The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program is an advanced, post-professional online program designed to create occupation-based practitioners who will be ethical leaders of change in occupational therapy services for diverse populations. Graduates will serve in leadership roles, affect educational and health care policy, and act as catalysts for excellence in intervention settings in order to better meet the needs of occupational therapy consumers.
One of the final, culminating experiences in the OTD Program is the capstone project, which demonstrates a synthesis of OTD program outcomes. Incorporating principles of evidence-based and occupation-based practice, students address a specific healthcare problem or health outcome and implement practice changes that improve health care, health care delivery, or health-related outcomes. The project is a faculty-guided scholarly experience that provides evidence of critical thinking, and the ability to apply research principles through problem identification, proposal development, implementation, and evaluation of a solution to a practice problem. Capstone projects may take a number of forms, but the final product provides evidence of scholarship and mastery in the areas of leadership, research methods, and practice improvement.
Submissions from 2024
Resilience as a State, "A Learned Trait," Among the Brain Injury Population: A Narrative Analysis, Bailey Gifford
Inclusive SpOrTs Environments: Youth Gymnastics Coaches’ Perceptions on Promoting Inclusivity for Autistic Athletes, Alec D. Sheaffer
Submissions from 2023
Occupational Therapy Certified Hand Therapists' Perceptions of Remaining Rooted in Occupation in the Hand Clinic: A Phenomenological Study, Andrea E. Berke-McLaughlin
How do informal caregivers of a person with dementia experience stress and which supports help mitigate the effect of these stressors?, Kwandra Andrews Brinson
THE PERCEPTION OF STROKE ON IADL, Paula O. Buari
Exploring the Perceived Meaning of Community-Based Lifestyle Wellness Programs, Interprofessional Collaboration, and the Relationship to Occupational Therapy: A Phenomenological Approach, Christina Buchignani
Asynchronous Online Telehealth Training: Occupational Therapist’s Perceptions Of Knowledge and Confidence, Breanna L. Campbell
Skilled Nuring Facilities Therapists' Experiences with Acquiring Wheelchairs for Their Clients, Vincent Campbell
Professional Behaviors on the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation: Perspectives of Fieldwork Educators, Jessi S. Clark
Perceptions of Occupational Therapists Working in Established PACE Programs, Jessica L. Daugherty-Peters
Toothbrush Training for Preschool Teachers of Students with Level 3 Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cheryl D. Domino
Biofeedback and Anxiety Reduction: An Occupational Therapy Intervention for Persons with Long Covid, Colette Freda
Program evaluation of a community-based model for driver off-road assessment in post-acute ABI, Eugenia R. Herbst
A Pretest-Posttest Survey Study of Parent Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Occupational Performance Coaching on Caregiver-Child Play Occupations, Hailee B. Lewis House
The Impact of Brief Mindfulness Training on Occupational Therapy (OT) Students' Perceived Level of Stress, Emily K. Masters
Perceptions of Occupational Therapy Practitioners in Recognizing and Addressing Older Adult Food Insecurity, Mitzie Marion C. Mickelson
Enhancing Support Staff Self-Efficacy in Supporting Neurodiverse Students’ Classroom Engagement, Jennifer Molina
Client Perceptions on the Value of Pre-Surgical Education Regarding the Recovery Process after Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty, Alice J. Mullholand
Experiences of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury and Return to Work: A Scoping Review, Soofia Naqvi
BARRIERS TO SLEEP IN US ARMY SERVICE MEMBERS: A SCOPING REVIEW, Sally Paul
Administrators’ Perceptions of Alternative Service Delivery Models and the School-based Occupational Therapists’ Role, Kimberly Saccucci
Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perceptions of Workplace Stressors in One Nursing Home Post Pandemic, Owen T. Tabelisma
Don’t Forget the Importance of Leisure Occupations for the Community Dwelling Elder, Susan Witt
Submissions from 2022
Maintaining Occupations for Long-Term Care Residents, Lara Albano
Use of Concept Mapping Within a Functional Neuroanatomy Course to Promote Critical Thinking Skills in Occupational Therapy Students, Alissa R. Baker
Occupation and Time-Use: The Narratives of One Individual with Tetraplegia, Amanda Balser
Understanding Perceptions of Social Eating During Lunch for Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Instrumental Case Study, Madelyn Duzyk
Occupational Therapists’ clinical reasoning in AAT with dogs in pediatric therapy, Catherine C. Goodman
Understanding the Experiences of Occupational Therapists Assessing and Treating Functional Cognition Following Stroke, Emma R. Gregg
The Effects of Education with Healthcare Providers on Low Vision Assistive Devices and their Ability to Improve Self-Care Skills, Lora L. Jester-Rains
Interprofessional Collaboration Practice Between Nurses and Occupational Therapists, Kimberly Lamke
ImpACTing Students: Students with Disabilities Participating in a Theater Occupation-Based Program, Markii D. Landry
The use of compression to treat phlebolymphedema symptomology: A systematic review, Naomi Moran
Coaching, Capacity, and Change: Youth Sport Providers' Perceptions on Creating a Health-Promoting Environment, Jennifer Papenfuse
School-Based Practitioners' Perceptions of Working with Students with Challenging Behaviors, Candace Thrash
Submissions from 2021
The Impact of Volunteer Transportation on Older Adult’s Engagement in Meaningful Activities, Belinda Alexander
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Homecare Setting, Erica J. Arndt
Examining Cognitive, Social and Teaching Presence in a Virtual Professional Continuing Education Workshop, Christina Bretz
A Case Study of Children's Programming in Transitional Housing, Crystal L. Coffman
A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Handwriting Programs on Legibility in First Grade Students, Whitney Cook
Elementary Teachers' Perceptions of the Value of Collaboration with School-Based Occupational Therapists, Jennifer Edick
EFFECTIVENESS OF COLLABORATIVE HANDWRITING CURRICULUM: HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS AND ORTON-GILLINGHAM, IN KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM SETTING., Merry G. Harper
How Does Intraprofessional and Interprofessional Collaboration Impact the Use of Occupation-Based Practice in Skilled Nursing Facilities, Stedmon D. Hopkins
Get the Wiggles Out: Sensory Paths a Motor-based Intervention to Decrease Out-of-Seat Events in Preschool Children with Special Needs., Teresa Ludwig
THE ROLE OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN MANAGING DELIRIUM IN THE ICU: A RETROSPECTIVE CHART REVIEW, Veronique MUNIER
Does Pre-operative Education Increase Activity Participation and Decrease Perceived Arm Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Patients?, Stephanie R. Rexing
Parental Educational and Engagement Through Positioning and Play, Gaile E. Seay
Assistive Technology in Transition Programming for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Jennifer L. Veenendall
Occupational Therapists’ Consideration of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity when Working with Adolescents: An Exploratory Study, Kristin Willey
Therapists’ perceptions of student preparedness regarding hand therapy and the use of occupation-based interventions, Stephanie Ye
Understanding Parent Beliefs and Attitudes Regarding Healthy Relationships and Sexuality Education: Bridging the Inclusivity Gap, Marie C. Zarrilli
Submissions from 2020
Fieldwork Educator Preparedness: A Study Examining the Effect of an Online Learning Module on the Perceived Preparedness Levels of Fieldwork Educators, Breanna Chycinski
The Impact of Cooking Groups on One Individual's Transition to Independent Living, Alison Garcia
An Exploration of Financial Management Programming for Residents in One Homeless Shelter: A Qualitative Institutional Case Study, Amy M. Heiser
Best Practice for Teaching Manual Therapy Techniques to Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Deana K. Jackson
Occupational Engagement in Adults under age 65 living in Skilled Nursing Facilities (OEA-SNF), Rebecca A. King
Occupational Therapy: The Supports and Barriers to Practice, TAMMY LANE
ACE: A Recipe for Occupational Competence, Brittany J. Miller
Determining the Effect of Target Education on Students’ Cultural Responsiveness and Performance During Standard Patient Interactions, Rebecca Mojica
THE IMPACT OF MOBILE MEDIA ON THE FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS ENTERING INTO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, Bernadette H. Needham
Promoting Writing Development in Preschoolers, Claudia M. Ortiz
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SUPPORT IN THE KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM THROUGH RTI TIER I INTERVENTIONS: KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF NEED, Robyn R. Scarlett
The Impact of Parent Education with Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Kirsta von Hellens
Submissions from 2019
Parental Self-Efficacy of the “Unexpected Parent”, Cinthia L. Arbogast
Heart To Heart: Educating Allied Healthcare Students and Professionals About Heart Failure, Samantha M. Barefoot
Occupational Therapist-Led Parent Support Group Using an Occupational Therapy Approach, Sean Brim
The Role of Evidence-Based Practice in Alzheimer's Disease and/or Dementia, Laura Leigh Cole
Understanding Therapists' Perceptions of Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders Using the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool, Jaimie K. Estreet
Outcomes for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder (asd) Utilizing Adolescent Adaptive Life Skills Groups, Elizabeth A. Grant
Use of Self-Care Standardized Assessments in Occupational Therapy Skilled Nursing Home Practice, Courtney M. Green
The Impact of an Occupation Based Parkinson Caregiver Program on Caregiver's Quality of Life, Jennifer L. Labonte
The Impact of Education on Implementation of Mirror Box Therapy Across Occupational Therapy Practice Settings, Nicole Y. LaRue
The Home Health Aide Experience: Opportunities for Occupational Therapy, Julia Mindlina
Person-Environment Interactions: the Psychological Implications of Behaviors, Confidence, and Self-Efficacy in Falls Management., Lisa S. Roberson
What Stops Some Occupational Therapy Practitoners From Providing Fieldwork Education?, Jacqueline S. Schafer-Clay
Exploring Therapist Engagement Using Process Consultation, Rachel B. Spaide
Examining the Benefits of Educating Caregivers About Tummy Time in the Acute Care Setting, Alexandra L. Turner
Movement Opportunities Through Vestibular Engagement To Rhythm (mover), Lindsay B. Williams
Submissions from 2018
Occupational Therapy Intervention for Project Search Interns With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Potential for Improved Transition Outcomes, Jessie L. Bricker
Perceptions of ATP Certified Occupational Therapy Practitioners on Assistive Technology Education in Occupational Therapy Programs, Karen M. Dishman OTD, OTR, ATP
A Pilot Experimental Study of Adding the Copm To the Occupational Therapy Evaluation Process In the Swing-bed Division of A Rural Hospital Setting, Sarah T. Durbin Ms.
The Impact of Interactive Education on Caregivers Caring for Individuals With Dementia, Lisa K. Hong
Pre-Sleep Routines in Adult Normal Sleepers, Jean Koketsu
Nursing Perceptions of Occupational Therapy for Delirium Management in the Intensive Care Unit, Emma McClellan
Cognitive and Metacognitive Factors in Reading Comprehension for Occupational Therapy Assistant Students, Cynthia L. Meyer
Submissions from 2017
Sensory-based Group Treatment in Reducing Physically Acting-out Behaviors and Perceived Levels of Distress, Tiffany Barnette
Investigating the Effectiveness of Web-based Modules Reinforcing Therapy Topics for Caregivers involved in Early Intervention, Terri L. Beard MS, OTR/L
Investigating the Effectiveness of Web-based Recommended Practice Tutorials for Caregivers of Children in Early intervention Programs, Terri L. Beard
Opening Minds Through Art: Engaging Art Agencies To Foster Community Participation and Commitment, Ashlyn Cunningham
The Residency Program Experience: Impact on Resident and Mentor, Lisa Hiestand
