Work

Deliberate Practice in Occupational Therapy Education: A Conceptual Model for Professional Growth

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In response to national calls for a more representative health care workforce, this conceptual paper proposes the Model of Deliberate Occupational Therapy Practice (MDOTP), which aims to enhance pedagogical strategies related to supporting, engaging, and leveraging students’ unique cultural and experiential assets. Grounded in the scholarship of integration, authors draw from three theoretical frameworks, Funds of Knowledge, Therapeutic Use of Self, and Street-Level Bureaucracy, to provide a robust foundation for refining psychosociocultural approaches in occupational therapy education. After describing the MDOTP, a subsequent set of Guiding Principles (encourage reflective practice, development of the professional self, incorporate community-based learning, and promote collaborative learning environments) and corresponding action steps are provided to inform occupational therapy and allied health care curricula. Implications for future research and occupational therapy education are discussed.

Source: The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

DOI: 10.15453/2168-6408.2536

Authors: Suzanne Marasco, Matthew A Witenstein

Institutions: St. Bonaventure University, University of New Mexico

Language: English

Topic: Innovations in Medical Education

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $300