As part of its commitment to advancing integrated healthcare, The Chicago School introduced a new Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program and will welcome its first cohort in fall 2027. The hybrid doctoral program expands the university’s healthcare education offerings and is designed to prepare occupational therapists for a changing healthcare environment.
“Occupational therapists play an important role in helping people participate more fully in their daily lives, and the profession continues to evolve alongside the broader healthcare landscape,” said Timothy Holley, DHSc, OTR/L, program chair. “The program will not only prepare students for clinical practice but also equip them to work collaboratively across disciplines, use emerging technologies, and respond to the needs of individuals and communities they serve.”
The three-year hybrid program will combine online learning with hands-on training, fieldwork, and on-campus experiences at The Chicago School’s Chicago Campus. Students will participate in both asynchronous coursework and synchronous virtual instruction, along with six one-week on-campus immersions during the first two years. Immersions will focus on clinical reasoning and hands-on skills, including simulation-based learning, standardized patient encounters, splinting and adaptive equipment, and interprofessional collaboration. In the final year, students will complete 24 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork and a 14-week doctoral capstone experience that provides an opportunity to develop advanced skills in a focused area, such as clinical practice, research, leadership, policy, advocacy, or community-based practice.
The curriculum is organized around five curricular threads/themes that run throughout the program: human-centered technology and digital health; interprofessional practice and team-based care; equity, inclusion, and occupational justice; holistic health and well-being; and leadership, advocacy, and professional identity. Rather than treating technology as a single course, the program integrates assistive technology, telehealth, wearables, and other digital health tools across the curriculum, with an emphasis on when and how technology best serves each client.
The OTD expands The Chicago School’s growing portfolio of healthcare programs, which includes the Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine and the university’s long-standing programs in psychology and behavioral health.
Occupational therapy is among the fastest-growing fields in healthcare, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 15 percent job growth through 2035. Demand of occupational therapy continues to rise as older adults, children with developmental needs, individuals recovering from illness or injury, and those managing chronic conditions seek services that support development, independence, recovery, and participation in everyday life.
The program is currently seeking accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®). Additional information about the program is available at thechicagoschool.edu/programs/medicine/otd.