Department of Occupational Therapy

Dr. Ruth Ford, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program Director, is the developing founder of the OTD Program at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Ford has 22 years of full-time academic experience in addition to her extensive involvement with master and doctoral level occupational therapy students through course work in kinesiology, anatomy, geriatrics and research, as well as assistive technology capstone mentoring, management and leadership. Dr. Ford has participated in committee work for accreditation activities with Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and provided administrative oversight for ACOTE accreditation for the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral level programs. Ruth provides consultation to developing entry level doctoral occupational therapy programs. She has received grants from the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation ($150,000 – 2 grants), Lilly Grant ($100,000) Baptist Healing Trust for Sacred Work ($16,000); Research Retirement Foundation ($83,262 with in kind donation of $170,000) for an adaptive OT Home; Memorial Foundation ($500,000) – new health science building; and Christy Houston Foundation ($56,690) for clinical equipment; Rotary scholarships ($3,500); Rotary OTD capstone projects ($16,120), corporate donations for student textbooks ($24,000 over 6 years); and gas cards ($8,000) for fieldwork travel.

Dr. Ford earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) from The Ohio State University a master’s in Biomedical Sciences in Rehabilitation Sciences from the former Medical College of Ohio (University of Toledo), and a Doctorate in Education from Bowling Green State University. Her research externship at the national AARP headquarters in Washington, DC led to her dissertation titled Leadership Influence on Work Opportunities for Older Adult Workers (2004). Ruth has earned the American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows national award, (FAOTA). She has held credentialing as a Certification in Living In Place (CLIPP), Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) 1991-2001 and Board Certification in Gerontology (BCG) 2001-2007. She has participated in extensive professional presentations at local, regional and national conferences and workshops. Research interests and publications include issues regarding aging, driving and older adult workers. Her professional service includes membership on the occupational therapy licensure boards in Tennessee and Ohio. In addition, Dr. Ford has served on committees at the district, state and national occupational therapy associations.

Dr. Ford is a practicing occupational therapist with 45 years of clinical experience in administration, management, acute care, rehabilitation, out-patient, long term care, home health and has served as an expert witness. At the corporate level, she has worked as a rehabilitation consultant for long-term care and as a corporate director of rehabilitation services for up to 85 affiliated and non-affiliated long term care settings across the country. She has managed over 500 occupational and physical therapists and speech language pathologists in this capacity.

Dr. Ford’s service to the community includes membership in the United Methodist Church; Rotarian (Past President) and Paul Harris Fellow; Instructor for CarFit (older driver fit for safety and education program); Trainer for We Need to Talk (Driver Cessation Program); Driver safety programming with Indiana Department of Transportation (TDOT), AARP and AAA; Master Trainer for A Matter of Balance (fall prevention program); former Board Member of WAVES, Inc. (Developmental Disabilities); and Leadership Franklin, Tennessee. Dr. Ford is creating student learning opportunities at University of the Incarnate Word, inter-professional education with five other schools at UIW plus research and capstone projects throughout the greater San Antonio and national areas.

Dr. Dailen Castillo, OTD, MBA, OTR

Dr. Dailen Castillo is an Associate Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Castillo earned her doctoral degree in occupational therapy (PP OTD) from Chatham University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 2016. She received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Texas Permian Basin in 2020 and her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy (BS) from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas, in 2000. Her doctoral capstone focused on how early mobilization with critically ill patients in the intensive care unit positively impacts functional outcomes in activities of daily living.

Dr. Castillo has 20 years of experience as a clinical occupational therapist. Her experience includes working with adults and the geriatric population in skilled nursing facilities, acute hospitals, critical care, acute rehabilitation, neonatal intensive care unit, home health, outpatient facilities, and leadership/managerial roles. Throughout her clinical experience, Dr. Castillo has served as a fieldwork educator and mentor for Fieldwork Level II students. She has served as the lead and mentor for Chatham University’s OTD mentoring program to assist students with their capstone development. She has served as the secretary and is currently the chair of the Advisory Board of the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at St. Philip's College in San Antonio, Texas.

Jessica T. Maxwell, OTD, OTR/L, ACUE, CEAS

Capstone Coordinator and Assistant Professor

As a native of Alabama, Dr. Maxwell received her bachelor’s degree from Troy University in Human Services with a minor in Spanish. Dr. Maxwell received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Alabama State University in 2012. She obtained certification in ergonomics assessments and diversity, equity, and inclusion. After working in skilled nursing facilities for three years, she returned to school to pursue her post-professional doctorate. In 2017, Dr. Maxwell graduated with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Kentucky University at the top of her class. Months later she was hired at her alma mater, Alabama State University, in the Department of Occupational Therapy as an assistant professor and academic fieldwork coordinator. Dr. Maxwell worked diligently in this position and then took on a simultaneous position as the program director after three short years in academia. Dr. Maxwell now serves as the Capstone Coordinator at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Maxwell has served in many capacities outside of academia, including but not limited to appointment as a Langston University Research Fellow engaging grant writing and manuscripts, committee board member for Alabama Board of Occupational Therapy, Roster of Accreditation Evaluation for Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, and a consistent volunteer for Meals on Wheels within the community. She has advised and mentored a myriad of graduate research groups, while also completing her own research projects. Dr. Maxwell has presented several posters both at national and local professional conferences. In addition to professional service, Dr. Maxwell has served on several university, college, community, and departmental committees as chair and/or committee member.

Dr. Maxwell is currently pursuing her second doctorate at Liberty University; a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration: Educational Leadership with plans to complete this experience in late 2022. Dr. Maxwell received an AOTA award for young scientists in 2018 for her research. She was also awarded a Distinguished Post-Professional OTD Alumni Award for Leadership Performance in Occupational Therapy by EKU in 2021. She has gained 10 years of experience in the field of occupational therapy with many more endeavors to accomplish.

Dr. Monica Clark is the Assistant Professor in the Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

Dr. Marcie Campbell is the Assistant Professor in the Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program.

Doctoral Degree Level Occupational Therapy Program (Applicant Program) The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

The doctoral graduate program is comprised of 8 semesters, 114 credit hours, that can be completed full-time in 33 months.

The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

• The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program will begin admitting students in summer of 2022 to start class in Fall 2023.
• The Occupational Therapy Application System (OTCAS) will take applications beginning July 21, 2022.

Interested Students and family are invited to the Preview Day via RSVP to the admission office at otdadmissions@uiwtx.edu or (210) 890-4351.

• September 16, 2022
• October 21, 2022
• November 18, 2022
• February 10, 2023
• April 21, 2023

Interviews will be by invitation only following application submission.

The OTD students will:

1. Demonstrate competency in scholarship, lifelong learning, evidence-based practice, education, and research through advocating for the OT profession and consumers of occupational therapy services.
2. Discover and define truth in communication and research, mutual understanding, self-realization, and the common good through provision as a health and wellness provider.
3. Incorporate a global perspective for social justice and occupational justice through inclusion, diversity, and equity to maximize health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities.
4. Innovate using advanced, evidenced based clinical skills, technology and expertise to serve the spiritual, physical and material needs of a diverse population.
5. Engage in intraprofessional and interprofessional education practice that addresses evidence based, client centered and cost-effective healthcare, and demonstrates influence in changing policies, environments and complex systems.

• Classes and lab space for the OTD program will be held at 9160 Guilbeau Road, San Antonio, TX 78250.
• Specialty labs include a designated OTD pediatric lab, activities of daily living lab, and an innovation or technology lab. Musculoskeletal labs will be conducted in the adjacent Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
• The medical school has a cadaver lab for anatomy and kinesiology. Nursing has simulation labs for interprofessional case studies. Low vision labs are a part of the optometry program.
• The other interdisciplinary programs include pharmacy. An onsite outpatient clinic is available for clinical observations.