Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy Faculty and Adjunct Faculty
2020-2021
| Huntington, Indiana Full-Time Faculty | Peoria, Arizona Full-Time Faculty |
| Ruth Ford, EdD, MSBS, OTR/L, CLIPP, FAOTA | Evelyn Andersson, PhD, OTR/L |
| Associate Dean of Health Sciences, OTD Program Director (Indiana) | OTD Program Director (Arizona) |
| Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CAS | Chelsey Edwards, OTD, OTR/L, CLT |
| Assistant Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator | Academic Fieldwork Coordinator |
| Laura Gerig, PhD | Additional Faculty, TBA |
| Associate Professor | |
| Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM | Part-Time Faculty |
| Assistant Professor | TBA |
| Michelle Mays, OTD, CHT, PAMS, CEES | |
| Assistant Professor | Adjunct Faculty |
| Andrew Rivera, OTD, OTR/L, CLIPP | TBA |
| Assistant Professor, Capstone Coordinator (Fall Cohort) | |
| Nathan Short, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES | |
| OTD Assistant Director, Associate Professor | |
| Jeanne Sowers, OTD, MA, OTR, CAPS, CEES | |
| Associate Professor | |
| Jamesdean Visely, OTD, OTR/L | |
| Assistant Professor, Capstone Coordinator (Spring Cohort) | |
| Part-Time Faculty | |
| Reagan Bergstresser-Simpson, OTD | |
| Joel Vilensky, PhD | |
| Adjunct Faculty | |
| Roger Hoversland, PhD | |
| Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR | |
| Courtney Sasse, PhD, MA EDL, MS, ORT/L, MA DPS | |
| LeAnn Schackow, OTD, OTR, CBI | |
| Julie Snyder, OTD, MOT, OTR, CSRS | |
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.
The central themes of Huntington University’s Doctorate of Occupational Therapy programs are as follows:
- Personal and Professional Life Journey (modeling faith, health, leadership, scholarship and professional service)
- Global outreach (advocacy, health and wellness; missions; community and global service to underserved populations)
The mission of the occupational therapy programs at Huntington University is to equip doctoral students of occupational therapy to impact persons, groups, and populations utilizing occupation and evidence-based practice for quality of life, health, and well-being across the lifespan from a Christ-centered foundation.