Texas Christian University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is breaking new ground by becoming the first OT program in the United States to offer a full academic pathway to board certification in lifestyle medicine. This innovative opportunity enables students to pursue additional education and training, learning to integrate evidence-based lifestyle interventions into occupational therapy practice.  

Board certification in lifestyle medicine will allow doctoral students to distinguish themselves as practitioners with specialized knowledge in health promotion, disease prevention and whole-person care. Students who successfully complete the full pathway will meet the educational requirements to sit for the lifestyle medicine certification examination through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) once they have graduated and passed the occupational therapy board certification exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.  

“Launching a full academic pathway to lifestyle medicine is an exciting step forward in preparing OT students to move beyond managing illness to partnering with individuals and communities to prevent chronic disease and thrive across the lifespan,” said Crystal Smith, assistant professor of professional practice and doctoral capstone coordinator for OTD. “I am incredibly proud to bring this approach to our students and to help shape the future of OT practice.” 

Bernard Rousseau, Marilyn and Morgan Davies Dean of Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, said the new pathway fits in well with the mission of the college and TCU as a whole.  

“As the first occupational therapy program in the nation to offer a full academic pathway to board certification in lifestyle medicine, Harris College is establishing a precedent for the kind of forward-thinking training that is necessary to prepare health professionals for the careers of tomorrow,” Rousseau said. “The program is uniquely positioned to prepare learners to translate evidence-based practice into meaningful lifestyle changes. This innovative pathway will become a competitive advantage for graduates to integrate evidence-based lifestyle interventions to improve health and wellness, prevent chronic disease and allow individuals to maximize participation and independence in their daily lives.” 

Connecting Lifestyle Medicine and Occupational Therapy 
Occupational therapy has historically taken a holistic approach to health, taking into consideration the physical, cognitive, social, emotional and environmental factors that influence a person’s ability to participate in meaningful activities, explained Smith, a board-certified lifestyle medicine professional.  

“The discipline complements this approach by using evidence-based strategies for preventing, treating and reversing chronic disease,” she said. 

The field of lifestyle Medicine is inherently interprofessional and focuses on six areas:  

• nutrition 

• physical activity 

• restorative sleep 

• stress management 

• social connection 

• avoiding risky behaviors.  

“Together, these areas address many of the daily factors that impact health and wellness,” Smith said.  

Lifestyle Medicine practitioners work with their patients to address health risks and support long-term behavior changes; practitioners assess habits, set measurable goals, monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.  

“Occupational therapy practitioners already play an important role in supporting health promotion and behavior change for optimal participation in daily activities,” Smith said. “As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, wellness and whole-person care, occupational therapists are perfectly positioned to help patients with chronic conditions improve their daily lives. This pathway is an opportunity for students to expand their training, pursue specialized education and help their patients turn evidence-based health recommendations into meaningful changes that improve their daily lives.”