OTD Newsroom

In August, the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate program welcomed 45 new students who entered the three-year program. Members of the Class of 2026  bring a wide range of lived experiences contributing to a rich learning environment. They hail from states across the nation and represent a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. Here are just a few: 

  Dr. MaryBeth Gallagher is an assistant professor in Orthopaedic Surgery and an occupational therapist and occupational scientist with over 25 years of teaching experience. She joined the OTD program after working at UNC Hospitals where she was a clinical specialist in mental health and a mentor on the AOTA Fellowship in Mental Health.

The Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate Division team is hosting several events to provide prospective students with opportunities to learn more about the program and the admissions process.   INFO SESSIONS Duke OTD hosts virtual Information Sessions for prospective students monthly from August to November.

What excites you about this role at Duke? Duke, for me, is a chance to work in my community. I have lived in Durham for five years but for all that time, I have been working in Wake County. When I decided to leave teaching, I knew I still wanted to help students grow and that I wanted to do that in the same place I called home. The OTD program is the perfect space to fulfill both of these values.  Where did you earn your degree(s)?

https://medschool.duke.edu/interdisciplinary-rehabilitation-research-se…

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is at the center of efforts to make low-vision rehabilitation resources more accessible for the growing number of people who need them.

Dr. Antoine Bailliard is an associate professor in orthopaedic surgery. As a member of the OTD faculty, he teaches Occupational Science and Occupational Transitions and works with OTD students on Customized Learning Projects. He's also a bridge builder and advocates for moving OTs into community health settings to better serve the growing number of individuals with mental health needs. He was recently appointed as a faculty member at the Star Institute for Sensory Processing in Denver.

Forty-five new Occupational Therapy Doctorate students participated in an inspiring Convocation ceremony on Friday, August 11. The OTD ceremony marked and celebrated the new students’ entry into the program and concluded a week filled with orientation activities.

Duke OTD’s Tomeico Faison OTD, OTR/L and Kimberly Hreha, EdD, OTR/L joined colleagues from Duke Eye Center’s Vision Rehabilitation and Performance Division at the International Society of Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation (ISLRR) Conference in Denver, Colorado, held July 24-27. 

"As a community-engaged social epidemiologist, I am dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives by promoting equitable access to health, with a special focus on partnering with community organizations to support underserved populations."