Alma College partners with UM-Flint Occupational Therapy

BRYCE BIRCHMEIER
STAFF WRITER

10/14/2024

Alma College and the University of Michigan Flint have partnered to allow Alma students a direct path into the UM-Flint Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program. 

“The emphasis Alma College provides in high impact practices affecting the students’ education, particularly engagement of students in research,” said Yener Kandogan, Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

“By providing graduates of Alma College with direct admission into doctorate programs like those offered by the University of Michigan-Flint, they are getting the best of what both institutions can offer,” said Sean Burke, Provost at Alma College, in an Alma College press release.

Representatives from both schools met on Sept. 20 and signed a direct admission program agreement, which means that each year for the next five years Alma will nominate two candidates to be accepted into the program. 

“This is a good start in our collaboration, and I do believe there is potential for similar collaborations in other graduate programs in the future,” said Kandogan. Any students interested in this opportunity must fill out an application and maintain specific grades. 

UM-Flint’s entry-level occupational therapy doctorate program is for students with bachelor’s degrees; no clinical experience is required.

This program provides its students with the highest level of academic preparation an entry-level occupational therapist can obtain. “This is a great opportunity for two well-regarded programs to come together and meet the needs of students, as well as the job market in Michigan,” said Burke.

UM-Flint’s Occupational Therapy doctorate program is a total of 110 credit hours, which can be completed in three years with a full-time schedule. The program only accepts a total of 40 students each year and classes consist of faculty and guest lectures, work in the lab and group work. 

“It is really great to see the impact on the future of OT education and more opportunities to gain hands-on experience. They are committed to encouraging the next generation with tools to transform patient care, which is something that is very important to me,” said Kalee Gray (‘26).

A part of UM-Flint’s program is the doctoral capstone project which collaborates with clinical and community partners. It allows students to experience one or more of the following focus areas: administration, advocacy, clinical practice skills, education, leadership, program and policy development, research skills and theory development.

Another part of the program is students’ ability to volunteer their time to take part in the HEART clinic. HEART stands for “Health Equity, Action, Research and Teaching.” It is a student and faculty-run physical therapy and occupational therapy clinic that focuses on the local community. More specifically, it focuses on improving healthcare access for individuals who are uninsured and underinsured in Flint and Genessee counties. 

This program sets a graduate up to seek employment in areas such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing care facilities, senior centers, private practices and military services. It is predicted “an eleven percent growth in employment for occupational therapists from 2023 to 2033” by The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.