Occupational therapy doctoral students Chanequa Thomas, left, and Jennifer Allison share a moment during the reception for the first eight students in Brenau's new OTD program.

Having Our Cake: OT Launches Doctoral Program

Written by David Morrison, posted on Thursday, April 30, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Dr. Barbara Schell, the gregarious chair of the College of Health Sciences at Brenau and founding director of the School of Occupational Therapy, quipped once that the people in her department will use any excuse they can to gather around and serve cake. However, the gathering on Friday, Sept. 5, was no run-of-the-mill cake cutting. That was the day that seven doctoral candidates officially began their quests for a Brenau Occupational Therapy Doctorate.

Practicing occupational therapists enter the program to expand skills and capabilities of practicing occupational therapists to in promoting, developing and managing clinical research; broadening the practitioners’ community and client educational skills, and – candidly – teaching them some basic skills for building and managing businesses that they will have to run. The program also offers advance courses in pediatrics, neuroscience/neuro rehab and community practice, among others.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau University’s occupational therapy doctoral program, welcomes the new OTD students to the inaugural program.

: Gale Starich, dean of Brenau’s school of health and sciences, greets the first eight students to the schools first occupational therapy doctoral program.

: Sara Propes is one of the eight students in Brenau University’s inaugural occupational therapy doctoral program.

: Nancy Krippel

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: Rosalie Miller, director of Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program, hands out portfolios to the first eight students in the program.

: The occupational therapy faculty and staff are recognized during the reception for the new doctoral students.

: Brenau University President Ed Schrader made a virtual appearance to welcome the first students to Brenau’s new occupational therapy doctoral program.

: Occupational therapy doctoral students Chanequa Thomas, left, and Jennifer Allison share a moment during the reception for the first eight students in Brenau’s new OTD program.

: Occupational therapy doctoral students Chanequa Thomas, left, and Jennifer Allison share a moment during the reception for the first eight students in Brenau’s new OTD program.

: The cake for the new OTD program and students.

: Occupational therapy doctoral student Haylee Gamble, left, chats with Dr. Irma Alvardo, one of the occupational therapy faculty at Brenau, during a reception for the new doctoral students.