The WNE Occupational Therapy program has been recognized as one of the Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report. This esteemed ranking underscores the program’s excellence and prominence among peer academic leaders in the field of occupational therapy.

The U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, based on surveys of peer academic leaders, consider factors such as program quality, faculty expertise, research opportunities, and overall academic reputation. WNE’s Occupational Therapy program, ranked 105 out of 263, highlights its high regard within the academic community and strengthens WNE’s reputation in higher education.

Dr. John Pezzuto, dean of WNE’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, noted, “As a relatively new program, we appreciate this peer recognition. Having reached a ranking of fourthamong the 11 programs in the Commonwealth offering the entry-level OT doctorate is a testament to the extraordinary faculty, staff, and students.”

Established in 2017, the Occupational Therapy program at WNE has quickly risen to prominence, emphasizing experiential education with five semesters of fieldwork and the student-operated BEAR PAW Center. The program’s doctoral capstone projects consistently yield outstanding results, with students presenting and publishing peer-reviewed work.

Chair of the WNE OT Department, Dr. Brittany Adams, highlighted the program’s collegiality and partnerships with institutions nationwide. Future initiatives include launching a distance learning cohort and expanding telehealth services, further cementing WNE’s position as a leader in occupational therapy education.