Department of Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy Department was established within University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation sciences (USWR) in 1992 as a program to train occupational therapists in both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The department aims to promote standard practices according to the WFOT criteria and develop philosophical bases for practice according to occupation and Eastern culture. To achieve its goal, the Department of Occupational Therapy established the PhD program in 2008.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy as a science-based degree, and health and social care profession, takes a holistic approach (e.g., considering mental, physical, and psychosocial aspects of human being in the management), to enable individuals to achieve their full potential. This profession provides practical support to enable people in overcoming any barriers that prevent them from active social participation. Occupational therapy helps to increase patients’ independence and satisfaction in all aspects of life and through these processes improve patients’ quality of life.
Occupational therapists work with adults and children of all ages with a wide range of conditions who are experiencing limitations in social participation, mental and physical abilities. Occupational therapists play a critical role in helping people of all ages to overcome the effects of disability caused by illness, ageing or accident so that they can carry out everyday tasks or occupations. Occupational therapists carried out their services in all levels of primary and secondary preventions to promote social well-beings.
Aims
Our department aims to strengthen occupational therapy skills and services through basic and applied research, train needed faculty members for national universities, develop research centers and provide advanced services to the clients.
The faculty and staff of the department are some of the best and well-known researchers and practitioners in the country and Middle East. They are dedicated and committed to train up our future colleagues. Their interests are varied and include practice and research in areas such as occupational sciences, family training, cerebral palsy, mental health and bridge basic sciences like neurosciences to applied sciences.
Considering the critical role of occupation and activity in social integration and participation in improving the quality of life, one final goal of the department is to train competent therapists to get in-depth knowledge on different aspects of human being (physical, mental and psychosocial): achieve abilities in different aspects of purposeful activities (recreation, work, and self-care); gain appropriate therapeutic communication based on scientific principles; understand problems due to neuropsychological, physiological and/or social disorders; recognize knowledge about potential resources and risks in environment; collect and transfer data to society; apply therapeutic exercises and approaches based on biomechanics, psychological, and neuroscience theories; and enhance the level of basic and clinical researches and scientific products in occupational therapy.
Teaching
The Department of Occupational Therapy trains qualified occupational therapists to work in a variety of settings including health organizations, social care services, schools, housing, education, re-employment schemes, occupational health, prisons, and voluntary organizations or as independent practitioners. Our faculty members are connected with clinicians, researchers, and policy makers nationally.
Our graduates work in a variety of settings including governmental, non-governmental and privates (NGOs). They have opportunity to join the postgraduate programs in various fields including Rehabilitation Management, Occupational Therapy and/or Neuroscience in both M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels.
Research
Research is the foundation for teaching and clinical practice in Occupational Therapy Department. Our department has an internationally recognized research program in different areas such as mental health illnesses, physical or learning disabilities, stroke, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, amputations, cerebral palsy, Autism, ADHD and other learning disorders.
Services We Offer
Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty members provide you with the highest quality of work experience in different associated centers including:
Rofeideh Rehabilitation Hospital
Nezammafi Rehabilitation Center
Asma Rehabilitation Center
Razi Hospital of Psychiatric Disorders