Creighton University and Regis University Mark 10 Years of Successful Partnership in Occupational Therapy Education
Jesuit collaboration demonstrates exceptional outcomes with 98.4% board pass rate
Creighton University and Regis University are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their groundbreaking Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) partnership. Offered through Creighton’s School of Pharmacy and Health Professions and hosted at Regis University’s School of Rehabilitative and Health Sciences, this first-of-its-kind Jesuit-to-Jesuit collaboration has become a model for inter-institutional cooperation in health care education. The Creighton-Regis OTD pathway is part of a broader tri-alliance that also includes the Regis Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and the newly developed Rockhurst-Regis Speech and Language Pathology program. A Creighton-Rockhurst Speech and Language Pathology program is planned next year.
The Creighton-Regis OTD pathway has maintained remarkable stability over the past decade, with closely matched admission and graduation rates and a 98.4% board pass rate. The program serves students across the Rocky Mountain region through an innovative distance hybrid model that combines online lectures with hands-on laboratory experiences on the Regis campus.
Students in the Regis pathway participate in lectures delivered online while engaging in hands-on labs taught by Creighton faculty who are experts in their respective areas of occupational therapy practice. The program has established partnerships with premier clinical institutions throughout the United States, creating robust pathways for clinical training and leadership development.
"This partnership exemplifies how two Jesuit universities can collaborate to create a comprehensive and transformational learning experience for occupational therapy students," said Suzanne Holm, OT, Academic Program Coordinator and Associate Professor for Creighton-Regis Pathway Program. Holm continued, "We are stronger together in addressing regional health care workforce needs."
The program's faculty demonstrate exceptional retention, with an average service length of 5.8 years. 58% of faculty have dedicated five or more years to the program, while 42% are senior faculty with eight-plus years of experience. This stability directly translates to student success, as instructors combine clinical expertise and teaching experience tailored to the distance-hybrid model.
“The true strength of this partnership lies not just in curriculum, but in a shared focus on student success,” said Lou Jensen, OTD, Associate Vice Provost for the Center for Faculty Excellence at Creighton University and Associate Professor and Pathway Coordinator for Creighton-Regis Pathway Program. “By bringing together the expertise, innovation and adaptability of both institutions, we are preparing future health care leaders who are ready to meet the evolving needs of the profession and the people they serve.”
The collaboration addresses critical health care workforce needs in underserved communities across the Rocky Mountain region. Students experience diverse practice settings, from acute rehabilitation to senior living facilities, pediatric care to specialized education environments, developing adaptable clinical skills and deeper understanding of community needs.
The program's near-perfect retention rates demonstrate the effectiveness of consistent student support systems in transforming student potential into professional success. Both universities credit the partnership's success to their shared commitment to cura personalis – care for the whole person – and service to others, fundamental principles of Jesuit education.
The milestone reinforces both universities' dedication to innovative educational models that serve underserved populations while maintaining the highest academic and professional standards.