Community, Faculty, Students

Established in 1944, the University of Puget Sound’s School of Occupational Therapy is one of the oldest OT programs in the region and is continually ranked as one of the top programs in the Pacific Northwest. One distinctive feature of the program is its on-site teaching clinic. The clinic includes a simulated apartment, activity spaces, and a 4,000-square-foot outdoor mobility park. Working under the supervision of practicing occupational therapists, students gain hands-on clinical experience and provide an important community service — providing free, high-quality healthcare to more than 60 people each year.

“Our on-site teaching clinic is unique in that not all programs have a teaching clinic,” said Amy Kashiwa, clinical associate professor of occupational therapy. “It’s really a nice way to serve the community, but it also benefits the students as well.”

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Students select and carry out evaluations for both adult and pediatric clients, create intervention plans, monitor client progress, and document outcomes, then re-evaluate and make discharge recommendations. These extensive clinical experiences provide a solid bridge between the classroom and the clinic, preparing OT students for their fieldwork assignments and to be confident practitioners after graduation.

“It’s a very awesome resource that I feel like a lot of people don’t take advantage of,” said Lucas Willers, whose daughter, Isla, is a client at the clinic.

Learn more about the School of Occupational Therapy and the on-site teaching clinic.

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OT students in a hands-on learning experience.

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