HPU Doctor of Occupational Therapy - Honolulu Program
Hawai‘i Pacific University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program in Honolulu is Hawai‘i’s first and only occupational therapy doctoral program. Our urban campus is located in downtown Honolulu's vibrant and culturally diverse community. The lab space is situated at Waterfront Plaza, steps away from the Kaka‘ako restaurant row, beaches, and the Honolulu harbor. The Honolulu campus features a state-of-the-art simulation center, anatomy cadaver lab experience, access to advanced technology for assessment and intervention, real-life apartment space for clinical skill application, and a beautiful dedicated lab space that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
The curriculum and lab experiences are presented in an educational environment that mimics real-world therapy practices. The Honolulu program offers interprofessional education and collaboration opportunities with the Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Nursing, and Social Work programs. Our student experience is enhanced by the unique community partnerships in place which allow students to immerse themselves in Hawaiian culture. Faculty in this program are clinical experts and well-respected leaders and scholars at the locally, nationally, and internationally.
For kamaʻāina, studying at the Honolulu campus allows them to stay in Hawai‘i for school and continue to serve the community upon graduation. Students not residing in Hawaii, will travel to the Honolulu campus for hands-on learning and the opportunity to experience the natural wonders of Hawai‘i and the unique ‘ohana they’ll join.
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Opens: January 8, 2024
Application Deadline: December 2, 2024
Program Start: January 6, 2025
ACOTE Accreditation: Candidacy granted August 2023, full accreditation anticipated August 2025
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Spring A 2024 |
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Orientation c/o 2025 |
January 3-5, 2024 |
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Term Begins: |
January 8, 2024 |
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Holiday: Martin Luther King Day |
January 15, 2024 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
January 29, 2024 – February 9, 2024 |
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Term Ends: |
March 3, 2024 |
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Spring B 2024 |
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SPRING BREAK |
March 3 - March 10, 2024 |
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Term Begins: |
March 11, 2024 |
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Holiday: Kuhio Day (Observed) |
March 26, 2024 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
April 8, 2024 – April 19, 2024 |
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Term Ends: |
May 5, 2024 |
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Summer A 2024 |
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Term Begins: |
May 6, 2024 |
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Holiday: Memorial Day |
May 27, 2024 |
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Holiday: Kamehameha Day |
June 11, 2024 |
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Holiday: Juneteenth |
June 19, 2024 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion |
June 3, 2024 – June 14, 2024 |
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Term Ends: |
June 30, 2024 |
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Summer B 2024 |
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Term Begins: |
July 1, 2024 |
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Holiday: Independence Day |
July 4, 2024 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion |
July 29, 2024 – August 9, 2024 |
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Term Ends: |
August 25, 2024 |
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Fall A 2024 |
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Term Begins: |
August 26, 2024 |
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Holiday: Labor Day |
September 2, 2024 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
September 23, 2024 – October 4, 2024 |
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Term Ends: |
October 20, 2024 |
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Fall B 2024 |
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Term Begins: |
October 21, 2024 |
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Holiday: Veteran’s Day |
November 11, 2024 |
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Holiday: Thanksgiving |
November 28-29, 2024 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
December 2, 2024 – December 13, 2024 |
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Term Ends: |
December 15, 2024 |
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Spring 2025 – No Onsite for this cohort |
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Term Begins: |
January 6, 2025 |
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Holiday: Martin Luther King Day |
January 20, 2025 |
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Holiday: Kuhio Day |
March 26, 2025 |
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Term Ends: |
May 4, 2025 |
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Summer 2025 – No Onsite for this cohort |
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Term Begins: |
May 5, 2025 |
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Holiday: Memorial Day |
May 26, 2025 |
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Holiday: Kamehameha Day |
June 11, 2025 |
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Holiday: Juneteenth |
June 19, 2025 |
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Holiday: Independence Day |
July 4, 2025 |
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Term Ends: |
August 24, 2025 |
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Fall 2025 |
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Term Begins: |
August 25, 2025 |
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Holiday: Labor Day |
September 1, 2025 |
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Holiday: Veteran’s Day |
November 11, 2025 |
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Holiday: Thanksgiving |
November 27-28, 2025 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
December 8-14, 2025 |
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Term Ends & Program Completion c/o 2025 |
December 14, 2025 |
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Spring A 2025 |
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Virtual Orientation c/o 2026 |
January 2-3, 2025 |
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Term Begins: |
January 6, 2025 |
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Holiday: Martin Luther King Day |
January 20, 2025 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion (to include in-person orientation: |
February 2, 2025 – February 15, 2025 |
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Term Ends: |
March 2, 2025 |
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Spring B 2025 |
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SPRING BREAK |
March 3 - March 9, 2025 |
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Term Begins: |
March 10, 2025 |
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Holiday: Kuhio Day (Observed) |
March 26, 2025 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
April 7, 2025 – April 19, 2025 |
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Term Ends: |
May 4, 2025 |
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Summer A 2025 |
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Term Begins: |
May 5, 2025 |
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Holiday: Memorial Day |
May 26, 2025 |
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Holiday: Kamehameha Day |
June 11, 2025 |
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Holiday: Juneteenth |
June 19, 2025 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion |
June 2, 2025 – June 14, 2025 |
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Term Ends: |
June 29, 2025 |
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Summer B 2025 |
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Term Begins: |
June 30, 2025 |
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Holiday: Independence Day |
July 4, 2025 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion |
July 28, 2025 – August 9, 2025 |
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Term Ends: |
August 24, 2025 |
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Fall A 2025 |
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Term Begins: |
August 25, 2025 |
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Holiday: Labor Day |
September 1, 2025 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
September 22, 2025 – October 4, 2025 |
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Term Ends: |
October 19, 2025 |
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Fall B 2025 |
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Term Begins: |
October 20, 2025 |
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Holiday: Veteran’s Day |
November 11, 2025 |
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Holiday: Thanksgiving |
November 27-28, 2025 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
December 1, 2025 – December 13, 2025 |
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Term Ends: |
December 14, 2025 |
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Spring 2026 – No Onsite for this cohort |
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Term Begins: |
January 12, 2026 |
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Holiday: Martin Luther King Day |
January 19, 2026 |
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Holiday: Kuhio Day |
March 26, 2026 |
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Term Ends: |
May 10, 2026 |
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Summer 2026 – No Onsite for this cohort |
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Term Begins: |
May 11, 2026 |
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Holiday: Memorial Day |
May 25, 2026 |
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Holiday: Kamehameha Day |
June 11, 2026 |
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Holiday: Juneteenth |
June 19, 2026 |
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Holiday: Independence Day |
July 4, 2026 |
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Term Ends: |
August 30, 2026 |
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Fall 2026 |
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Term Begins: |
August 31, 2026 |
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Holiday: Labor Day |
September 7, 2026 |
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Holiday: Veteran’s Day |
November 11, 2026 |
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Holiday: Thanksgiving |
November 26-27, 2026 |
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Onsite Lab Immersion: |
December 8-14, 2026 |
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Term Ends & Program Completion c/o 2026 |
December 15, 2026 |
*Fees are subject to change
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Tuition |
$8,950 per each 8-week term (Year 1 = 6 terms) $17,900 per each 16-week term (Year 2 = 3 terms) |
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University required Fees* |
One-time graduate orientation fee assessed at program start: $100 All other fees are assessed at the start of Spring, Summer, and Fall terms Year 1 and Year 2 (or a total of 6 times)
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Program Required Fees* |
Student Kit: $1000 - one-time fee at program start Criminal Background Check: $100 Textbooks (estimated, up to $900) AOTA Membership: $75 Annually Computer Requirements: (estimated, variable $1,500) Health Insurance: ($2,500 estimated annually, variable) |
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Additional Anticipated Student Expenses (Estimated) |
Immersion and Fieldwork Lab Clothes: $300 NBCOT Exam Registration (end of Year 2): $550 Travel* |
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Total Estimated Cost of the Program |
$117,420 |
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TUITION |
$9,220 per each 8-week term (Year 1 = 6 terms) $18,440 per each 16-week term (Year 2 = 3 terms) |
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UNIVERSITY REQUIRED FEES |
Orientation Fee: $25 (one-time fee) Technology Fee: $50 (assessed per 16-week term/6 total terms) Online Care Fee: $20 (assessed per 16-week term/6 total terms) |
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PROGRAM REQUIRED FEES |
Student Kit: $600 - one-time fee at program start Criminal Background Check: $100 Textbooks (estimated, up to $900) AOTA Membership: $75 Annually Computer Requirements: (estimated, variable $1,500) Health Insurance: ($2,500 estimated annually, variable) |
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ADDITIONAL ANTICIPATED STUDENT EXPENSES |
Immersion and Fieldwork Lab Clothes: $300 NBCOT Exam Registration (end of Year 2): $550 Travel* |
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TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROGRAM |
$120,185 |
* Travel costs are the responsibility of the student and varies depending on transportation, lodging type, and food arrangements. The student will be required to travel to the Honolulu campus six times during the first year and once during the final year of the curriculum.
HPU OTD Honolulu will provide outcomes as this information becomes available.
ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. NBCOT Program data results are available here.
For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Faculty Scholarship Highlights January 2024 - June 2024
Aloha
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2023 ACOTE Standards OTD and OTM Degree Level Program Information Session. 104th Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Expo: Orlando, FL |
Patty Coker-Bolt |
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2024 WFOT Leadership and Innovation Award |
Jana Cason |
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2024 AOTA Recognition of Achievement Award |
Patty Coker-Bolt |
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2024 AOTA International Award |
Patty Coker-Bolt |
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2024 AOTA International Award |
Michael Falcon |
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Corcoran, S., Recigno, T, & VanWye, W.R. (2025). Leadership. In W.R. VanWye & D. Lunsford (Eds.), Health system management and policy (1st ed., pp. 158-176). Elsevier. |
Tracey Recigno |
Pono
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Grant application – submitted February 2024; Personnel development to improve services and results for children with disabilities—Preparation of related services personnel serving children with disabilities who have high- intensity needs. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education. Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.325R. |
Patty Coker-Bolt, Cindy Sears, Tracey Recigno, Jana Cason |
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Grant application – submitted February 2024; Intensive Therapies in Hawaiʻi and Underserved Regions - Logistics, Training & Outcomes. C-Progress Pilot Studies. |
Eme Hart, Patty Coker-Bolt |
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Coker-Bolt, P. & Hart, E. (2024). Updates on Pediatric Assessment: What You Should Know for Current Practice. South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association: Columbia, SC. |
Patty Coker-Bolt, Eme Hart |
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Hart, E. & Woodbury, M.L. (2024). Balance & visual search strategy in children after unilateral brain damage. Poster. 104th Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Expo: Orlando, FL. |
Eme Hart |
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Recigno, T.E., Bell, A., Ferraro, M. (2024, March 22). Exploration of student reflections using the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) as an intervention planning framework. 104th Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Expo: Orlando, FL |
Tracey Recigno |
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Recigno, T. E., Bell, A., & Ferraro, M. (2024). Exploration of Student Reflections using the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) as an Intervention Planning Framework. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 8 (1). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol8/iss1/18 |
Tracey Recigno |
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Grant application - National Network Library of Medicine’s Region 5 Technology Improvement Award |
Sabrina Thomas & Jana Cason |
Kuleana
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Sears, C., Chandley, K., Boyd, A., Blanton, S., & Bishop, E. (2024, March 23). Analysis of lived experiences of caregivers of individuals with chronic Illness. 104th Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Expo: Orlando, FL |
Cindy Sears |
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Pierce, S. (2024, February). Student admissions: Increasing underrepresented minority populations in the workforce. OT Practice, 29(2), 12-13. https://www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/secure/publications/otp/2024/otp-volume-29-issue-2-february-2024-feelings-of-friendship.pdf |
Sharniece Pierce |
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Pierce, S., & Sears, C. (2024, March 21). Developing a personal trait competency assessment for addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the OT admissions process. 104th Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Expo: Orlando, FL
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Sharniece Pierce & Cindy Sears |
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Coker-Bolt, P., Trucks, M.R., & Taylor, S. (2023). Expanding Pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy: A Mentorship Approach to Train Therapists in Trinidad and Tobago. Presentation, The Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapists (ACOT).
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Patty Coker-Bolt |
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McGloon K, Humanitzki E, Brennan J, Summers P, Brennan A, George MS, Badran BW, Cribb AR, Jenkins D and Coker-Bolt, P. (2024) Pairing taVNS and CIMT is feasible and may improve upper extremity function in infants. Front. Pediatr. 12:1365767. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2024.1365767
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Patty Coker-Bolt
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Walker, M. & Coker-Bolt, P. Promoting access to sport and leisure occupations for children with medical complexities through community partnerships and occupational analysis. 104th Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Expo: Orlando, FL |
Patty Coker-Bolt
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Compton, R.M., Coker-Bolt, P., & Woody, M. (2024). Complementary health approaches and integrative health’s (CHAIH’s) distinct value in occupational therapy. AOTA Special Interest Section Quarterly, Feb. 2024. https://www.aota.org/publications/sis-quarterly/mental-health-sis/mhsis-2-24
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Patty Coker-Bolt |
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Fralinger, C., Coker Bolt, P., Bennett, C., & Craig, S. (2023). Pilot study of animal assisted therapy provided in a student run pro bono clinic. Journal of Student-Run Clinics, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.59586/jsrc.v9i1.386
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Patty Coker-Bolt
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Sears, C. & Keener, A. (2024, January 25). Occupational therapy groups for addressing mental health challenges in school-aged populations: A tier II toolbox. Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association. Richmond, KY |
Cindy Sears |
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Sears, C., Egan, B., Tomsic, P. and Velozo, C. (2024). Item-level analysis of the revised occupational therapy fieldwork performance evaluation applied in practice. Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 12, 145-159. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=133316 |
Cindy Sears |
Kokua
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Cason, J., Collins, M., James, L., & Kaplan, L. (2024, March 21). Navigating academia: Tips from experienced faculty. 104th Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Expo: Orlando, FL |
Jana Cason |
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Humanitzki, L., Coker-Bolt, P., McGloon, K., Brennan, J., Cribb, S., Brennan, A., Summers, P., Badran, B., George, M., & Jenkins, D. Measuring fidelity of constraint-induced movement therapy delivery with combined neuromodulation (Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation). 104th Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Expo: Orlando, FL |
Patty Coker-Bolt
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Laulima
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Seamon, B. A., Sears, C. L., Anderson, E., & Velozo, C. A. (2024). Defining a universal measurement unit and scale for gross motor development. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 5, 1243336. https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2024.1243336 |
Cindy Sears |
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.