College of Health and Human Services

OTD Program Mission & philosophy

Mission

The Occupational Therapy Doctoral program’s mission is to improve the human condition through occupation by: (1) preparing doctoral-level practitioners who integrate occupational therapy theory, research, and practice; and (2) leading the profession through education, service, research, and advocacy.

Philosophy of Occupation

Occupation

Consistent with the current published philosophical statements published by the profession (AOTA, 2015a, 2017), occupation involves doing things that are meaningful and purposeful by the individual. For example, preparing a meal, playing a game, washing a car, completing a school assignment, and finishing a task at work are all occupations of daily life. Indeed, we can think about a person's life as a stream of occupations engaged in by the individual. To a great extent, we are what we do. Further, occupation actually shapes our character and our health.  Occupation characterizes the dignity and uniqueness of humanity. Because of its focus on occupation, the profession of occupational therapy has a vital and unique mission in health care.

OTD Values
The OTD program is firmly rooted in core values (AOTA, 2015b). Derived from occupational therapy philosophy and graduate educational philosophy, these values commit the OTD student to the following:

• An unshakable belief in the inherent dignity of the person
• A holistic conception of the occupational nature of the human being
• Adherence to the profession’s Code of Ethics (AOTA, 2015b)
• The use of advanced cognitive abilities, including professional reasoning
• The understanding of the importance of empathy in clinical practice and in professional life
• A willingness to learn from and teach others, including peers
• The ability to engage in mentoring relationships
• Self-directedness and ownership for learning and behavior

In conclusion, the OTD student is a collaborator in a social movement dedicated to the advancement of the profession of occupational therapy. Those in need of therapeutic occupations will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the contributions of occupational therapists educated in UT's OTD program.

References:
National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy. Certificate of Incorporation of the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy. Incorporated in the District of Columbia and notarized by James A. Rolfe in Clifton Springs, New York, March 15, 1917.

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2015a). Philosophy of occupational therapy education. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(Suppl. 3), 6913410052. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.696S17

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2015b). Occupational therapy code of ethics (2015). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(Suppl. 3), 6913410030. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.696S03

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2017). Philosophical base of occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(Suppl. 2)