DePaul University Occupational Therapy

Advocacy in action! 🗣️✨

Our DePaul OT students have spent the last few weeks connecting with local youth groups to spread the word about what occupational therapy is and why it matters. By introducing the profession at an early age, they’re helping spark curiosity in the next generation of healthcare heroes.

Shoutout to the groups who used the resources to bring their presentations to life! We love seeing our students advocate for the profession they love.

Huge congratulations to Sonja Gustafson Collins!

Sonja was recently named a recipient of the prestigious KOTT Scholarship for Gerontology! 🎓

Swipe through to see highlights from the dinner and award ceremony, where she presented her impactful research on addressing life transitions and occupational wellness for Chicagoland older adults.

We are incredibly proud of your hard work, dedication, and the amazing impact you’re making in the community, Sonja! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next. 💙❤️

We had such an amazing time this past weekend! The DePaul OT program teamed up with our friends from the Speech-Language Pathology program for a combined Field Day! ☀️

We had a wonderful time together at OZ Park, filled with sunshine, laughter, and a bit of friendly competition. It was the perfect way to connect and unwind and was truly a great time. We can’t wait to do it again!



Image Description: a group of DePaul OT and SLP students gathered together at Oz Park for a field day.

From the Windy City to sunny Anaheim!☀️

Our DePaul OT students and faculty had an unforgettable week at the AOTA 2026 Annual Conference.

We filled our schedules with inspiring presentations, insightful guest speakers, and the powerful Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture. A major highlight was the opportunity to meet and hear from AOTA President, Arameh Anvarizadeh!

Connecting with fellow OT Professionals and students from across the country reminds us why we love this dreamy profession. Our students came back to Chicago with fresh perspectives and a lot of passion for OT!

Huge thank you for the memories!🫶 Next stop: Boston for



Image Description: 9 photos of DePaul OT students gathered together smiling at the AOTA conference in California.

Last week, our DePaul OT students stepped into the simulation lab for an Interdisciplinary Education (IPE) session. Alongside our peers in Nursing, SLP, and Clinical Psychology, we navigated a complex stroke recovery scenario.

In the fast-paced environment of acute care, collaboration is a necessity!

Together we practiced:

Interprofessional Assessment: Taking turns to evaluate the patient’s physical, cognitive, and communicative needs.

Shared Information: Working together to build a full picture of the patient’s status.

Holistic Care: Seeing firsthand how OT, Nursing, SLP, and Psych overlap to support a patient after a stroke.

So grateful for these hands-on opportunities to learn with (and from) our future colleagues!



Image description: A group of students standing close together after completing an IPE acute care simulation.

Last week, our DePaul OT cohort dove into the world of electrotherapy! We spent our lab time practicing NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation) on the upper extremity. This tool allows us to help clients “re-train” muscles after injury by using electrical impulses to trigger contractions. It’s all about finding that perfect placement to maximize functional outcomes!



Image Description: 2 students practicing putting on electrodes for NMES

We had an amazing time at our Alumni Association Kickoff Event! 🎉

It was great connecting with members of the DePaul University OT community and celebrating the start of something special.

We’re excited to keep building strong relationships with our incredible alumni and growing this network together!



Image description: a group of DePaul OT alumni standing together with current DePaul OT faculty

Last week, we celebrated a special milestone for our second-year students at the DePaul OT Pinning Ceremony! 🎉

This meaningful tradition recognizes their hard work and dedication as they prepare to begin their Level II fieldwork experiences. The ceremony also marks an important transition from the classroom to hands-on practice, where students will apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings while continuing to grow as future occupational therapy practitioners. As they take this next step in their journey to becoming occupational therapists, we are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished.

We wish them the best as they head into fieldwork and continue making an impact through occupational therapy! 💙