I am very pleased to welcome you to the Department of Occupational Therapy at Augusta University. Whether you are here as a prospective student, current student, alumnus, or for another reason, I hope you find the information you are seeking. If not, please reach out to us.
Augusta University’s Occupational Therapy Program is the oldest OT program in Georgia, having been established in 1971 at the Medical College of Georgia. For nearly 50 years, we have been educating occupational therapy professionals who have gone on to serve with distinction in Georgia and beyond. Our alumni are found in clinics, academic programs, and leadership positions nationwide.
As faculty, we view each student as a future colleague. As a result, we focus on student success in all areas of their curricular experiences and strongly encourage extracurricular engagement while here with us at Augusta University. Our program is recognized as having a rigorous curriculum that prepares graduates to excel in their careers. We have a Departmental culture that is rooted in service, to our clients and their families, to our community, and to our profession. Our students have opportunities within the curriculum, through student organizations, and on their own to strengthen classroom learning through service learning and volunteerism within our Augusta area community and beyond. Alumni and community members are able to partner with us to develop projects and meet needs through co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Our faculty is comprised of outstanding clinicians and educators who are recognized within the region and nationally for their work as clinical experts, researchers, leaders, and volunteers. We are committed to educating our students for excellence in practice, research, leadership, and service today and in the future.
I encourage you to spend some time on our webpage learning about our program, our curriculum, our outcomes (including our 98% retention rate and 100% success on the NBCOT Certification Exam), and our faculty. If you would like to learn more about our program, please email us at studyot@augusta.edu or attend one of our Open House events.
Warm regards,
Pamalyn Kearney, EdD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Occupational therapy is a dynamic health care profession that promotes engagement in meaningful daily and routine occupations, those activities that give meaning and purpose to our lives.
Occupations commonly addressed through occupational therapy include self-care activities, work and school tasks, leisure, home maintenance and community activities. Occupational therapists work with clients and families to promote health, prevent illness or injuries, and restore function or develop adaptations.
Occupational therapists work with individuals across the lifespan who are experiencing barriers to their participation in desired life activities. Through the use of rehabilitation/habilitation strategies, task or environmental modification, assistive technology, advocacy, and other strategies, occupational therapists assist the clients and families they work with in a wide variety of medical, educational and community settings.
Occupational therapists are employed in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, mental health facilities, school systems, home health agencies, private practice, industry and the community.
The field offers rapid advancement into supervisory and administrative positions for therapists with advanced experience and education. Growing opportunities exist in private practice, consultation, research and higher education.
U.S. News & World Report named occupational therapy #4 in Best Healthcare Jobs and #19 in 100 Best Jobs in its 2024 rankings.
