As VCU’s OT Academy wrapped on a Friday in mid-June, 12 participants sat in the College of Health Professions, eating lunch and laughing, surrounded by their recently completed Lego creations. They had been tasked with creating visual representations of their progress since the program’s first day.

Richmond native and VCU rising senior Shaniece Page described how her group’s creation – scattered blocks coalescing into a tower – reflected her growth. “Before OT Academy, I knew I was interested in occupational therapy and had some scattered knowledge, but I didn’t really know how those pieces fit together or what OT school would look like. Coming here and meeting like-minded people helped me have a better understanding of what occupational therapists do and what to expect.”

The annual five-day academy – presented by VCU’s Occupational Therapy Department – invites undergraduate students and recent graduates to explore careers in occupational therapy. The program also aims to help participants better understand the field, connect with peers and ultimately enroll in an OT graduate program.

A few years ago, VCU identified a need for an OT-specific pathway program. The field lacked exposure compared to paths like physical therapy, dentistry, pharmacy and general medicine – all of which had established and effective pathway programs at the university.

The program also sought to introduce the discipline to a wider audience. “If you go upstairs and look at the photos of the OT cohort on our wall, it’s predominantly white women. That lack of representation has been recognized nationally and across health care professions,” said Audrey Kane, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, assistant professor and director of admissions and recruitment for VCU Occupational Therapy.

“A program like this also provides support to students who might not necessarily have the resources and information to navigate what a transition into an OT program might look like,” added Chelsa Gary, M.P.A., director of recruitment and student programs for the College of Health Professions, which houses the OT department.

Kane worked with OT students to incorporate a needs assessment and development of a framework for the OT Academy as part of their capstone projects, which led to securing university funding for two years in 2023. After a successful launch, the program secured funding through 2026.

OT Academy primarily attracts applicants through word of mouth. “Even without an aggressive recruitment campaign, we had a robust application pool this year, so word is getting out,” Kane said. Originally capped at 10 participants, the 2025 cohort grew to 12 thanks to budget flexibility.

The week began with an overview of the OT profession and team-building activities. In the following days, participants explored OT’s role in mental health, pediatrics and working with adults. They also prepared for the graduate school application process and visited clinical sites across the region, including the Sheltering Arms Institute, which holds a collaboration with VCU Health. Through an affiliated service project with Children’s Assistive Technology Services, participants cleaned about 40 pieces of equipment that will be distributed to families whose children need equipment that often is not paid for by insurance.

An end-of-week site visit to Spot On Therapy Group sparked new possibilities for Page. “Previously, I wasn’t really interested in pediatrics, but today I thought, oh, this could actually be something that I’m interested in,” she said. “It’s opened my mind to different opportunities.”

For others, the program offered a confidence boost. Meghan Dewberry, a Hampton University student from Georgia, comes from a small town with not many resources. “So it’s not easy for someone like me who’s interested in OT to find the information they need,” she said. “It was hard navigating everything and not comparing myself to others. OT Academy helped me overcome that barrier.”

Carole Ivey, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, OT chair, noted former attendees often stand out in the graduate program interview process. “What we are looking for is: Do they understand the profession of occupational therapy? Are they sure that’s the profession they want to go into — and why? This week really sets them up for that,” she said.

Among the program’s 15 alums, six have gone on to enroll in the VCU program, including 2024 attendee Abby Cinco. “OT Academy was what made me choose OT,” she said. “I think a lot of us would say the same.”

Former participants and current VCU graduate students Bret Walker and Jenny Adiao hope to see the program continue. “(Program leaders) really want to reach out to marginalized communities and understand that they might not have this knowledge accessible to them,” Walker said.

“Diversifying our workforce would benefit our communities and improve health outcomes,” Adiao added.

For this year’s cohort, perhaps the most lasting outcome is a newfound sense of belonging.

“We’re technically going to be competitors at some point, but we still have a genuine connection with each other,” said Alysa Thombs, a student at Salem College in North Carolina. “You wouldn’t know that we all met on Monday.”

By John Battiston