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 explore our website to learn more about the profession of occupational therapy at WVU, and our academic programs including faculty, students, and the Mountaineer experience.
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. They are established leaders at the national, state, and local levels who serve and influence the future of occupational therapy in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. In addition, the faculty are student-centered experts who share a commitment to excellence in teaching, service, and research. our faculty are
Occupational therapy students at WVU receive the benefits of a hands-on classroom environment, and 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 have access to an abundance of inter-professional learning activities as well as educational resources that include a cutting-edge acute care simulation lab, anatomy lab cadaver dissection, a faculty practice clinic, and current tools for assessment and intervention. As part of an R1 designated research institution by the Carnegie Institute, occupational therapy faculty and students have the opportunity to collaborate on innovative projects that improve our knowledge and strengthen our profession through community-based service projects and grant-funded projects.
The WVU Occupational Therapy Program has a proud past that has produced highly respected alumni including clinical experts, rehabilitation administrators, university faculty members, and research scholars. As we come to the end of our 25th year of occupational therapy education at WVU, we encourage you to continue to help us reach our goal to raise $25,000. These donations will help ensure the continued success of our teaching, service, and research missions. Join our fundraising initiative here.
Our future will be even brighter as we continue to explore and implement educational best practices, invest in our facilities and equipment, expand our partnerships, and increase our educational offerings to include both master and doctoral entry-level clinician pathways. 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.
Please explore our program 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 amanda.acordvira1@hsc.wvu.edu.
Amanda Acord-Vira, EdD, OTR/L, CBIST, FAOTA
Professor and Interim Chair, Occupational Therapy
West Virginia University School of Medicine
