Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program
At Presbyterian College, our Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program embodies the heart of PC—a commitment to service, innovation, and empowering individuals to reach their highest potential. Occupational therapy is a client-centered, holistic profession dedicated to enhancing health and well-being through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. This aligns seamlessly with our mission to empower students to create meaningful, lasting change in the world.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at Presbyterian College is to emulate the principles and values of the college, profession, and community to educate, mentor, and prepare skilled occupational therapists, servant leaders, and innovative researchers who promote evidence-based practice, advocacy, diversity, and scholarship.
Empowering future leaders to transform lives through evidence-based occupational therapy and servant leadership.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to lead community and professional advancement through innovative excellence in education, clinical preparation, service, and scholarship. We aim to impact occupational therapy education through interprofessional, evidence-based curriculum and teaching strategies that foster lifelong learning, clinical excellence, ethical conduct, premier research, and continued competence.
Where service becomes healing: transforming communities through occupation-centered care while living our motto—While we live, we serve.
Philosophy
Our program fosters diverse, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based clinical competence through active engagement between students, clients, communities, and educators. We integrate the art and science of occupational therapy, emphasizing the therapeutic use of everyday activities to enhance participation and well-being. Through experiential learning, fieldwork, and case-based education, students develop leadership, critical thinking, and innovative approaches to clinical practice, research, and advocacy.
Graduates of our program embody Presbyterian College’s core values, including active and inclusive learning, collaborative processes, continuous professional growth, and lifelong advocacy for society’s occupational needs. Together, we empower students to create meaningful connections and make a lasting impact on the world.
Madeline
Johnson ’26
“The faculty and professors in the OT program here at PC have supported me so much. I’ve had the opportunity to gain pediatric experience, which has allowed me to work with individuals in the community and practice my documentation skills before heading into my 12-week Level II fieldworks. We’ve been given so many chances to engage with the community — including visiting various day centers for individuals with intellectual disabilities — and those experiences have been incredibly valuable.”
Program Goals
Goal One
The OTD program will provide effective learning opportunities for students to acquire the theoretical knowledge, applicable skills, and professional attributes necessary to embrace their future role(s) as an entry level occupational therapist (OTD). PROVEN, PREPARATION
Goal Two
The OTD Program will impart a sense of responsibility and commitment to the core values and ethical guidelines of the profession, adopting a servant-leadership identity in community service, research, and clinical practice. PROVEN, PROFESSIONALISM, PROCESS
Goal Three
The OTD program will support the integrative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative nature of practice areas to facilitate contemporary critical thinking for client-centered care that incorporates occupation/evidenced-based decision making in occupational therapy practice, documentation of outcomes, and the generation of new knowledge. PREPARATION, PROVEN
Goal Four
The OTD program will provide a learning environment that engages students in critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, reflection, and personal/professional growth, with sensitivity to contextual and cultural factors that impact occupational performance. PROFESSIONALISM, PROCESS
Goal Five
The OTD program will support student and faculty professional participation/development; including continuing education, clinical specialty, academic advancement, leadership opportunities, and research to advocate for and advance the scope and scholarship of the occupational therapy profession. PREPARATION, PROVEN
Meet Our Team
Courtney Addison, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Doctoral Capstone Coordinator, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
cnkozar@presby.edu864-938-3908
Christine Boone, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
cmboone@presby.edu864-938-3712
Cindy Erb, OTD, MSH, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
cferb@presby.edu864-833-8156
