Preparing Your Doctoral Capstone: A Workbook for Occupational Therapy Students

This practical and informative workbook guides occupational therapy doctorate students through every step of the capstone project and experience.

The workbook acknowledges the variability in capstone requirements and supports students by providing strategies to address common components. Each chapter offers tips and advice on topics such as identifying a need, finding a mentor and experiential site, conducting a literature review, developing project objectives, developing experiential objectives, and dissemination of the outcomes. Guiding students to develop a meaningful and productive capstone project and experience, the book includes worksheets and samples of completed student projects and experiences at each stage of the process.

This is the ideal guide for any occupational therapy doctorate student aiming to undertake a successful capstone project, as well as the perfect complement for Doctoral Capstone Coordinators (DCC) and didactic classroom teaching and learning.

Pamela A. Kasyan-Howe, a DCC with over 20 years in higher education, has developed curriculum for associate to doctoral programs. She has held roles as program director, academic fieldwork coordinator, and doctoral coordinator. Pamela has served as an AOTA doctoral mentor, Chair of FLOTEC, and FOTA SIS Chair for Fieldwork and Capstone Education. She has published and presented at state, national and international venues on fieldwork, doctoral capstone, ethics, and leadership.

Kristin Domville is a doctoral capstone coordinator at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Miami campus. Her extensive experience in clinical practice and academic leadership underscores her commitment to advancing the field of occupational therapy and mentoring the next generation of OT practitioners.

Michael A. Pizzi developed one of NY’s first OTD programs and is a former DCC. He received the Award for Excellence in the advancement of Occupational Therapy and became one of the youngest Fellows of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, given to those who demonstrate scholarship, leadership, and service. Dr. Pizzi was guest editor for AJOT Special Issues on HIV/AIDS, Childhood Obesity, and Health, Well-Being, and QOL, and created the Pizzi Health and Wellness Assessment.