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Drake University Occupational Therapy

@drakeotd

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Drake’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program within @drakecphs. Preparing students to improve peoples’ quality of life!

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U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings this week, and we’re proud to announce that our Pharmacy and Occupational Therapy programs have maintained their high national marks and reputation for elite professional training among several other distinguished programs here at Drake University.

Pharmacy ranked top 5️⃣ in private pharmacy programs and No. 49 overall in the nation.

Occupational Therapy ranked number 1️⃣ in Iowa and was in the top 25 for private occupational therapy programs, with an overall national ranking at No. 51.

#bestgraduateschools #pharmacyschool #occupationaltherapyschool #otschool #otd #pharmd #drakeuniversity #drakeotd #drakepharmacy #iowa taken in Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences by @drakeotd

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6 months ago

Did you know Drake has a whole building dedicated to its Occupational Therapy program? Get a full tour of this hands-on facility complete with a mini Hy-Vee grocery store, park, apartment, and even a real car! 🛒🫑🏡🚙

Visit drake.edu/ot/ for even more information about the OT program. We can't wait to see you on campus!

#occupationaltherapy #otschool #occupationaltherapist #otstudent #occupationaltherapystudent #iowa #desmoines #drakeuniversity by @drakeotd

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a year ago

Building Community: Harnessing the Power of OT in the Heartland 🫶🌾

We were fortunate to represent Drake OT at this Midwestern joint conference bringing together occupational therapy students and professionals from across Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. @iowa_ot_association @nebraskaot @missouriotassoc

O2 students Megan Gerasch, Zoe Drew and Allie Anderson had the opportunity to join Dean Maki and Professors Urish and Jackson in Kansas City to attend this experience. Highlights include a poster presentation by Megan on “International Allies: A Pen Pal Project in Occupational Therapy” as well as getting to meet and hear from AOTA President Arameh Anvarizadeh. @aotainc

#occupationaltherapy #otconference #professionaldevelopment #otstudent #occupationaltherapystudent #otschool #drakeotd #drakeuniversity taken in Kansas City, Missouri by @drakeotd

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4 days ago

We 💙🤍 Interview Days! Future PharmD and OTD students, your professional Drake coat looks good on you.

#otschool #pharmacyschool #pharmacystudent #otstudent #drakeotd #drakepharmacy #drakeuniversity taken in Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences by @drakeotd

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11 days ago

Pharmacy and OT students came together to advocate and educate at the @apdaparkinsons Optimism Walk earlier this month in Urbandale! Pharmacy students educated participants on medications that may increase the risk of falls, while OT students demonstrated adaptive equipment. 💙🚶‍♂️

#drakepharmacy #drakeotd #occupationaltherapy #pharmacy #otstudent #pharmacystudent #drakeuniversity taken in Walker-Johnston Park by @drakeotd

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18 days ago

Core memory: Putting on a blue coat for the first time 🥹💙

At last week’s OTD Interview Day, we were excited to watch our Drake Pre-OT students take the next step toward their professional education, and even more excited to welcome some new faces to campus!

Students mingled with their future professors and peers, got fitted for their blue coats, and grabbed a snack from Dean Maki to fuel up before heading over to the OT Building to ace their interviews. We can’t wait to see them put on these coats again at next year’s coating ceremony!

#futureot #occupationaltherapy #otschool #gradschoolinterview #drakeotd #drakeuniversity taken in Drake University Occupational Therapy Department by @drakeotd

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a month ago

SENSORY FRIENDLY MORNING 2026💙🎧🎡

We had such an awesome time continuing our tradition of partnering with @childserve to welcome families and children with different sensory needs to the fair in an inclusive and accessible way. OT students, faculty, and our @harkininstitute friends gave out welcome bags and tattoos at the welcome tent and got crafty in the kids area!

This year, we were thrilled to have our newest O1 class joining in this experience during their orientation. It was a fun way to kick off all of the community engagement they’ll take on in the next 3 years!

#otstudent #sensoryfriendly #iowastatefair #occupationaltherapy #inclusion taken in Iowa State Fair by @drakeotd

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a month ago

Drake University Occupational Therapy is excited to host another series of Memory Cafés this fall—a welcoming, supportive space for individuals with mild to moderate cognitive changes and their care partners to connect, engage, and thrive.

This FREE community program offers meaningful activities, social connection, and opportunities to support cognitive health in a relaxed, stigma-free environment. Led by Drake OTD students and faculty, the Memory Café is designed to foster joy, purpose, and belonging for both members of the caregiving dyad.

💙 We need your help!
We’re currently seeking participants to join this special initiative. If you know someone living with memory changes (e.g., early dementia, mild cognitive impairment) and their caregiver, please help us spread the word!

👥 Who should attend?
Individuals with mild–moderate cognitive impairment
A family member, friend, or caregiver

Your connections matter. Share this opportunity with your networks to help us build a supportive and engaging community from the very beginning.

Together, we can create a space where connection replaces isolation and meaningful moments matter. taken in Drake University Occupational Therapy Department by @drakeotd

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a month ago

Feeling BLUE! 💙🥼

Give a warm welcome to our OTD Class of 2029, who received their blue coats signifying their entry into the professional Occupational Therapy program. In three years, these students will be prepared to provide care that makes a lifelong impact. Thank you to our speakers Ally Anderson, OTD Candidate 2028, and Dr. Mara Jauron, Drake OTD alums, for giving their words of wisdom to the students.

Why blue? The blue coat honors the beginning of the OT profession. During World War I, a group of civilian women known as “reconstruction aides” provided occupational therapy to soldiers. Their slate blue uniforms led the army to refer to them as the “bluebirds.”

#bluecoatceremony #occupationaltherapy #otstudent #otschool #otd #drakeotd #drakeuniversity taken in Drake University Occupational Therapy Department by @drakeotd

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a month ago

Finding our people while doing good🫶

Our newest cohorts of nursing, OT and pharmacy students started orientation week by packing 34,128 MEALS with @mealsfromtheheartland 👏 What a way to kick off the year. Welcome (or welcome back) to Drake, Bulldogs!

#drakecphs #drakeuniversity #nursingschool #pharmacyschool #otschool #communityservice taken in Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences by @drakeotd

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2 months ago

🎓 This summer, O3 Trinity Bunkusol has been spending her last semester of OT school completing her capstone remotely with TravelingWiki, an organization dedicated to travel accessibility!

✈️ Trinity has been focused on developing sensory-friendly travel and sport venue resources, highlighting accessible destinations and accommodations for individuals and families to feel more confident in exploring new places. She’s also connnected with museums, community organizations and event coordinators to learn about the planning and implementation of sensory-friendly programming and best practices for creating inclusive spaces.

💬 Trinity said “My capstone has provided me with valuable opportunities to apply occupational therapy principles beyond the traditional clinical setting while advocating for greater community participation and occupational justice.”

#occupationaltherapystudent #occupationaltherapy #otschool #accessibletravel #inclusion #drakeotd #drakeuniversity #capstone by @drakeotd

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2 months ago

🔒Lock in now and your life could look like this next year in OT school at Drake!

OTCAS, the central application for all Occupational Therapy programs, just opened today! Get started on your application now, or remind a future OT in your life to get started. We can’t wait to see the Class of 2027 in their blue coats. Type in the link or just search OTCAS!

#otschool #otadmissions #occupationaltherapystudent #occupationaltherapy #otstudent #drakeotd #drakeuniversity taken in Drake University Occupational Therapy Department by @drakeotd

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3 months ago