NEWS
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma College of Allied Health celebrated the graduation of its first class of doctoral-level occupational therapy students this month. The OU program is the first accredited occupational therapy doctoral program in the state of Oklahoma. The program, which serves students in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, was recently changed from a master’s program to a doctoral program in order to widen opportunities for graduates in the future.
“We wanted our graduates to have the option to do more than serve in clinical roles,” said Mary Isaacson, recently retired OT program director who led the initial change. “We envisioned them as leaders and educators addressing Oklahoma’s growing community needs. Moving to a doctoral program was a natural fit, aligning with national trends and preparing students to practice at the top of their license in both traditional and emerging settings.”
The American Occupational Therapy Association has emphasized the importance of occupational therapists working in unconventional settings such as mental health facilities and nonprofit work. This higher level of license enables OU graduates to fill these positions and pursue additional research and academic opportunities, equipping them to become leaders in their field.
Research and leadership training are a significant part of what sets an OT doctoral degree apart from a master's degree. Postgraduate students spend time focusing on research and learning what it takes to not only practice clinically, but to lead other practitioners.
“Clinically doctoral students are trained in the same way as master's students are. However, where it differs is in that next level of thinking,” said Jerilyn Callen, new director of the occupational therapy program at OU. “Through this program, they are prepared to become directors and open their own clinics because they’ve spent time researching and watching other professionals who have done that very thing.”
Heidi Young, occupational therapy graduate who served as class president for the first graduating class of doctoral level students, describes how her experience with the enhanced program helped her grow. She related how the experience included challenges and opportunities in navigating a new normal for students, faculty and staff, but that, ultimately, it has shaped her into a capable and resilient practitioner.
“The combination of rigorous research and hands-on clinical training has made me a more well-rounded and confident practitioner, better prepared to thrive after graduation,” Young said.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
University of Oklahoma researchers have created a new drug delivery system that helps cancer cells take in much more of a treatment, improving its ability to kill tumors. “The delivery system is like a Trojan horse,” said Joshua Seaberg, Ph.D., the doctoral student who created the system.
Two communication researchers from the University of Oklahoma and the University of Connecticut have published a study examining how religious missionaries readjust to their old surroundings. Their findings provide insight into how people get through significant life transitions.
The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine has announced the appointment of T.R. Lewis, M.D., as associate dean for student affairs, effective Jan. 25, 2026, pending approval by the OU Board of Regents.
