Texas Christian University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is breaking new ground by becoming the first OT program in the United
States to offer a full academic pathway to board certification in lifestyle medicine. This innovative
opportunity enables students to pursue additional education and training, learning to integrate
evidence-based lifestyle interventions into occupational therapy practice.
Board certification in lifestyle medicine will allow doctoral students to distinguish themselves as practitioners with specialized knowledge in
health promotion, disease prevention and whole-person care. Students who successfully
complete the full pathway will meet the educational requirements to sit for the lifestyle
medicine certification examination through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) once they have graduated and passed the occupational therapy board certification
exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.
“Launching a full academic pathway to lifestyle medicine is an exciting step forward
in preparing OT students to move beyond managing illness to partnering with individuals
and communities to prevent chronic disease and thrive across the lifespan,” said Crystal
Smith, assistant professor of professional practice and doctoral capstone coordinator
for OTD. “I am incredibly proud to bring this approach to our students and to help
shape the future of OT practice.”
Bernard Rousseau, Marilyn and Morgan Davies Dean of Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, said the new pathway fits in well with the mission of the college and TCU as a whole.
“As the first occupational therapy program in the nation to offer a full academic
pathway to board certification in lifestyle medicine, Harris College is establishing
a precedent for the kind of forward-thinking training that is necessary to prepare
health professionals for the careers of tomorrow,” Rousseau said. “The program is
uniquely positioned to prepare learners to translate evidence-based practice into
meaningful lifestyle changes. This innovative pathway will become a competitive advantage
for graduates to integrate evidence-based lifestyle interventions to improve health
and wellness, prevent chronic disease and allow individuals to maximize participation
and independence in their daily lives.”
Connecting Lifestyle Medicine and Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy has historically taken a holistic approach to health, taking
into consideration the physical, cognitive, social, emotional and environmental factors
that influence a person’s ability to participate in meaningful activities, explained
Smith, a board-certified lifestyle medicine professional.
“The discipline complements this approach by using evidence-based strategies for preventing, treating and reversing chronic disease,” she said.
The field of lifestyle Medicine is inherently interprofessional and focuses on six
areas:
- avoiding risky behaviors.
“Together, these areas address many of the daily factors that impact health and wellness,”
Smith said.
Lifestyle Medicine practitioners work with their patients to address health risks
and support long-term behavior changes; practitioners assess habits, set measurable
goals, monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
“Occupational therapy practitioners already play an important role in supporting health
promotion and behavior change for optimal participation in daily activities,” Smith
said. “As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, wellness and whole-person
care, occupational therapists are perfectly positioned to help patients with chronic conditions improve their daily lives. This pathway is an opportunity for students to expand their
training, pursue specialized education and help their patients turn evidence-based
health recommendations into meaningful changes that improve their daily lives.”
