OTD Capstone Ideas, Examples, and Mentors
As part of an occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) program in the United States, doctoral students spend around 500 hours working on a capstone experience and project.
The purpose of a capstone project is to help students take a deep dive into a specific area of OT, synthesize the information, and then disseminate their findings. These projects have the potential to help OT professionals all over the world improve our clinical practices.
But, until now, it has been difficult to find and read these projects!
That's why we launched our capstone catalog, so you could see examples of capstone projects from OT Potential members.
Find Ideas and Project Examples in the OT Capstone Catalog
With our new OT Capstone Catalog, OT professionals from around the globe can easily find examples of OTD capstone projects from graduating OTD students. Likewise, other doctoral students can see examples of past projects to help them generate ideas.
The catalog is also free for the public to view.
How the catalog can help you generate ideas for your OTD capstone
Ideally, in occupational therapy, we are always building on one another’s work. So, with the capstone catalog, you can now search nationally to find similar projects that have been done in your focus and practice area. Take the time to read the advice submitted.
And, if you are pursing a project similar to what you find posted in the catalog, we encourage you to leave a comment for the student to see!
Our capstone catalog has a robust search feature. But to get you started, you can browse by the project focus area:
Administration
Policy development
Are you looking for an OT capstone mentor?
The other perk of being part of the OT Potential Club is our incredible network of OTs from around the globe. Within our OT directory, some members have indicated interest in serving as a mentor in particular subject areas. You can see these professionals below.
Sarah Lyon
OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
OT Potential
Aurora, Nebraska
Knowledge Translation
Theresa Bautista
OTR, OTD
WeDiverge LLC
Houston, Texas
ADHD, Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Neurodiversity
Hailey Burns
OTR/L
Colorado Springs Therapy Center
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Ergonomics, Hand Therapy, Leadership, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal
Davis Carmack
MS, OTD, OTR/L, DIR Proficient
Kids Lead
Johnston, Iowa
ADHD, Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Neurodiversity, Trauma & PTSD
Emily Tull
MSOT, OTR/L, EP-C
Peaks & Bounds/Colorado State University Center for Community Partnerships
Fort Collins, Colorado
Aging in Place, ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Fitness, Feeding and Eating, Grant Writing, Health Promotion, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Leadership, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Prevention, TBI
Kara Welke
OTD, OTR/L, CLT
Next Level Occupational Therapy
Thompson, North Dakota
Aging in Place, Coaching, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Home Modifications, Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Neurorehabilitation, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Seating and Mobility, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Marlene Handler
MS, OTR/L, TIPHP, CSOT
The Lifted Lotus, PLLC
Brooklyn, New York
Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fitness, Health Promotion, Insomnia & Sleep, Maternal Health, Pelvic Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Trauma & PTSD
Alicia Kollmar
MS, OTR/L
The Stress Detective
Durham, North Carolina
ADHD, Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Neurodiversity
Amanda Elsner
OTR, OTD, CNS
Katy, Texas
ADHD, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Mitochondrial Disorders, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Prevention, Rare Diseases, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Haley Van Escobar
MOTR/L, CHT, PMP
Hand Therapy Learning Lab
Seabeck, Washington
Coaching, Ergonomics, Hand Therapy, Knowledge Translation, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Trauma & PTSD
Christopher Gaskins
PhD, OTR/L, CSRS
Neurosuite
Washington, District of Columbia
Neurorehabilitation, Parkinson’s, Stroke, TBI
Christine Urish
PhD, MS, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA, CCAP
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa
ADHD, Anxiety, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Dementia, Health Promotion, Insomnia & Sleep, Lifestyle Medicine, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health
Janice Hinds
OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA
CO Mental Health Hospital - Fort Logan, Denver, CO
Denver, Colorado
Aging in Place, Anxiety, Chronic Conditions, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Health Data, Health Policy, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Multi-tiered System of Supports, Neurodiversity, Prevention, Population Health, Seating and Mobility, Social Determinants of Health, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Jenna Segraves
DPT, MS, NCS, CLT
Enhanced Recovery and Wellness
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Health Promotion, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Neurorehabilitation, Prevention, Population Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Celina Hawthorne
OTA, OTR, OTD
Nacogdoches, Texas
Vikram Pagpatan
EdD, OTR/L, ATP, CLA, BCP, FAOTA
SUNY Downstate School of Health Professions
Brooklyn, New York
Leadership
Catherine Hoyt
PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri
Cerebral Palsy, CIMT, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Rare Diseases
Sanchala Sen
OTD, MSc, BSc (OT), OTR/L, BCPR, FAOTA
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Aging in Place, Chronic Conditions, CIMT, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Hand Therapy, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Rheumatic Diseases, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI
Tee Stock
OTR/L, OTD, MS, MBA
MGHIHP
Needham, Massachusetts
ADHD, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Drivers Rehabilitation, Fitness, Health Promotion, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Lifestyle Medicine, Multi-tiered System of Supports, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Prevention, Trauma & PTSD
Kerrie Thomsen
Assoc Prof, ACU, Australia
Hallmark Integrated Health Group
Traralgon, Victoria
Aging in Place, ADHD, Autism, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Drivers Rehabilitation, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury
Michelle Jackson
OTD, MBA, OTR/L
Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri
Aging in Place, Health Promotion, Knowledge Translation, Neurorehabilitation, Social Determinants of Health, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Marnie Renda
OTD, M.Ed. OTR/L
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio
Aging in Place, ADHD, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Assistive Technology, Chronic Conditions, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Grant Writing, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Parkinson’s, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Population Health, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Social Determinants of Health, Trauma & PTSD
Katy Owens
OTR/L, TPS
Empowered Path Occupational Therapy
Loveland, Colorado
ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Prevention, Population Health, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rheumatic Diseases, Sexuality/Intimacy, Trauma & PTSD
Emily Rich
PhD., OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Tucson Medical Center
Tucson, Arizona
ADHD, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Lifestyle Medicine, Neurodiversity, Parkinson’s, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Curious what the capstone experience is actually like?
It is hard to capture all of the learning and potential of the capstone experience in a post like this.
So, I recorded a podcast-based course with our own capstone student, Alana Woolley, and her capstone coordinator, Daniel Rortvedt. In the course, we discuss some research on the benefits of the capstone experience, and then walk through our advice for creating a great capstone experience.
This episode is really geared toward mentors, but anyone involved in the process may benefit from listening!
Conclusion
At OT Potential, our mission is to help the majority of occupational therapy practitioners from around the globe make a habit of regularly exploring new OT-related research. So, participating in the dissemination of capstone projects has been a natural fit for us. We hope you find it to be a win-win for both students and working practitioners.
Contributors
Sarah Lyon
OTR/L
Sarah Lyon, OTR/L, is the CEO of OT Potential. Sarah earned her BA from St. Olaf College and her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University. Her diverse clinical background spans multiple settings, including critical access, acute trauma, and state inpatient psychiatric hospitals. In 2011, she founded OT Potential to fulfill the industry's need for reliable, high-quality occupational therapy resources and continuing education.
As a recognized content creator, Sarah has collaborated with top healthcare brands like VeryWell Health, WebPT, and MedBridge. She blends her clinical expertise with a talent for creating clear, action-oriented content that empowers practitioners to excel. Passionate about elevating the OT profession, she has been featured on numerous industry podcasts. Sarah ultimately returned to her roots, running OT Potential and raising her family in her hometown of Aurora, Nebraska.
