LMU Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

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LMU Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

Welcome to the official page of the LMU-OTD Program!

10/24/2025

We cannot believe it has been a week since our Fall Festival! It was fun having OT, PT, and DO students all together having fun in an event not related to school. There were many amazing trunks, but here are all of the OT students showing off their creativity. Congratulations to W***y Wonka, who won the best trunk contest!

10/15/2025

Last week, our second-year OTD students completed their orthotics presentations. For this assignment, students are assigned a case study for which an orthotic is needed. Students then fabricate an orthotic and justify their reasoning from evidence-based articles! We are so proud of what they fabricated😊

💡Did you know that our PAMS course is verified through the state of Tennessee as an approved course for modalities certification? This means that if you plan on practicing in Tennessee, you are one step closer to obtaining this additional aspect of your license!

09/26/2025

Second-year OTD students are excited to partner with We Rock the Spectrum Knoxville this term. As part of their Community Health and Wellness class, the students will be planning activities and games over the next few weeks designed to meet the needs of the community.

09/12/2025

We would like to congratulate some of our recent graduates, along with Dr. Zeitlin and Dr. Schmidt, for co-authoring a new paper in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy highlighting the multifaceted responsibilities and challenges faced by school-based occupational therapy practitioners. We’re so proud to see our students making meaningful contributions to the field!

https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/79/5/7905205170/28424/Occupational-Therapy-s-Role-in-Schools-A-Survey-of?redirectedFrom=PDF

09/08/2025

Last week, our OTD and DPT students practiced donning and doffing personal protective equipment in one of our interprofessional education courses. It is great when the students can learn with each other!

09/02/2025

Our second-year students started the Pediatrics lab by jumping right in! We know one of the most challenging parts of pediatrics is learning how to interact with kids and their caregivers, so we make sure students have plenty of opportunities to interact with kids both in our amazing pediatrics lab and in the community .

08/15/2025

Our OTD students have only been off campus for a week, but we already miss them. Here are some extra pictures from AT Lab this past semester to help us get through the next week without them!

Our OTD students immersed themselves in technologies shaping the future of rehabilitation and accessibility. They explored virtual reality to simulate therapeutic environments, applied augmented reality to enhance assessment and client training, and used 3D printing to design and produce custom adaptive tools.

These hands-on experiences prepare our future occupational therapists to integrate innovation into practice, develop personalized solutions, and empower clients to achieve greater independence.

08/08/2025

This week, we wrapped up the summer semester! We have had many events the last two weeks, including an ice cream social, a pot painting event, and an end-of-semester celebration.

During the end-of-semester event, we were able to provide the first-year students with the kits needed for their interprofessional class in the fall. This includes their blood pressure cuff, sphygmomanometer, pulse ox, and other items required.

We also announced the first-year SOTA and COTAD representatives. We are happy to announce that Ally Newberry will be the SOTA rep and Macey Pickle will be the COTAD rep.

Now they have two weeks to relax and rejuvenate before the fall semester!

08/02/2025

Please join us in celebrating the well-deserved promotion of Dr. Deborah Ruediger from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor at Lincoln Memorial University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program!

Dr. Ruediger has made outstanding contributions across teaching, research, administration, and service. Her leadership as Interim Program Director played a pivotal role in achieving ACOTE initial accreditation, and her ongoing research focuses on innovation and technology in occupational therapy education.

She actively supports community service initiatives and continues her professional development through certifications in Assistive Technology and Physical Agent Modalities, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the field and empowering future practitioners.

We are proud of all you’ve accomplished, Dr. Ruediger, and look forward to what’s next!

07/29/2025

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Elizabeth K. Schmidt, who has been promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and awarded a multiyear contract at Lincoln Memorial University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program!

Dr. Schmidt has made outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service. From developing innovative curriculum and supporting student success, to advancing inclusive research focused on disability, sexual health, and community participation. Her work continues to make a meaningful impact on our program, the profession, and the communities we serve.

We are incredibly proud to have Dr. Schmidt as a valued member of our faculty and look forward to her continued leadership and scholarship!

07/26/2025

Future OTs in Action!

Last week, our second-year occupational therapy students dove into hands-on learning during their physical rehabilitation lab - and it was all about mastering the art of independence!

From practicing dressing techniques for clients with hemiparesis, limited range of motion, and spinal cord injuries to exploring strategies for adapting to limited mobility, these students are learning how to make everyday tasks doable for everyone.

And when it came to dysphagia (swallowing challenges), they got a taste of modified diets - literally! Thickened Gatorade and apple juice were the consistent favorites over chocolate milk and Sprite. Who knew rehab could be so flavorful?
Students also observed a simulated treatment session, seeing how therapeutic use of self, adaptive equipment, and client-centered care come together to empower lives.

Thinking about a career where compassion meets creativity? OT might be your calling. 💙

07/23/2025

Our second-year students explored the world of manual and power wheelchairs, dove into cushion seating systems, and practiced wheelie techniques for curb navigation - essential skills for empowering clients with mobility needs.

Students also gained critical insight into documenting medical necessity, which is essential for advocating for appropriate and accessible equipment.

Thank you, Brett Jones at Jones Adaptive Mobility, for opening your doors and sharing your expertise with the next generation of OT professionals!

Address

9731 Cogdill Road
Knoxville, TN
37752

Website

https://www.lmunet.edu/debusk-college-of-osteopathic-medicine/otd/index.php

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