Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy Faculty and Adjunct Faculty
2021-2022
| Fort Wayne, Indiana Full-Time Faculty | Peoria, Arizona Full-Time Faculty |
| Jeanne Sowers, OTD, MA, OTR, CAPS, FAOTA | Evelyn Andersson, PhD, OTR/L |
| OTD Program Director (Indiana), Associate Professor | OTD Program Director (Arizona), Professor |
| Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CAS | Heidi A. Carpenter, OTD, OTR/L |
| Assistant Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator | Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Assistant Professor |
| Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM | Chelsey Edwards, OTD, OTR/L, CLT |
| Assistant Professor | Capstone Coordinator, Assistant Professor |
| Jill Linder, DHSc, OTR/L | Jennifer Muriithi, OTD, OTR/L |
| Assistant Professor | Assistant Professor |
| Andrew Rivera, OTD, OTR/L, AEP, CEIM | Emily J. Reilly, DHSc, OTR/L, ECHM, CLIPP |
| Assistant Professor, Doctoral Capstone Coordinator | Assistant Professor |
| Courtney Sasse, PhD, MA EDL, MS, OTR/L MA DPS | |
| Associate Professor | Adjunct Faculty |
| Nathan Short, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, CHT | Stephen C. Carnazzo, MDIV, OTR/L |
| OTD Assistant Director, Associate Professor | Cameron Judge, MS, OTR/L, CHT |
| Heather St. Peters, PhD | Scott Richardson, PhD, PT |
| Associate Professor | Patricia Steffen Sanchez, MS, OTR/L, BCP |
| Jamesdean Visely, OTD, OTR/L | Tara Wertsching-Wigal, OTD, OTR/L |
| Assistant Professor | |
| Part-Time Faculty | |
| Reagan Bergstresser-Simpson, OTD | |
| Joel Vilensky, PhD | |
| Adjunct Faculty | |
| Roger Hoversland, PhD | |
| LeAnn Schackow, OTD, OTR, CBI | |
| Julie Snyder, OTD, MOT, OTR, CSRS | |
Program Description
The entry level doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy (OTD), offered at Huntington University’s Parkview Hospital Randallia campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and at the Huntington University - Arizona site in Peoria, Arizona, provides students with the highest level of preparation for the field of occupational therapy. A doctorate in occupational therapy takes students beyond the generalist preparation of a master’s degree, providing additional exposure to specialty areas, research and experiential components for areas of specialization. The Huntington, Indiana, OTD program is one the first fully accredited, entry-level doctoral programs in the country. The Peoria, Arizona, OTD program builds upon this program and is currently in the applicant stage for the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The Huntington University OTD programs will qualify students to sit for the national certification examination in occupational therapy (NBCOT). Program candidates may apply for admission after completing a bachelor’s degree. Our goal is to provide a Christian learning environment where servant leadership is part of serving the health and wellness needs of others.
Coursework is completed over a three-year time span with in-depth learning in designated classrooms and laboratory space. The campus is embedded in a hospital and community health and wellness setting, giving close proximity for fieldwork and the experiential component (capstone). Students gain mastery skills in professional writing, assessment and intervention strategies, research, program development, management and leadership, professional behaviors and technology through guided learning experiences over the eight-term curriculum.