Quincy University is making history with the news of its first doctoral programs in 165 years. The program will begin in 2026, and QU will offer a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). This will mark a major milestone for the institution and a significant step forward in addressing regional healthcare needs.

The programs will be in a hybrid format, combining online coursework with on-campus lab housing twice per semester. Students will get hands-on experience in QU’s newly renovated lab spaces, which are designed to look like a real-world clinical environment.

Kristin Haas, who is a program director and professor of occupational therapy, thinks that the facilities look like a clinic, more specifically, a pediatric clinic, a hospital, an outpatient, or even a home health setting.

“Students will learn all the skills they need to be great entry-level clinicians when they graduate. And this facility will be here forever as part of the program,” Haas said.

The North Campus renovations, supported by a $4.2 million state grant, have transformed underutilized office space into state-of-the-art labs, classrooms, and offices. An additional apartment-style space is under development, allowing students to practice helping patients safely transition back into home environments.

“I’m super excited. This is something that I love doing, starting new programs and helping develop students into occupational therapists so they can be, you know, the best students that they can be. And Quincy is really in a prime spot to offer that with it being kind of a rural setting. There’s not a lot of OT schools there,” Haas said.

Trevor St. Clair, Associate Professor of occupational therapy, say that the hybrid structure will make graduate-level healthcare education more accessible to students in resource-limited settings and areas.

“I’m really excited to get this program up and running. I’m really excited about the hybrid component. I’ve been really passionate about hybrid education because I feel like it makes it accessible to more people,” St. Clair said.

Asfia Mohammed, an assistant professor in the OT program with more than 13 years of clinical experience, will be teaching mostly adults and clinical practice.

It will be Mohammed’s first academia job, and with her experience in primarily adult inpatient rehab she will bring passion.

“I’ve always been really passionate about OTD programs and capstone programs. I’ve taken plenty of students who have done their capstone projects with me, and so I’m really excited to see what I can bring to this program as well,” Mohammed said.

The first students will start in January 2026, and with the addition of OTD and DPT programs, QU is signaling a strong commitment to healthcare education, and university leaders suggest this is just the beginning.