Letter from the Chair

Welcome to the Division of Occupational Therapy at the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine. We’re glad that you have chosen to learn more about the profession of occupational therapy at WVU. LET’S GO!

The quality of your educational experience at WVU begins with our faculty, which is comprised of clinical experts and award-winning educators in their fields of expertise. The faculty are student-centered experts who share a commitment to excellence in teaching, service, and research. They are established leaders at the national, state, and local levels who influence the future of occupational therapy in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

Occupational therapy students at WVU benefit from a hands-on classroom, community, and clinical experiences that develop the competence and confidence necessary to achieve career goals as an occupational therapist. As part of the School of Medicine, occupational therapy students participate in abundant inter-professional learning activities, cutting-edge educational activities in a state-of-the-art simulation center, anatomy lab cadaver dissection, and a faculty practice clinic. As part of a Carnegie R1 designated research institution, occupational therapy faculty and students collaborate on innovative projects that expand the knowledge of occupational therapy.

The WVU Occupational Therapy Programs, the first in West Virginia, have a proud past that has produced highly respected alumni including clinical experts, rehabilitation administrators, business owners, university faculty members, and research scholars. Our future is brighter as we continue to implement educational best practices, invest in our facilities and equipment, expand our partnership and offer two degree pathways into the profession. All of this at a tuition-friendly university in an energetic and exciting college town recognized as among the best small cities in the United States. If you are interested in contributing to our continuing success, we encourage you to donate to our Foundation fund. You can give here.

Please explore our programs and university web pages to learn more about our program and become part of Mountaineer Nation. If you have questions, you can reach out to me directly at dmdavis@hsc.wvu.edu.

Diana R. Davis, PhD, MA, OTR/L, BS

Chairperson - Division of Occupational Therapy

Associate Professor, OTD Program Director