Drake University will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Occupational Therapy building, a newly renovated facility that serves as a hub for Drake’s year-old occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program and a resource for community members in need of assistance with physical and cognitive challenges.
The ceremony, scheduled for noon Friday, June 16, at 3003 Forest Ave., is expected to include remarks from Marty Martin, president of Drake University; Renae Chesnut, dean of Drake’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Ann Burkhardt, director of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program; Brad Waller, senior public relations executive at Hy-Vee, Inc.; and Maddy Nave, a current OTD student. An open house will begin at 11:30 a.m.
A central feature of the building is the Lifestyle Redesign Center, through which people with mobility challenges and their caregivers can test out a variety of assistive equipment through a simulated bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, grocery store, automobile, and streetscape. Though it has only been open a few months, the Center has already proven valuable to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, Mosaic in Central Iowa, ChildServe, and other local organizations serving people with a variety of healthcare needs.
The Occupational Therapy building was funded in part through the generosity of Hy-Vee, Inc., and Russell, JR (PH’52) and Lucile Johnson of Urbandale.
Sixty students are enrolled in Drake’s first two Occupational Therapy Doctorate program cohorts, the first of which launched in summer 2016. The program will soon be accepting applications for the next cohort that will begin in summer 2018.