April is National Occupational Therapy Month – a time to celebrate, acknowledge, and commend our provider and faculty’s exceptional clinical care, education, and research.
Occupational therapy focuses on optimizing what can be achieved in daily life. Its interventions use life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and participation in important activities. This includes meaningful activities a person wants to accomplish, including caring for themselves and their family, working, volunteering, attending school, and many others.
Understanding the critical nature of daily activities has been woven into treatments for centuries. In 100 BC, Greek physician Asclepiades used OT techniques to treat illness.
The Duke University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program offers innovative education, research, and collaborative opportunities affirming the occupation's vital role in human flourishing and health.
Led by founding division chief Barb Hooper, PhD, OTR/L, the Duke OTD program will graduate its first class this year (we welcomed its inaugural cohort of 40 students in August 2021) and received its accreditation earlier this year.
We celebrate these efforts this month and look forward to advancing occupational therapy practice, training, and research.
Please join me in celebrating National Occupational Therapy Month and recognizing the great work of all Duke occupational therapists and department members in our occupational therapy division!
All the best,
Ben