Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies undergraduate curriculum to serve as cornerstone of presentation at the Society for the Study of Occupation

The Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies (HWOS) undergraduate curriculum of the Westbrook College of Health Professions (WCHP) will be the cornerstone of an upcoming professional forum presentation at the Society for the Study of Occupation conference in Lexington, Kentucky, Oct. 17-19, 2013.  This society in its 13th year was created as an interdisciplinary, international group of scholars and researchers dedicated to the science of occupation.

Kathryn Loukas, OTD, M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA, clinical professor of Occupational Therapy; Mary Anne Moisan, adjunct professor of HWOS and OT; Caryn Husman, M.S., coordinator of the HWOS Program; and Katie Hawke, M.S., assistant lecturer in Applied Exercise and Sport Performance and common curriculum coordinator for the WCHP undergraduate program, will be presenting a 90 minute Forum Presentation titled, “Delivering on the Promise of Occupation-Based Undergraduate Education: Occupational Science, Interprofessional Education, Health and Wellness.”  WCHP Associate Dean Karen Pardue’s leadership, input, and outcome data will be included in this presentation and proceedings.

The Forum will highlight the process of building the Interprofessional Health Science core and the HWOS curriculum as an undergraduate program to replace the former five-year occupational therapy Undergraduate to Master’s Degree Program.

An undergraduate degree program dedicated to the study of occupation as a health and wellness dimension is an innovative idea that has attracted much attention and student enthusiasm. The liberal arts core, interprofessional focus, broad professional applications, and ability for students to adopt a minor or be involved in global education opportunities will be highlighted.  The Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies program is currently in its third year of implementation as undergraduate students at UNE embrace the study of occupation.  

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.