Indiana State University Newsroom

A limited number of seats remain for Indiana State University's new occupational therapy program, which starts May 13.

The eight-semester program includes 27 weeks of clinical experience and other service-learning opportunities, said Jeanne Sowers, associate professor of applied medicine and rehabilitation and director of the occupational therapy program.

The curriculum will focus on educating future health care providers who possess skills as occupational therapists, consultants, educators, managers and researchers, she added.

The master's degree offering is among six new programs Indiana State's College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services has developed in the past four years to help meet a growing demand for qualified health care providers.

"All of the college's new programs have been very well received and we want to make sure that everyone with an existing bachelor's degree who wants to add occupational therapy to their skills has the opportunity to apply," said Leamor Kahanov, chair of Indiana State's department of applied medicine and rehabilitation.

Last fall, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education granted candidacy status for the program, paving the way for Indiana State to admit students. In advance of the program's launch, Indiana State will host the Indiana Occupational Therapy Association's spring conference April 13 at the Sycamore Center for Applied Medicine and Rehabilitation, 567 N. Fifth St.

The conference will focus on upper extremity rehabilitation and will feature presentations by Sowers and fellow Indiana State faculty members Tim Demchak, Marlene McDonald, Michelle Landis, Carolina Valencia and Daniel Coovert. Topics covered will include cadaver anatomy review, low level laser intervention, introduction to Graston Technique, ergonomics, assessments, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and rotator cuff interventions. Attendance at the conference can earn participants up to 5.5 continuing education units.

More information about the conference and the new Indiana State occupational therapy program, including an application form, is available at http://www.indstate.edu/OT

Contact: Jeanne Sowers, associate professor of applied medicine and rehabilitation, College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services, Indiana State University, Jeanne.sowers@indstate.edu

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu