UF Occupational Therapy

08/30/2026

We are thrilled to welcome the newest cohort of the UF OTD program. During orientation, students spent the week getting to know their classmates, faculty, curriculum, and the many opportunities that lie ahead as they begin their journey toward becoming occupational therapists.

Please join us in giving a warm Gator welcome to the OTD Class of 2029! 🐊 🧡 💙

08/25/2026

In April 2026, our UF OTD Class of 2027 gathered for a special Pancake Breakfast and Fieldwork/Capstone Send-Off as they prepared to take the next big step in their occupational therapy journey. Since then, these students have successfully completed their first Level II Fieldwork experience and are now embarking on their second Level II placement.
Wishing our Class of 2027 a successful and rewarding experience as they continue growing into future OT clinicians! 🥞 🐊 🏫

08/23/2026

This summer, the OTD Class of 2028 completed their Psychosocial Level I Fieldwork experiences at community sites across the Gainesville and Ocala areas. To conclude the course, students presented posters highlighting the innovative programs and interventions they developed in collaboration with community partners.

A special thank you to the faculty fieldwork educators who guided students throughout the semester. Through ongoing mentorship, feedback, and support, faculty helped students connect classroom learning to practice, develop professional skills, and navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of psychosocial occupational therapy.🐊 😀 🏫

08/10/2026

Congratulations to our OTD Class of 2026 graduates! 😄🐊🎉Enjoy these photos from their capstone presentations, our program ceremony, and commencement! More UF commencement photos can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=uflorida&set=a.1463942389099876

08/10/2026

We're proud to celebrate Jordan Major, Ph.D., who graduated on Friday, August 7! As she begins the next chapter of her career, Jordan is already making an impact through award-winning research focused on integrating occupational therapy into peripartum care for individuals with Type 1 diabetes and improving maternal mental health outcomes.

“The hope is that we will be able to integrate occupational therapy into peripartum care for pregnant individuals with Type 1 diabetes."

Jordan Major, a rehabilitation science Ph.D. candidate, received the Nancy Talbot Post‑Doctoral Fellowship from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. After her August graduation, she will join the UF Sensory Development Lab as a postdoctoral associate under UF Occupational Therapy's Stefanie Bodison. In collaboration with Juan Muñoz Pena from the UF College of Medicine, she'll study diabetes distress and postpartum depression trajectories from early pregnancy to one month postpartum, comparing outcomes for women who receive occupational therapy intervention versus those who do not. https://phhp.ufl.edu/2026/06/22/jordan-major-receives-prestigious-postdoctoral-fellowship-for-diabetes-research/

08/04/2026

As the UF Occupational Therapy Doctorate Class of 2026 prepares to graduate this week, we're celebrating the innovative projects that have made a difference across our community. Read about two student capstone experiences below.

07/06/2026

On June 16th, we gathered to honor Dr. Classen's retirement and reflect on the lasting impact she has made on our faculty, students, and the occupational therapy profession.

05/27/2026

Some news is worth repeating: UF Occupational Therapy is proud to be part of a top-ranked Gator community, recognized nationally and ranked No. 1 in Florida.

It's great to be a top-ranked Gator. 🐊 💪
We're proud to be recognized by U.S. News and World Report as the No. 1 graduate institution in Florida for Health Care Management, UF Occupational Therapy and Biostatistics. Our programs (Health Care Management, Occupational Therapy, Biostatistics and UF Department of Physical Therapy) also reached the Top 20 in the country. Go PHHP Gators!

05/25/2026

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Jessica Kramer’s national recognition for advancing inclusive, impactful work with youth with IDD.

Jessica Kramer, associate professor of UF Occupational Therapy, has earned the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’ Sesqui Award for her pioneering work with youth who have IDD. Working with a team that includes individuals with IDD, her lab creates proven rehab tools and community programs that change lives. https://phhp.ufl.edu/.../jessica-kramer-recognized-for.../

05/21/2026

A recent UF Occupational Therapy graduate shares how a multiple sclerosis diagnosis shaped her journey and strengthened her purpose as a future clinician.
Read her powerful story of resilience, insight, and advocacy:

I started the University of Florida occupational therapy program with the goal of helping others reclaim their lives.