George Fox University hires director for occupational therapy graduate program set to launch next year

NEWBERG, Ore. (March 29, 2023) – George Fox University is on track for launching a new doctoral program in occupational therapy in the fall of 2024. Dr. Stanley Paul joins the faculty as the new director. He brings more than 25 years of academic and clinical experience in the occupational therapy profession to George Fox. 

Prior to his arrival, Dr. Paul worked for four years as an associate professor of occupational therapy at the University of St. Augustine in Miami, Florida. In the year prior, he was the program director and research coordinator for the occupational therapy doctorate program at the College of Health Professions at South University in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Dr. Paul’s teaching experience includes faculty positions at Drake University, Keuka College, Georgia Health Sciences University, and Western Michigan University. He previously held clinical appointments at different locations around the U.S. and in India. In addition, in recent years, he has volunteered as the external research advisor for OT students from India.

Dr. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Christian Medical College, a master’s degree from State University of New York at Buffalo, a PhD in occupational therapy from New York University, and a doctor of medicine from Hope University School of Medicine in Belize, Central America.

The decision to launch an occupational therapy graduate program came after George Fox took several months to evaluate the healthcare landscape in the Northwest, which included dialogue with local partners and extensive market research. Nationally, the demand for occupational therapists is expected to grow 16 percent – much faster than the average for all professions – between 2019 and 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Over the past two decades, George Fox has added nursing (2004), physical therapy (2012), a physician assistant program (2021), and a doctor of medical science program (2022) as the demand for healthcare professionals has steadily increased in the region, particularly in rural areas. The additions are also in line with the university’s mission, which strives to produce graduates who “serve with passion.”

George Fox University is classified by U.S. News & World Report as a “Best National University.” More than 4,000 students attend classes on the university’s campus in Newberg, Oregon, and at teaching centers in Portland and Redmond, Oregon. George Fox offers 60 undergraduate academic programs, degree-completion programs for working adults, and 19 master’s and doctoral degrees.

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