Inaugural Occupational Therapy Doctorate Class Celebrated at White Coat Ceremony

Eighteen students at Stony Brook University marked the start of a new chapter in their professional lives, becoming the first cohort in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate(OTD) program to receive white coats in a ceremony that marked both personal achievement and a shift in how the profession is being taught on Long Island.

Hosted by the School of Health Professionsand its Department of Occupational Therapy, the ceremony on January 30 in the Bauman Center for Leadership and Service honored the class as they formally entered the clinical phase of their training. In the audience were faculty members, university leaders and proud families who watched as each student was presented with a white coat.

"It is a profound honor to recognize the inaugural class of Doctorate of Occupational Therapy students at their White Coat Ceremony," said Stacy Jaffee Gropack, dean of the School of Health Professions. "This milestone symbolizes their entry into a profession grounded in compassion, evidence-based practice and service."

The students began their Level II fieldwork placements following the ceremony, working with hospitals, rehabilitation centers and community settings across the region. Students shared their capstone interests and reflected on their passion for occupational therapy, a field dedicated to helping people regain the skills necessary for daily living after injury, illness or disability.

"These scholars will advance knowledge in occupational therapy through innovation, research, and interprofessional collaboration while upholding the highest standards of patient-centered care," Gropack said. "As Stony Brook students, they are uniquely positioned to meet critical community needs by providing essential occupational services that enhance function, independence and quality of life across the lifespan."

The transition to a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from a Master of Science degree follows steady growth in the field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapy positions are projected to increase by 12 percent or more from 2022 to 2032. Occupational therapists work in healthcare, education and community environments, developing treatment plans that support both physical rehabilitation and mental health.

In April 2024, the university announced it would convert its Master of Science program into a doctoral program. The new degree is the first public entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate on Long Island within the State University of New York system and only the second such program on Long Island overall. The three-year program follows a hybrid model that incorporates simulation modules, emerging technologies and telehealth training while reducing required time on campus.

"Our inaugural White Coat Ceremony represents a defining moment for the Occupational Therapy program," said Dale A. Coffin, clinical associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Occupational Therapy. "It symbolizes our evolution, our commitment to excellence, and our belief in the transformative power of this profession."

Coffin said doctoral preparation is designed to meet the realities of modern healthcare. "Doctoral programs are designed to enhance the knowledge of occupational therapists to its highest level and help them be best prepared for applying evidence-based healthcare and for engaging in research," she said.

She pointed to long-term health issues emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, advances in medical procedures and the growing demand for services that support aging populations who wish to remain in their homes as reasons to strengthen occupational therapy education.

The OTD model, Coffin said, "elevates preparation by deepening clinical reasoning, expanding opportunities for doctoral-level scholarship, and intentionally cultivating leaders who can innovate, influence policy, and advance practice."

"We are not simply preparing competent clinicians," she said. "We are preparing visionary occupational therapists who will shape the future of healthcare."