Shaping Tomorrow’s Occupational Therapy Leaders 2026 Tufts University Department of Occupational Therapy Impact Report
A Message from the Department Chair Dear Friend, I am thrilled to share with you the 2026 updated Tufts University Department of Occupational Therapy Impact Report, which highlights the remarkable achievements our department has made in advancing academic excellence, fostering innovation, and contributing to the broader community. The Impact Report is an empowering testimonial to the accomplishments, dedication, and passion of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Together, we have achieved milestones that have enhanced the student experience and occupational therapy curriculum across all our programs. Each section of this report emphasizes the collaborative efforts and innovative approaches that have defined our journey—from research and scholarly projects in emerging practice areas to simulated labs, and from innovative community-engaged learning to student success stories, and more. Our commitment to developing self-directed, lifelong learners in occupational therapy practice is reflected in the stories of our students who are making waves in their learning environment, the faculty who are pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and the alumni who continue to make a difference in their practice fields. We are excited about the possibilities that the future holds and dedicated to our mission to develop, disseminate, and apply knowledge that promotes meaningful and healthy participation in the daily activities of people, populations, and communities. We are committed to improving and expanding our department to optimize student learning and alumni engagement. Thank you for your ongoing support of Tufts University’s Department of Occupational Therapy. Together, we will make a lasting impact on the occupational therapy profession. Warm regards,
JESSICA HARNEY, D.P.T., OT Department Chair, Occupational Therapy Program Director, Entry-Level O.T.D. Degree
At Tufts, we remain at the forefront of education in occupational therapy by focusing on the strengths of our program—recognized as a Top 10 Occupational Therapy Program by U.S. News & World Report. INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING Tufts University’s Department of Occupational Therapy educates occupational therapists who advance an interdisciplinary and collaborative paradigm of health. Our students know firsthand that health is greater than an individual’s bodily structure and function, inseparable from the experience of well-being, and emergent in meaningful activities in daily living in one’s home, community, and society. TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES The Department of Occupational Therapy is in the Collaborative Learning and Innovation Complex (CLIC) at Tufts. In this stateof-the-art building, the department has further expanded faculty and student interests in assistive technology, virtual reality, driver simulation, adaptive sports, community-based programming, and various interdisciplinary research areas. WORLD-CLASS FACULTY Our strong interprofessional faculty brings expertise in all areas of occupational therapy practice and community health, with a focus on student development, scholarship, and innovative teaching practices. We are well known for our faculty’s strengths in clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, and group process in occupational therapy. ACTIVELY ENGAGED STUDENTS Tufts University has maintained a competitive application pool and strong enrollment through a robust recruitment and admissions process, recognized as a best practice by the Tufts University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Our students are selected through a holistic admissions process and are among the most qualified applicants in the nation. They are actively engaged in the curriculum and the community through experiential learning opportunities.
A History of Occupational Therapy at Tufts
Tufts Occupational Therapy by the Numbers
Chart our program’s incredible growth through major milestones over more than a century.
Our 2020–2025 student body represents
1918
Boston School of Occupational Therapy (BSOT) was founded
1921
BSOT was incorporated
1945
BSOT became affiliated with Tufts College’s Division of University Extension
1946–47
First cohort of BSOT students lived on the Medford campus in dorms
1960
BSOT merged with Tufts University to become the Department of Occupational Therapy in the College of Special Studies
1961
The first BSOT class graduated from Tufts
1962
Classes moved into the School of Medicine’s Boston campus
1978
Master’s degree in OT was introduced
1982
BSOT separated from College of Special Studies and joined the School of Arts and Sciences
1988
BSOT moved into Tufts’ newly renovated Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house in Medford
1990
Bachelor’s degree was phased out and MS & MA (with thesis) degrees were awarded
2006
First cohort graduated from PPOTD program
2019
Entry-level OTD program started
2020
Certificate programs started
2022
First cohort of ELOTD students graduated
2024
NEW online PPOTD launched
2025
Entered 1st cohort of online PPOTD students
31 4 States
Countries
100%
of our full-time students receive tuition scholarships
100%
Graduation rate for students
100%
Pass rate on NBCOT exam for our entry-level OTD students
100% Employment for the three-year look-back
MARY BARNES: A Career of Community and Connection Reflecting on her three decades in Tufts Deparment of Occupational Therapy, Faculty Mentor and “Triple Jumbo” Mary Barnes, A85, AG13, OTD17, is struck by how quickly time passes in the whir of academic life. She describes working alongside countless inspiring students and colleagues, and credits Tufts with shaping her appreciation for community and connection. Barnes played a key role in developing and coordinating the Entry Level Doctoral Experience Component. Her commitment to community was also evident in her long tenure as Level I Fieldwork Coordinator, securing diverse placements for students. In the classroom, she taught experiential courses on group dynamics and leadership, stressing that OTs must courageously navigate systems and disagreement in order to effectively advocate for their clients and the profession. Considering what makes the Tufts OT Department special, Barnes describes its student-centered approach, saying: “I think we all have a deep commitment to understanding who each student is, considering how we can facilitate their success and deepen their self-understanding. I always want my students to feel valued and empowered to advance as much as they desire in and beyond the profession.”
MARYKATE GALLUZZO, AG21, AG22, Master’s in OT and PostProfessional Occupational Therapy Doctorate, founded an at-home adaptive swim program to help make swimming safer and more accessible for children of all abilities. Today, Marykate manages this seasonal program as well as an online adaptive swimming lessons training program called “The Sunfish Method.” Through this training, community-based swim instructors learn how to teach lifesaving skills to children of all abilities. She also works as an outpatient pediatric occupational therapist at a hospital in Massachusetts, supporting youth with a variety of diagnoses. “Tufts really opened my eyes to entrepreneurship and what OT can look like in nontraditional settings,” says Marykate. “All the opportunities I had helped me to run a successful business and be an effective OT practitioner.”
Making an Impact across the Country Our alumni are molding young minds—and shaping the future of occupational therapy. You can find Tufts students completing Level-II fieldwork in various settings across the United States: Massachusetts: 188
Utah: 6
Illinois: 3
Louisiana: 2
Virginia: 1
New Hampshire: 25
Connecticut: 5
Pennsylvania: 3
Michigan: 2
Vermont: 1
Rhode Island: 20
New Jersey: 5
Texas: 3
Alaska: 1
Washington: 1
New York: 19
Maryland: 4
DC: 2
Colorado: 1
California: 18
Oregon: 4
Florida: 2
Nevada: 1
Maine: 8
Georgia: 3
Indiana: 2
Ohio: 1
The data above reflects fieldwork conducted between 2021 and 2024.
JUSTINE RAMOS, OTD’25 As a poet, Justine Ramos, OTD ‘25, is used to exploring complex emotions, personal histories, and innovative ideas. Ramos has found ways to channel her passion for writing and connecting people through art to the field of OT. While working as an OT aide, she led a poetry workshop for students who had endured a traumatic brain injury, a condition which can result in challenges managing emotions and communicating with others. “I made the workshop adaptable for them,” says Ramos. “Some of the participants couldn’t write or create sentences, so I used poetry magnets, so they could pick and choose words and put them together in ways that were meaningful to them. At Tufts, Ramos participated in a host of fieldwork placements that have exposed her to various branches of OT. “Starting from your first semester at Tufts, you’re put into service learning placements where you volunteer to put your OT education to use in new contexts,” says Ramos. “It’s a wonderful way to learn more about the field and the many different populations and settings where OT can be impactful.”
DAVID VO, OTD’25 “Tufts prepared me to be a strong, collaborative OT. Working closely with classmates, mentors, and community partners taught me how to communicate well, share ideas, and stay open to feedback. Those skills show up every day in my job, and I’ve gotten consistent feedback from colleagues that I’m easy to work with and create a supportive space for the team. Tufts really helped me grow into the OT I hoped to become.”
Innovating and Expanding In the spring of 2018, the Department of Occupational Therapy was provided with a gift to fund the creation of an Innovation and Simulation Lab. The Innovation and Simulation Lab has expanded occupational therapy students’ ability to design and build innovative tools and technology, while simulating practice environments for clinical care.
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Alumni Party at AOTA Inspire in Philadelphia, 2025.
Get in Touch For more information about occupational therapy programs at Tufts, please contact: Jill Rocca Admissions Coordinator 617-627-6259 jill.rocca@tufts.edu as.tufts.edu/occupationaltherapy