“The profession of occupational therapy is changing and there is a call for more leadership in the health care arena,” said Prof. Salvador Bondoc, chair of occupational therapy at Quinnipiac. “This is a postbaccalaureate program that enhances the graduate program offerings from the School of Health Sciences and the university.”

The full-time, intensive program will be the first entry-level professional doctorate in Connecticut. It is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to practice not just in traditional occupational therapy settings, but also in new or emerging areas in healthcare and the community. Doctorally-prepared occupational therapists possess the leadership, entrepreneurial and scholarly skills needed to innovate programs and contribute to teams in addressing the health of persons and populations.

Bondoc said that given the OT department’s track record with accreditation, he expects the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education to sign off on the program and allow Quinnipiac to admit students in December or January.

“We aim to have our first cohort of 20-24 students in May, 2020,” he said. “We are trying to be nimble as a department in response to the pillars of the university’s strategic plan. This program hopes to attack not only students traditionally drawn to Quinnipiac, but those from a variety of backgrounds and regions of the country as well.”