Ruth Ford, EdD, MSBS, OTR, FAOTA

OTD Program Director

Dr. Ruth Ford, OTD Program Director, is the developing founder of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (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, research, 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 assistant, bachelor, master, 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 – two 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 six years); and gas cards ($8,000) for fieldwork travel.

Dr. Ford earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from The Ohio State University a master's degree 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). Dr. Ford 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 the 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.