Amplify Your Impact: Careers with an OT Doctorate
Amplify Your Impact: Careers with an OT Doctorate

CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Bringing forth a new era of patient care and occupational therapy service, the online Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (DrOT) marks the next step of a career that is both personally and professionally rewarding. Bradley University's DrOT program is designed to offer a wide spectrum of OT professional growth opportunities, heralding an era of strategic leaders who will guide the profession's future.

EXPANDING HORIZONS 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.

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CORE COURSE HIGHLIGHT

Professional Engagement in OT

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

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GRADUATES WITH AN OT DOCTORATE CAN TAKE ON INFLUENTIAL ROLES SUCH AS:

  • 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.

TAKE YOUR CAREER AND STUDENTS FURTHER

Eager to elevate your occupational therapy career? Bradley’s Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy online can help you take the first step toward becoming an influential educator or thought leader in the field of OT. Fill out the form to receive more information.

Discover Your Next Step

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Bradley University is authorized to deliver online programs to US citizens and permanent residents residing in the United States. International students are encouraged to inquire about on-campus opportunities by visiting Bradley University International Admissions.

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ELEVATING RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

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.

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OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY LEADERSHIP

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.

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ADVOCACY AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD

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.

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EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF OTs

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.

MOVING OT FORWARD

In Bradley University’s comprehensive program students will discover the synergistic interplay between therapy and advocacy, research and practice, and education and innovation. This approach paves the way for students to build a specialized career in the field.

A doctorate in OT is a significant investment in your future—a launchpad for a career that can advance occupational therapy worldwide.

ADMISSIONS DATES AND DEADLINES

Spring 2025

Nov
15
Final Application Deadline
November 15, 2024
Spring 2025
Jan
22
Start Date
January 22, 2025
Spring 2025

Summer 2025

Apr
15
Final Application Deadline
April 15, 2025
Summer 2025
May
21
Start Date
May 21, 2025
Summer 2025

Fall 2025

Jul
20
Final Application Date
July 20, 2025
Fall 2025
Aug
27
Start Date
August 27, 2025
Fall 2025

TRANSFORM YOUR FUTURE WITH BRADLEY’S DrOT PROGRAM

Bradley University has engaged Everspring, a leading provider of education and technology services, to support select aspects of program delivery.