creation and evaluation of training, assessment or intervention program.
We're here for you Heading link
We’re here for you
Still wondering what a P- OTD can do for you? Contact Kristel Flynn and get your questions answered.
You can contact Kristel at:
Email flynn123@uic.edu
Phone 312.996.7538
Address 1919 W. Taylor St.
317A AHSB, MC 811
Chicago, IL 60612