Early Admission Decision application deadline: June 8, 2012
Final application deadline: July 23, 2012
The semester begins: September 4, 2012

The goal of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is to address the public's need for high quality occupational therapy service by providing practicing clinicians with opportunities to develop knowledge, skills, and behaviors commensurate with evidence-based practice (EBP) and emerging educational standards. The primary purpose of the program is to raise the knowledge base of practicing occupational therapists to equal that of the new entry-level OTD degree. The program is open to all individuals having an entry-level degree in occupational therapy.

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions believes there is a need for quality, advanced education for the certified hand therapist (CHT). This program addresses the public's need for high quality occupational therapy service by providing practicing clinicians with opportunities to develop knowledge, skills, and behaviors commensurate with contemporary practice and educational standards.

The Elective Track in Hand Therapy will emphasize evidence-based practice, and will provide a strong framework for hand therapists to apply this knowledge in daily practice. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded the OTD degree. This elective track will follow along in course sequence with the OTD curriculum and provide the CHT with additional study related to the domain of hand therapy. The purposes of the track are to: 

• Provide a solid foundation for promoting and contributing to evidence-based practice and critical analysis of practice in hand therapy.
• Prepare clinical doctoral level hand therapists to contribute to leadership in the practice development of hand therapy.
• Advance the CHT's venue for study with peers in an academic environment. 

The OTD program is committed to the development of the occupational therapist who can:

• Apply the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to make independent judgments about the validity of research and implement evidence-based clinical practice.
• Influence local, regional, national, and international policy, practice, and education through advocacy, consultation, and practice of occupational therapy with individuals, populations and organizations.
• Exercise high-level curiosity, critical thinking, continuous learning, reflection, and analytical methodologies to seek and use resources and evidence to improve effectiveness of clinical interventions.
• Apply ethical theories and legal standards to decision-making regarding healthcare issues.
• Exchange and disseminate knowledge through consultation, peer-reviewed publication and presentation, collaboration, and collegial and interdisciplinary dialogue.
• Develop and implement theoretically and philosophically sound clinical interventions informed by scientific evidence, contextual influences and clinical knowledge.