CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

As the role of occupational therapists becomes increasingly vital in promoting health and well-being, especially of an aging population, those holding a doctorate are poised to lead the charge in integrating evidence-based practice into everyday care. The doctorate equips OT professionals with an analytical edge, enabling the dissection of policy, the art of effective communication, and the intricate nature of interprofessional collaboration.

Start your doctorate on the right foot with a course designed to help you make the most of the program. The focus of this course is to assist practicing occupational therapists in defining their personal career goals and creating a plan to achieve those goals. Students will refine self-reflection skills and leverage various resources for advancement. Students will explore concepts related to emotional intelligence and career mapping to develop the career plan.

Explore the Curriculum

• University Faculty Members: Educate the next generation of OTs, contribute to academia, and lead research that shapes the discipline.
• Clinical Practice Leaders: Advance clinical practice through the development and implementation of innovative therapy programs and interventions.
• Occupational Therapy Directors: Oversee therapy services across healthcare systems, ensuring excellent patient care and efficient service delivery.

• Healthcare Policy Advisors: Utilize your expertise to impact healthcare legislation, advocating for occupational therapy's role in public health.
• Research Scientists: Lead groundbreaking studies to expand the evidence base of occupational therapy, enhancing the efficacy of practice.
• Consultants and Entrepreneurs: Bring change to the commercial side of healthcare by designing products or consulting on accessibility and rehabilitation.

Occupational therapists at the doctorate level are not only consumers but also creators of innovative research, adding to the field's body of evidence and treatment methodologies. They take on roles as research scientists and university faculty members, influencing therapeutic modalities and informing the education of occupational therapy students.

Through training in both qualitative and quantitative methods, DrOT students will learn to understand the nuances of research design, appreciate the diversity of data analysis techniques, and value the impact of research findings on people's lives. This scholarly expertise allows them to publish influential papers, obtain grants for groundbreaking projects, and speak at industry conferences where their voices shape the future direction of OT practice.

The journey to a DrOT includes training in management and project design that will help graduates ascend to top-tier positions—program directors, administrators, and chief clinicians. The online DrOT gives a strategic understanding of healthcare systems and an appraisal of therapeutic delivery from a macro perspective. With a strong foundation in ethical, legal, and business aspects, you'll pursue decision-making roles that influence organizational policy and craft intervention frameworks at a grand scale.

Armed with a keen understanding of health policies and the socio-economic factors impacting access to care, these professionals are well-prepared for roles in policy-making institutions and advocacy groups. Their informed perspectives are instrumental in drafting new policies, restructuring existing healthcare models, and ensuring equitable service provision across populations.

For those drawn to academic pursuits, the online DrOT can open the door to a career in education. In these roles, students take on the mantle of educator, imparting knowledge, mentoring aspiring OTs, and shaping curricula that are responsive to the ever-changing demands of the healthcare domain. The impact of OT educators is two-fold: They drive the intellectual growth of students while simultaneously driving the pedagogical evolution within occupational therapy education, ensuring that new therapists enter the field with the most current and helpful training.