TCU OTD First to Provide Path to Board Certification in Lifestyle Medicine

Texas Christian University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is breaking new floor by turning into the primary OT program within the United
States to supply a full educational pathway to board certification in life-style medication. This progressive
alternative allows college students to pursue further training and coaching, studying to combine
evidence-based life-style interventions into occupational remedy apply.  

Board certification in life-style medication will permit doctoral college students to differentiate themselves as practitioners with specialised information in
well being promotion, illness prevention and whole-person care. Students who efficiently
full the complete pathway will meet the academic necessities to sit down for the life-style
medication certification examination via the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) as soon as they’ve graduated and handed the occupational remedy board certification
examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.  

“Launching a full educational pathway to life-style medication is an thrilling step ahead
in getting ready OT college students to maneuver past managing sickness to partnering with people
and communities to forestall persistent illness and thrive throughout the lifespan,” mentioned Crystal
Smith, assistant professor {of professional} apply and doctoral capstone coordinator
for OTD. “I’m extremely proud to convey this strategy to our college students and to assist
form the way forward for OT apply.” 

Bernard Rousseau, Marilyn and Morgan Davies Dean of Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, mentioned the brand new pathway matches in nicely with the mission of the school and TCU as a complete.  

“As the primary occupational remedy program within the nation to supply a full educational
pathway to board certification in life-style medication, Harris College is establishing
a precedent for the form of forward-thinking coaching that’s crucial to arrange
well being professionals for the careers of tomorrow,” Rousseau mentioned. “The program is
uniquely positioned to arrange learners to translate evidence-based apply into
significant life-style adjustments. This progressive pathway will turn into a aggressive benefit
for graduates to combine evidence-based life-style interventions to enhance well being
and wellness, forestall persistent illness and permit people to maximise participation
and independence of their each day lives.” 

Connecting Lifestyle Medicine and Occupational Therapy 
Occupational remedy has traditionally taken a holistic strategy to well being, taking
into consideration the bodily, cognitive, social, emotional and environmental components
that affect an individual’s capability to take part in significant actions, defined
Smith, a board-certified life-style medication skilled.  

“The discipline complements this approach by using evidence-based strategies for preventing, treating and reversing chronic disease,” she mentioned. 

The subject of life-style Medicine is inherently interprofessional and focuses on six
areas:  

• avoiding dangerous behaviors.  

“Together, these areas address many of the daily factors that impact health and wellness,”
Smith mentioned.  

Lifestyle Medicine practitioners work with their sufferers to handle well being dangers
and assist long-term conduct adjustments; practitioners assess habits, set measurable
targets, monitor progress and make changes as wanted.  

“Occupational remedy practitioners already play an essential position in supporting well being
promotion and conduct change for optimum participation in each day actions,” Smith
mentioned. “As healthcare continues to shift in direction of prevention, wellness and whole-person
care, occupational therapists are completely positioned to assist sufferers with persistent situations enhance their each day lives. This pathway is a chance for college students to increase their
coaching, pursue specialised training and assist their sufferers flip evidence-based
well being suggestions into significant adjustments that enhance their each day lives.”