Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs Granted Accreditation

By Office of Communications & Marketing | Sep 12, 2022

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has granted full accreditation to the School of Health Profession's Occupational Therapy Program for ten years. After a rigorous self-study and site review, ACOTE found our Occupational Therapy (OT) master’s program fully compliant with all standards.

The ACOTE review team commended the OT program for emphasizing equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering interprofessional education, its excellent leadership and faculty, and optimal fieldwork experiences that facilitate students’ personal and professional growth.

In the College of Nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice(DNP) received full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for five years. A subsequent evaluation will take place in the spring of 2026.

The CCNE Board of Commissioners found that the DNP program met all accreditation standards and achieved all expected program outcomes.  Among other findings, the report noted the strong involvement of faculty and students in academic programming, the high level of Downstate and College of Nursing support for students, and the program’s expansive pool of clinical placement sites and clinical preceptors. CCNE also praised Downstate for sponsoring many interprofessional education opportunities and using assessment to foster improvement.  

Congratulations to SOHP dean Allen N. Lewis, Ph.D., CON dean Lori Escallier, Ph.D., R.N., OT chair T’Shura Brown, OTD, OTR/L, DNP Track director Nataliya Shaforost, DNP, the faculty from both programs for their hard work and dedication.