RockhuRst univeRsity 2012–2014 catalog

Department ofOccupational Therapy (OT)ProfessorAssistant ProfessorAssistant Professor/Academic Fieldwork CoordinatorKris Vacek, OTD, OTR/L (Chair)Katherine Ryan, Ph.D., OTR/LMylene Schriner, Ph.D., OTR/LMary Jane Youngstrom, M.S., OTR/LLiz Zayat, M.S., OTR/LOccupational therapy (OT) is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enablespeople of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them to promote health and prevent—orlive better with—illness, injury or disability. Occupational therapists worktogether with the client to design strategies for everyday living and customize environmentsto develop and maximize their potential to lead independent, productive, andsatisfying lives. Today’s therapists work in a variety of settings including clinical practice,administration, education, research and private practice.Our vision is to make a difference in the lives of our students and the academic andprofessional communities we serve through an educational experience that supports, challenges,and mentors learning, leadership, and service. Rockhurst’s Department of OccupationalTherapy builds on this Jesuit tradition by combining a strong foundation in theliberal arts and sciences with a professional master’s curriculum emphasizing critical thinking,problem solving, and ethics. These themes, integrated throughout the curriculum,culminate in the student’s ability to clinically problem solve in traditional and emergingpractice settings.As an OT student at Rockhurst, you will have the opportunity to contribute to thecommunity’s health and wellness, conduct research with a mentor, present findings atstate and national meetings, manage and staff a student-run free health clinic and completefieldwork assignments at clinical sites across the country.The OT Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for OccupationalTherapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 4720Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; (301)-SAY-AOTA.Graduates of the Program will be able to sit for the National Certification Examinationfor the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification inOccupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individualwill be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure inorder to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOTCertification Examination. When you apply to take the certification examination withNBCOT, you will be asked to answer questions related to the topic of felonies. For furtherinformation, you can contact NBCOT at 800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200,Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150, (301) 990-7979.318