One afternoon last semester, the first 24 students in Des Moines University’s inaugural Doctor of Occupational Therapy program showcased a unique photo exhibition. The images captured the essence of “occupations” — not in the traditional sense of jobs, but as everyday activities that bring joy and fulfillment to life. The images ranged from intimate moments with family to the simple pleasures of participating in sports, playing games and picking apples.
All of the images reflected a shared reason the students chose occupational therapy as their career path.
“The focus is on a person’s quality of life, which is what I’m passionate about. It’s a holistic approach driven by the patient.”
— Emily Michaelis, O.T.D.’26.
DMU’s 33-month program, which holds candidacy status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, consists of eight terms of didactic coursework, fieldwork opportunities and a culminating doctoral capstone.
“Our students will continually revisit and build upon concepts to progress from knowledge to skills and experience,” says Diana Feldhacker, Ph.D., O.T.D., OTR/L, BCPR, program director and assistant professor. “The themes that guide our curriculum are occupation, professional reasoning, professional practice, scholarship, collaboration and innovation.”
Two pathways are available to students: an all-in-person model and a hybrid structure in which students watch class sessions via live-stream or recording and attend lab sessions on campus face-to-face. Michaelis chose the hybrid option so she could continue her job as an AmeriCorps leader and mentor. Classmate Tucker Aeschliman, O.T.D.’26, is on the in-person pathway. Initially interested in physical therapy, he applied to DMU’s O.T.D. program after shadowing a pediatric occupational therapist.
“I didn’t know what occupational therapy was, but in the first 15 minutes, I fell in love with it,” he says. “In occupational therapy, we help patients return to or engage in what they really want to do. The patient is the facilitator, and the therapist guides them in steps that enable them to do what’s fulfilling and meaningful.”
DMU’s New Campus Enriches O.T.D. Program
The university’s new campus enhances all of DMU’s degree programs with its interactive learning spaces, state-of-the-art laboratories and technology-rich environment. For O.T.D. students, learning studios with one-touch Zoom capabilities, multiple cameras and ceiling microphones support student learning in person and online.
The simulation center has 16 standardized patient exam and hospital-style rooms for real-world clinical experiences and a telehealth hub to train students to connect with and provide services remotely to patients, including in underserved and rural areas.
The home care lab in the Innovation building features a bedroom, kitchen, living room and bathroom spaces where students practice with assistive technology and adaptive equipment used in environmental intervention. Those tools include Amazon’s Astro robot (see page 1), which can be programmed to perform tasks, monitor blood pressure, issue reminders and send video and messages, and the Saebo virtual reality system, a computer-based, interactive and multisensory simulation environment that, with use, can stimulate recovery of motor skills in patients following stroke.
“Our equipment list is incredibly extensive,” Feldhacker says. “Our students utilize and learn about and with a variety of assistive devices, preparatory methods, adaptive equipment, evaluation equipment and other specialty equipment, such as those for neurological rehabilitation, safety, medically complex patients, complementary approaches and advanced areas of practice, including vision therapy, virtual reality and biofeedback training.”
A Closer Look At O.T.D. At DMU
From the outset, DMU’s O.T.D. program immerses students in practical occupational therapy, with fieldwork beginning as early as the second semester.
The faculty’s diverse expertise — including brain injury, ergonomic assessment, chronic disease self-management, pediatric treatment and driver rehabilitation — enriches the learning environment.
Unique stand-alone courses include population health and wellness, practical preparation for professional practice and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam as well as the National Alliance on Mental Health provider education program.
The program’s partnership with the University of Iowa’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program will allow qualified DMU O.T.D. students to enhance their leadership, clinical and interdisciplinary skills to serve underserved and marginalized populations with these disabilities.
The program offers competitive tuition rates and does not require a bachelor’s degree for entry. Qualified students also can earn a dual degree in health care administration or public health at DMU.
