Duquesne University Occupational Therapy Department

Our 4th year occupational therapy students pitched their novel business ideas to a Shark panel of healthcare administrators, business consultants, and entrepreneurs this past week.

Creative business strategies were presented clearly articulating occupational therapy’s unique role in applications for accessibility, positive mental health, community connections as well as product development of neuro rehab VR software and sensory equipment.

Special thanks to the collaboration and feedback from CCAC’s OTA students who vetted, validated, and communicated throughout the semester with our MS & OTD OT students to support looking at the businesses through an intradisciplinary lens.

Great job 4th years! We hope to see your entrepreneurial spirit continue to shine after your time here at Duquesne.

We are happy to share that the U.S. News & World Report 2026 rankings continue to place Duquesne University’s Occupational Therapy programs among the top in the nation, reinforcing our longstanding reputation for excellence in occupational therapy education.

Congratulations to recent 2025 MS alumnus, Lauren Beck, MS, OTR/L, and Dr. Kasey Stepansky on their recent publication in collaboration with Chatham University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program: Won’t you be my neighbor? Self-reported quality of life impacts on university student and older adult neighbors in a personal care home community.

This journal article was published in the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, a peer-reviewed journal that integrates practical, theoretical, and policy perspectives. The article describes the lived experiences of health science students and older adults living in a novel intergenerational community at Vincentian Schenley Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA. Results reflect the value of intergenerational living, impacts on mental health through relationship building, and how spontaneous and planned interactions
support the shared community.