OTD Newsroom

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

During their third year in Duke’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program, students participate in two full-time, 12-week fieldwork experiences. My rotations included working in acute care at Novant Presbyterian Medical Center and in outpatient pediatrics at Integration Station, both located in Charlotte, NC.

Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students complete a culminating capstone project and 14-week experience during their third and final year of the program. The capstone aims to draw on Duke OTD courses and experiences to collaborate with and support a community partner and gain in-depth knowledge in a specific practice area. Third-year student Maddie Lira shares how her project is progressing.

How can assistive technology turn barriers into bridges? In OTD 601: Occupation and Technology, students examine this essential question while gaining a thorough understanding of the complex relationship between technology, occupation, and well-being. This innovative course teaches future occupational therapists (OTs) how technological solutions can either improve or hinder daily activities, directly affecting their clients' health and quality of life.

When students have questions about technology, they have a reliable expert to consult. Khalil Barnett, IT analyst, has recently joined our Doctor of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Doctorate programs to support student needs.

Duke recently hosted Dustin Grooms, PhD, ATC, a professor from Ohio University, for an insightful presentation on the role of neuroplasticity in rehabilitation following ACL injury.