A Deep Dive into the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program

Join Tara Schumacher, assistant director of Admissions at Salus University, as she does a question-and-answer session with Caitlyn Foy, DOT, MOTR/L, CLA, director of the University’s Post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) program.

Schumacher: Dr. Foy, how long have you been at Salus and where did you go to undergraduate and graduate school? And, why did you choose to become an occupational therapist?

Foy: I have been at Salus for 10 years, so that's very exciting for me to hit the 10-year mark. It was a brand-new Occupational Therapy (OT) program when I first started here at Salus, and we didn't even have accreditation at that time. We've really grown, and we now have a post-professional OTD program and it's exciting to see the department grow. When I was in grad school, I went to Temple University and I received my master's of occupational therapy, then went back for my post-professional OTD almost immediately because I really didn't want to lose my student mode. I was used to writing papers and used to managing my time well as a student.

And so, I wanted to keep going. I also thought the OTD would open additional doors for me in my career - it really did. So, I'm very glad that I went back as soon as I did, because I don't think I would've been able to transition into academia as easily. I have no regrets and I'm glad that was my path. One of the nice things too that I liked about having my master's degree and then going back for my post-professional OTD was that I could start working right away.

It helps to make a paycheck and start chipping away at student loans and I knew where I was working, I was settled in at work. Sometimes there's employers who help with tuition reimbursement, so that's always helpful too for new grads if someone is helping you pay for your doctorate. And, another thing was, I wasn't just hopping on to a faculty member's capstone project. It was my capstone project. I knew what I was working on. I knew what topic would help excel me in my career. I know that sometimes when you're in an entry-level OTD, you don't really know where you're working yet. You haven't actually worked in the field with a license. And, sometimes the capstone can be suggested to you and not your own idea. So I really love that for post-professional OTD students here at Salus the capstone is all theirs with the support of mentors.

Schumacher: Can you tell me more about the OTD program, especially the specialties that it covers?

Foy: We have two advanced specialty tracks. We have remedial vision rehabilitation, which is taught all by Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD ‘16, FAAO, dean of research and director of Graduate Programs in Biomedicine at Salus. And, then we have our health and wellness track, almost all of which is taught by Andrea Tyszka, OTD ‘18, MS, OTR/L, SIPT, associate professor in the OT department.

For the OTD program, almost all of our students are working full-time and balancing work, life, family, you name it. You can complete the OTD in as little as 16 months. You can chip away at it a little bit slower over 27 months if you prefer. And, we do have some students who are in a five-year plan, and they take one to two courses per year. That allows them to work on other projects. Some of them are working full-time and have per diems, or positions in other places. And, some students are lucky enough to have employers help pay for their tuition and so that's helpful for them to slowly take it over five years so their employer can help with the tuition cost.

Schumacher: What are the OTD classes like? Are they completely online or are they in-person?

Foy: You can complete the entire OTD online. For two of the remedial vision rehabilitation specialty tracks, we do recommend students come join us on our beautiful campus in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. That way they can learn hands-on skills from Dr. Scheiman. That's really the way that it's meant to be learned. We're very aware everyone's working full-time and we don't want you to bankrupt your vacation, so if you can come to campus, it's two five-day workshops. There's one at the end of April and there's one at the end of August, and it spans over the weekend, too. So again, you don't have to use all of your vacation days (if you are working).

Schumacher: Can you tell us who should apply for the certificate program? And, then the second part would be who should apply to the doctorate program?

Foy: We do believe that not everyone needs a doctorate in occupational therapy. That's why we are a dual-entry profession. You can enter as a master's or enter with an entry-level doctorate. Trends have shown that not everyone requires a doctorate. Not everyone's going to conduct research, the leadership piece. However, for students who are looking to be a leader in the profession, maybe a leader at their institution, maybe they want to be a clinical mentor, a director, work in school districts, sometimes a higher degree can help your salary for anyone who is interested in instructing or becoming an academician or a professor one day. So, if you're looking for more than the typical staff therapist position where you're treating clients and you're looking for a leadership position, or maybe you want to be an entrepreneur and start your own private practice. Those are all skills that we will teach in the post-professional OTD. For anyone who is looking for that next level, I would highly recommend to apply for the post-professional OTD.

Schumacher: And, what type of clinical opportunities are available at Salus?

Foy: For the OTD, we do not require a clinical component. However, we do have the two five-day workshops where you can come in and work with Dr. Scheiman for the remedial vision rehabilitation certificate or specialty track. And, then you can learn hands-on skills from Dr. Scheiman himself.

Schumacher: What type of financial aid is available for the OTD program?

Foy: For financial aid, if you are looking to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and perhaps take out a government loan, we do highly recommend that students complete the 16-month pace. That way you are taking six credits per semester, and then you're considered a part-time student. So you would be eligible for government student loans. I know that some students in the past have been interested in the certificate. However, for government student loans you need to be enrolled in a degree program. Now the advanced specialty courses, if you take them as a certificate, that's 12 credits, and you can also take them as part of the 30-credit OTD, so that can all count toward your OTD program. And, we've had many students who came to enroll in the certificate and they really enjoyed the program, really enjoyed the faculty, and then they transitioned into an OTD student and then they graduated with their OTD just a year later.

Schumacher: Now, as you said earlier, a lot of people do work full-time while they're doing this program. What are some services we offer here at Salus to help students as they are completing a doctorate program as well as working full-time?

Foy: Oh, we have so many resources for our students and because many of our students are online, we have students from Canada, we have students from Asia, etc. There are a lot of resources that they can use online. Our Learning Resource Center is fantastic and you can just ask the librarians for assistance. We have the Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), which has been wonderful with those transitioning back into the student role, helping with time management and study strategies and all sorts of things.

Schumacher: What are some things you can do outside of academics at Salus? Do you have job placements and a referral service?

Foy: Our OTD alumni have really had a lot of opportunities to apply for positions in which they wouldn't have otherwise been eligible. We have students who were able to gain employment in higher education. We've had some students who were selected for low vision positions in school districts We've had many articles published in scholarly journals and OT journals, mental health journals, and optometry journals. We're really seeing a lot of accolades from our OTD alums and we're very proud.

Schumacher: What has been your favorite course to teach so far, and what are you looking forward to in the upcoming semester?

Foy: My favorite course is the grant writing and disseminating scholarship course. I think it is fantastic for students who are ready for that next level of learning how to secure grant money for programs that they've designed and developed. It also helps students to learn how to write a proposal and how to get accepted so that they can present at a national conference. We actually have had one student who was awarded $12,000 for her capstone project to help bring remedial vision to a local hospital. We've had other students who received smaller amounts of money, but still it was helpful for them to be able to make their capstone come into fruition with the money they were awarded. And, we have had many students who were accepted for both state and national American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) presentations. Those are skills you won't learn in any entry level OT program. These are specific skills geared toward more experienced OT professionals.

Schumacher: And, my final question for you is, if you were to describe Salus in one word, what would it be?

Foy: Oh, that's good. I would say opportunities. I think that at Salus University, there are so many different paths that you can take and even with the profession of occupational therapy, there are so many things that you can do. You can become a researcher, an academician, a clinician, a consultant. We have amazing faculty and it really sets you apart from your colleagues because you become a leader in this program. And, you learn advanced skills that your colleagues just won't have from an entry level OT program.