OTD Newsroom

At the 2025 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) INSPIRE Conference, Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) faculty members were honored for their outstanding contributions. Their dedication to advancing occupational therapy through leadership, research, and mentorship was celebrated with prestigious awards, solidifying Duke’s reputation as a leader in the field. AOTA Roster of Fellows Recognition

In September 2024, second-year OTD student Fatima Al-Arakbi Hernandez embarked on a transformative journey alongside four fellow Duke Health Professions Education (HPE) program students. United by a shared commitment to fostering peer well-being, they joined the Collaborative Peer Support Collective (the "Peer Collective") pilot program, funded by Duke AHEAD.

Emily M. D’Agostino, DPH, MS, MEd, MA, an associate professor in Orthopaedic Surgery and Population Health Sciences at Duke University, is leading groundbreaking research aimed at improving healthcare access for rural communities in North Carolina. Her efforts focus on innovative solutions, such as next-generation mobile medical clinics, which will address barriers like transportation and provider shortages.

The latest Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Huddle was a highlight of the semester. Students had the privilege of meeting Jason Albers, OTR, and drummer for the acclaimed band Flatland Cavalry. Albers joined the session to share his compelling story, captivating the audience with insights from his journey as an occupational therapist and a musician living with Tetramelic monodactyly, a rare genetic limb malformation resulting in a single digit on all four extremities.

Dr. Abigail Carroll, PhD, MS, OTR/L, has expertise centered around Changing Criterion Designs (CCDs)—a process-driven research methodology—which was the topic of her recent talk at the Interdisciplinary Rehabilitative Research Seminar Series. Her presentation, Occupational-Centered Inquiry: Practical Application of Theory and Changing Criterion Design Methodologies in Intervention and Education Research, captivated her audience with its depth and applicability.

Swimming has been a fundamental part of my life since I was nine. It has shaped me in ways that go beyond the pool, teaching me resilience, discipline, and the importance of working toward long-term goals.

As part of the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program, students complete a culminating capstone project and a 14-week immersive experience during their final year. This capstone provides an opportunity to apply coursework and fieldwork to collaborate with community partners and deepen knowledge in a specific practice area. Recent graduate Jisun Kim reflects on her journey, challenges, and the valuable lessons learned throughout the process.

The Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery recently welcomed a new IT analyst, Matthew Wilkinson, who joined the team this month to support faculty and staff with their technology needs. Matthew, originally from Oxford, has always had an interest in the computer field, which led him to pursue a degree in computer science at UNC Charlotte with a concentration in robotics, AI, and gaming. “During college, I had an internship at Duke in cybersecurity,” Matthew shared. “That experience inspired me to return to Duke full-time.”

Over 60 million Americans live in rural areas, yet only 12% of physicians practice in these communities. Rural families face significant barriers to healthcare, increasing the risk of chronic disease mortality from conditions like heart disease, cancer, trauma, lung disease, and stroke. Many patients in these areas also contend with comorbid conditions that require regular monitoring by qualified healthcare teams.

In December, a team of occupational therapy practitioners and students was invited to tour Raleigh's new King’s Ridge community ahead of its completion and opening. The property, developed and operated by CASA, is designed to provide affordable housing and support to help people exit homelessness. CASA’s mission is to offer stable housing in Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh, and King’s Ridge follows a permanent supportive housing model that ensures long-term stability for its residents.