VCU Occupational Therapy - College of Health Professions

Last week, our Class of 2029 kicked off their first didactic year! 🎉🎉🎉 Orientation activities included learning more about expectations and professional responsibilities, getting to know each other, and discovering their Clifton Strengths 🧠💪. We are so excited to support them as they begin their journey to becoming OTs! 🧩

Our grad 2’s had their first class of their second year this week! They learned about all things leadership with topics ranging from their leadership style and strengths to hearing about possible capstone opportunities. There were also lots of laughs during the team building activities!

Huge congratulations to VCU OTD Class of 2026!! 🎉🥳 We are so beyond proud of every single one of you. You all have accomplished so much these past 3 years and have a very bright future ahead! 🤩👏🏻 Give it up to these occupational therapists and doctorate graduates!!💛🖤💛🖤💛

Our class of 2026 students had their capstone poster fair yesterday where they showcased their 14-week capstone projects. 📝 It is so rewarding to see everyone’s hard work come to fruition! Each student engages in a doctoral capstone experience during the spring semester of their third year, where they spearhead a project in either the community, research, or education track. Students work with faculty and/or community mentors on their needs assessment, program development and implementation, outcome evaluation, and develop sustainability plans for the impact to continue in the future. A valuable experience to give back to the community and push the OT field forward🤗

Class of 2026 student Sydney Hilovsky is applying occupational therapy in an innovative way through aquatic therapy. Through her doctoral capstone project, she developed an adaptive swimming program supporting children with autism in building water safety skills and confidence. This work demonstrates the meaningful, real-world impact of occupational therapy in promoting participation and independence!

Sydney is a part of the OTD-PhD dual degree program and will graduate with her OTD this month. She plans to continue expanding this work as she progresses through her PhD.

Full story: https://www.news.vcu.edu/article/class-of-2026-sydney-hilovsky-takes-occupational-therapy-to-the-pool-for-children-with-autism

Congratulations to our Grad 2 students on finishing their didactic coursework! We’re so proud of all your hard work over the past two years. Good luck with Level II Fieldwork - you’re going to do amazing things!

Our students and faculty had an awesome time in California last week attending the annual AOTA conference! 📝 Students attended workshops and education sessions, tried out different up and coming OT products, and talked to vendors in the industry -- a great way to enrich the knowledge learned in the classroom, bridging the gap between classroom and practice. Many of our faculty, students, and alumni also presented their posters to disseminate findings of their research. ✨ They also paid a special visit to our professor Dr. Stacey Reynolds at her AJOT Editor-in-Chief booth 📚

The department sponsors a group of students to attend the AOTA conference every year and it has become a highlight for many students’ education here at VCU OT.

COTAD hosted an AAPI “Night” Market today to celebrate different Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures! ✨ Students learned about food cultures, ADL differences, showed off their chopstick skills, and learned the traditional Tinikling folk dance from the Philippines. 🕺