Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy Faculty and Adjunct Faculty

2022-2023

Fort Wayne, Indiana Full-Time FacultyPeoria, Arizona Full-Time Faculty
Jeanne Sowers, OTD, MA, OTR, CAPS, FAOTAEvelyn Andersson, PhD, OTR/L
     OTD Program Director (Indiana), Associate Professor     OTD Program Director (Arizona), Professor
Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CASHeidi A. Carpenter, OTD, OTR/L
     Assistant Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator     Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Assistant Professor
Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIMChelsey Edwards, OTD, OTR/L, CLT
     Associate Professor     Capstone Coordinator, Assistant Professor
Jill Linder, DHSc, OTR, CBIS, CSRSJennifer Muriithi, OTD, OTR/L
    Assistant Professor     Assistant Professor
Andrew Rivera, OTD, OTR/L, AEP, CEIMEmily J. Reilly, DHSc, OTR/L, ECHM, CLIPP
    Assistant Professor, Doctoral Capstone Coordinator     Assistant Professor
Nathan Short, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, CHT 
     OTD Assistant Director, Associate ProfessorAdjunct Faculty
Heather St. Peters, PhDStephen C. Carnazzo, MDIV, OTR/L
     Associate ProfessorCamerion Judge, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Jamesdean Visley, OTD, OTR/L, ATP, ECHMScott Richardson, PhD, PT
     Assistant ProfessorPatricia Steffen Sanchez, MS, OTR/L, BCP
 Tara Wigal-Wertsching, OTD, OTR/L
Part-Time Faculty 
Joel Vilensky, PhD 
  
Adjunct Faculty 
Reagan Bergstresser-Simpson, OTD 
Roger Hoversland, PhD 
Carson Mohler, OTD, OTR 
  

Program Description

The entry level doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy (OTD), offered at Huntington University’s Parkview Hospital Randallia campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and at the Huntington University - Arizona site in Peoria, Arizona, provides students with the highest level of preparation for the field of occupational therapy. A doctorate in occupational therapy takes students beyond the generalist preparation of a master’s degree, providing additional exposure to specialty areas, research and experiential components for areas of specialization. The Huntington, Indiana, OTD program is one the first fully accredited, entry-level doctoral programs in the country. The Peoria, Arizona, OTD program builds upon this program and is currently in the applicant stage for the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The Huntington University OTD programs will qualify students to sit for the national certification examination in occupational therapy (NBCOT). Program candidates may apply for admission after completing a bachelor’s degree. Our goal is to provide a Christian learning environment where servant leadership is part of serving the health and wellness needs of others. 

Coursework is completed over a three-year time span with in-depth learning in designated classrooms and laboratory space. The campus is embedded in a hospital and community health and wellness setting, giving close proximity for fieldwork and the experiential component (capstone). Students gain mastery skills in professional writing, assessment and intervention strategies, research, program development, management and leadership, professional behaviors and technology through guided learning experiences over the eight-term curriculum.