The capstone at Pacific University is an independent mentored project as culmination of clinical doctoral education in which students demonstrate advanced skills in one or more of the following areas: (1) clinical practice, (2) research, (3) administration, (4) leadership, (5) program and policy development, (6) advocacy, (7) education, or (8) theory development. Students will develop a plan, implement a doctoral-level project, write a publishable manuscript, and present the process both at Pacific University and in a professional venue. (OTD Capstone and Doctoral Specialty Experiential Internship Manual, Spring 2015)
Doctoral Capstone & Internship Plan
I completed my Doctoral Capstone Project as well as a 16 week Internship (also referred to as an Experiential). For these projects, I explored embedding occupational therapy services within a primary care setting. I used my experiential hours to further develop my skills as a generalist practitioner, conduct a needs assessment, establish relationships with providers, connect with current practitioners in this field, and much more.
MHA Internship & Research Project
For my second degree, a Masters in Healthcare Administration, I am completed a business plan for occupational therapy services within primary care. This project further examined the specifics of program implementation, such as billing, compliance, and organizational structure.