Department of Occupational Therapy Mission Statement

The Department of Occupational Therapy is dedicated to fulfilling the mission of Loma Linda University and the School of Allied Health Professions through academic and clinical training of occupational therapy students and practitioners by:

Creating Wholeness through integration of Christian principles, compassion, ethical values, and sensitivity to diverse human conditions.

Encouraging Personal growth and lifelong learning through integration of intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual dimensions.

Developing Clinical reasoning strategies to guide occupational therapy skills and practice.

Promoting Adaptation to a variety of environments, while maintaining a commitment to serve humankind and the profession of occupational therapy.

Philosophy Statement

God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and man. It is through God’s creation that man is provided the potential for developing competence.

Occupational Therapy:

Occupational Therapy is based on the belief that purposeful activity (occupation), including its interpersonal and environmental components, may be used to prevent and mediate dysfunction, and to elicit maximum adaptation. Activity as used by occupational therapy includes both an intrinsic and a therapeutic purpose (AOTA, 1979).

View of Humanity:

• Man is a complex being with intrinsic value, seeking a sense of quality in life by continually exploring occupations through the life span.
• Harmony of physical, mental, spiritual, and social order creates the wholeness necessary for healthy living. When there is disharmony, disruption occurs in the balance of physical, mental, spiritual, and social order.
•  Engagement of occupation promotes the process and outcome of integrative and adaptive behaviors which result in meaningful existence.

Approach to Learning/Instruction:

It is our belief that the educational environment at Loma Linda University:

• Develops physical skill, cognitive abilities, spiritual exploration, and social growth.
• Provides meaningful and applicable learning for the life span and the life hereafter.
•  Encourages the student to question, seek, and find answers.
•  Integrates learned material with clinical application.
   Includes components of:
• Foundation and theoretical knowledge
• Professional and technical skills
• Ethical responsibilities and standards
• Shares the responsibility of learning with the student. Both teacher and student are active participants.

In summary, we believe that professional education is a journey of the mind, body, and spirit that involves growth and development in self discovery, clinical reasoning, and use of self. It is hoped that this will in turn yield professional competency in lifelong learning to practice the clinician, educator, administrator, researcher, advocate, and consultant roles of the profession.

 
MOT Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will:

1. Articulate the history of the profession, the scope and role of occupational therapy within health care, and its contributions to the quality of life.
2. Engage in occupational therapy practice to promote client(s) participation in society. 
3. Engage in global critical thinking to envision future possibilities for personal, professional, and societal potential.
4. Understand how lifestyle impacts health and consider person-environment factors in establishing interventions in the clinical and community settings.
5. Use research literature to inform professional decisions and engage in research that contributes to best practice. 
6. Integrate Christ-centered values in personal living and professional practice.