The GW occupational therapy doctoral program, established in 2022, was ranked 27th among hundreds of programs in the United States according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 list of best graduate schools. The university as a whole is regularly ranked among the top schools in the country.
As the entry-level doctoral program is welcoming its third cohort in Fall of 2024, the program intentionally aims to recreate occupational therapy education, research, and service. By acknowledging that a broad and diverse population lacks access to services or quality person–and– care, the program aims to address these urgent gaps.
“Given that we are still a fairly new OT program, I was surprised at GW’s first-time ranking in the top 10 percent. I assumed we'd have a slower climb as others got to know us. What the ranking says to me is that people have taken notice of the dedicated work we are doing at GW. This speaks to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students who are using an occupational justice lens to solve personal, community, and societal issues,” said program director and professor, Roger Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA.
The GW OT program aims to innovate and transform the future of OT through intentional curricular design and community engagement. This is evident through the program's efforts to initiate conversations with the U.S. Access Board and congressional representatives on Capitol Hill through the Systems and Advocacy course. Students are also provided opportunities to support the Smithsonian Institution’s Access programs, provide pro bono services for Ukrainian soldier’s rehabilitation, and advance accessibility at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
The methodology for each ranking list may vary depending on the specialty, but the U.S. News & World Report 2024 ranking’s publication is typically derived from expert opinions regarding program quality and statistical indicators.
Read U.S. News & World Report's full list of the best graduate schools here.
