Specialty Pathways
The Huntington University Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy (OTD) offers specialty pathways beyond the generalist curriculum to allow students to explore and gain experience in advanced areas of practice across the lifespan. Fast-track your career with threaded specialty content in the areas of pediatrics, hand therapy, older adult, and cross-cultural practice. Threaded experiences include additional classroom learning, special-interest clubs, collaborative research, clinical rotations, and doctoral capstone projects.
Specialty Pathway in Pediatrics
- Student-led organization
- NICU and early intervention special interest club
- Specialty presentations to prepare for early intervention and NICU practice, feeding challenges, and family-centered coaching
- Leadership opportunities
- Interdisciplinary networking with DPT program students
- Community-based advanced clinical training with faculty
- Pediatric continuing education opportunities that are American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) sponsored
- Collaborative research, presentations, and scholarly work
- Pediatric publication in the Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention
- Doctoral capstone projects with pediatric specialty focus
- Local and national opportunities to network with pediatric specialists
Specialty Pathway in Hand Therapy
- Student-led organization
- Hand and orthopedics special interest club
- Specialty modules
- Leadership opportunities
- Clinical integration
- Continuing education courses that are American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) sponsored
- Advanced custom orthotics
- Elective advanced anatomy program with cadaver dissection
- Collaborative research, presentations, and scholarly work
- Related publications in the Journal of Hand Therapy and Journal of OT Education
- National presentations at annual ASHT and AOTA meetings
- Multiple faculty specializing in hand therapy (CHT) and ergonomics (CEES)
- Hosted Matheson Ergonomic Course — earn credentials as a Certified Ergonomic Evaluator Specialist (CEES)
- Level II clinical rotations at top hand facilities in the country and related doctoral capstone projects
Specialty Pathway in Older Adult
- Establishing partnerships with the Parkview Health Center on Aging and Health as well as the Parkview Health Movement Disorder Clinic
- Integration of innovative technology addressing neurologic deficits of the adult and older adult population
- Specialized training in movement disorder treatment interventions impacting the older adult population
- Certification in CarFit Technician and Event Coordinator
- Collaborative research, presentations, and scholarly work
- Publications in Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation
- Research collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology
- Presentations at local, regional, and national conferences
- Related fieldwork and doctoral capstone opportunities serving the older adult population
Specialty Pathway in Cross-Cultural Practice
- Local and international service learning opportunities with underserved populations
- International clinical opportunities in Guatemala, Romania, and China across the spectrum of practice
- Collaborative research, presentations, and scholarly work
- Related publications in the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education and Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
- Local, state, and national presentations
- Clinical rotations with underserved populations
- International doctoral capstone opportunities
