The Dumke College of Health Professions and the Occupational Therapy Program marked a major milestone on September 21 as community members, faculty, students, and leaders gathered for the grand opening and public open house of the new Occupational Therapy Pathways Building.
This state-of-the-art facility serves as the dedicated learning hub for ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s innovative Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. Introduced in spring 2026, this four-year degree offers Wildcats a direct route into a high-demand healthcare field—blending academic rigor with immediate community impact.
This transformative facility was made possible through a generous $2.5 million initial investment from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. Their support established a launchpad for Utah’s next generation of healthcare providers, ensuring ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø students learn in environments built for the future of patient care.
Designed to mirror professional clinical settings, the new facility features simulated hospital, clinic, and home environments. Here, students learn to support diverse patient populations.
The building also houses an on-site community clinic that provides free, supervised health services directly to local residents. The inaugural cohort of 19 OTA students, who began their studies in August, will soon start working with their first community clients in the space.
Through this hub, ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø is expanding its active collaborations with key community partners, including the Seager Memorial Clinic, Family Promise, ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s Melba S. Lehner Children's School and Charter Academy, and the CAPES! Program for children with developmental disabilities.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this achievement! To learn more about the OTA program and how ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø is transforming health professions education, visit the Dumke College of Health Professions online.