For more than 60 years, the Occupational Therapy Department at University of Illinois at Chicago has been guided by the vision and practice of close integration between clinical service, education and research. This vision—our Scholarship of Practice—propelled the UIC program to become one of the finest OT programs in the U.S. We apply our skills and expertise to support the needs of diverse populations in diverse settings. In addition to delivering occupational therapy services at the UIC Medical Center, we partner with community-based organizations throughout metropolitan Chicago. UIC students benefit from hands-on experiences in all of these settings. As the oldest OT program in Chicago, our reach extends to all corners of Illinois, across the U.S., and even around the world as we collaborate on important education, clinical and research initiatives with international colleagues.

Teaching here draws upon our extensive network of collaborators, research and service involvement. Our core faculty is joined by part-time instructors who work at the top clinical facilities in Chicago. They help to insure that our curriculum reflects current best practices in the field. Graduates leave UIC prepared to create and deliver high quality occupational therapy services, to lead the profession or to become future researchers.

Research conducted at UIC has real-world impact that can improve people’s lives. Closely entwined with clinical practice and academics, our research generates new insights, resources and evidence for practice that benefit students, therapists and clients.