Programs in Occupational Therapy

Upholding our Professional Code of Ethics

Fists hands raised

In the Programs in Occupational Therapy at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, we believe that training occupational therapists who are future agents of change requires the highest commitment to our longstanding core values and code of ethics of the occupational therapy profession.

Code of Ethics:

We believe striving for an inclusive academic community that supports all members regardless of identity, status, or attributes is a lifelong and continuous process. Therefore, we commit to:

On-Going Professional Development

  • CUOT faculty, staff, and students are participating in continuous professional development training.

Threading Principles of Empathy, Effective Communication, and Professionalism into Our Curriculum, Courses, and Pedagogy

  • Courses are being revised to be more inclusive and informed by key principles that embody empathetic clinical reasoning and effective communication.
  • We are training faculty that Compassionate Pedagogy is not an add-on to a course. It is a manner of teaching, designing courses, and measuring learning outcomes.
  • We make sure that the classroom environment is inclusive by holding space for respectful conversation and ensuring that we address any “classroom ruptures”– a disorienting dilemma or situation when compassion is necessary, providing real time opportunities for professional development, learning, and growth. Racist actions and remarks directed at a person because of their identity are never tolerated at Columbia University and will be dealt with following established protocols.

Building Community by Valuing and Celebrating All of its Members

We believe that being part of a community and collective action are important steps in creating a more inclusive culture. Therefore, we are committed to sustaining and strengthening our efforts through the following:

  • Consistently evaluating and revising our admissions process to recruit, retain, and celebrate our student body.

  • Actively employing ways to recruit, mentor, promote, and celebrate our faculty and staff.

  • CUOT Programs Student Engagement and Belonging Committee and Student Advisory Board.

  • A student-led chapter of the Coalition for Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD).

  • The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA).

Our commitment to Compassionate Pedagogy and Inclusive Teaching are guided by important strategies and aligned with our professional code of ethics and Columbia University efforts: