Welcome to the LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, LMU-Knoxville Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program. We are happy that you chose LMU to further your academic career. Consistent with the mission and purpose of LMU, the mission of the LMU-Knoxville OTD Program is to graduate critical thinking practitioners who lead the way in client-centered, evidence-based interventions through collaborative care to the individuals, communities, and populations of rural Appalachia and beyond. To obtain our mission, we have developed an innovative 36-month curriculum, supported by extraordinary faculty and staff members, who are devoted to preparing leaders in the occupational therapy profession.
The curriculum is robust in opportunities to better prepare you to graduate as a thriving entry-level occupational therapist. The curriculum includes a combination of learning activities, such as traditional lecture, small group discussion of client cases, simulated client encounters, client assessment and clinical skills laboratories, and gross anatomy laboratory sessions. During the Didactic Phase, occupational therapy is examined across the lifespan including pediatrics, adults, and geriatrics. The Program also places an emphasis on collaborative care, evidenced based practice, and clinical reasoning throughout the curriculum. During the Clinical Phase students apply concepts learned in the classroom to novel client encounters in a variety of occupational therapy settings.
Dedication and personal sacrifice are required for successful completion of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Upon matriculating, students are assigned a faculty advisor who will help them develop a plan for academic success and professional development. The faculty advisor will also serve as a resource for academic concerns. In addition, I encourage all students to share in each other’s academic and personal successes and to lean on classmates and Program faculty and staff when challenges arise.
Welcome to the LMU-OTD family! We are confident in your ability to become a compassionate and respected OT in the Appalachian region and beyond.
Sincerely,
Jason Hughes, PhD, MS, OTR
Program Director
LMU-Knoxville OTD Program