The departments of occupational therapy and physical therapy, exercise and nutrition sciences will soon merge into one name: the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.
The department will be made up of nationally accredited professional programs in occupational therapy and physical therapy (DPT); a post-baccalaureate certificate program in assistive technology; and research-based programs in occupational therapy (MS) and rehabilitation science (Doctorate of Philosophy).
"The new department will open new windows of opportunity in research for our faculty, allowing us to maintain our leadership status within the health professions," stated Maurizio Trevisan, interim dean of the School of Health Related Professions and chairman of the Department of Social and Preventive medicine and School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who also pioneered the reorganization.
"Rehabilitation is the common theme between both occupational therapy and physical therapy and the new Department of Rehabilitation Sciences will provide the ideal setting for the interactions between the two disciplines," Maurizio added.
The similarities between the two programs will potentially make for better communication, more collaboration and higher interaction among the faculty and students of both programs.
"It was thought that all of those persons involved in the professional programs, whether involved in the clinical aspects of the training or involved in producing the scientific basis of rehabilitation, would be better served by joining in the same academic unit," stated Frank Cerny, associate professor and chair for the Department of Physical Therapy.
"The hope," he added, "is that there will be better utilization of resources as instructional programs will be coordinated through the same unit."
Trevisan suggested the reorganization to the faculty and staff of both departments, both of which supported the proposal. The department chairs in the School of Health Related Professions received letters of support given by the school's faculty senate. Approval from the UB Faculty Senate, Provost Elizabeth Capaldi and President William R. Greiner came in February.
With approval secure, the faculty is now searching for a department chair.
"This will be a national search and our goal will be to hire an outstanding leader for this new department for the Fall 2002 semester," stated Trevisan.
Once a chair is recruited, the program will be implemented and put into action. According to Cerny, discussions on coordination are already underway.
"This should be an exciting time for faculty as they envision a new entity with new possibilities," he stated. "This merger is cutting-edge thinking."
The change will not affect students initially; the programs will continue as normal and course curriculums will remain the same.
However, in time, students will notice the difference between disciplines. "Students studying in either discipline will gain a unique understanding of each other's contributions to case management and in research," stated Trevisan. "It will also provide for more cross-disciplinary interactions, which will promote a broader theoretical and applied understanding."
"I think overall it will be a good move," said Susan Nochajski, clinical professor and program director for the Department of Occupational Therapy.
Due to the merging of departments, some offices may be relocated, but if such an event does occur, the offices will not be moved far and will stay within the current location, Kimball Tower of South Campus.
