Dear Alumni & Friends:

“Can Howard University Department of Occupational Therapy Count on You?”

The Howard University Department of Occupational Therapy continues to meet the challenges of the 21^st Century.  The faculty and staff will be involved in a number of exciting initiatives to ensure that quality education experiences are offered to students, alumni, and other health care professionals.  I am thrilled to tell you about “Caring for Independent Learning" (CFIL), an initiative to support the Department of Occupational Therapy and provide funds for the department’s annual operation budget. 

We are proud that the Occupational Therapy Program at Howard University has been elevated to the Master of Science degree. With this immense achievement comes the responsibility of the Department to: 

• Engage in cutting edge research and development activities that will lead to pioneering treatment methodologies, novel modalities, and  innovative technology prototypes;

• Contribute to the expansion of academic literature for the development of new textbooks, publications, and online continuing education seminars;

• Illuminate faculty/student expertise through presentations at national and/or international conferences including the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA);

• Facilitate outreach demonstration programs that employ ‘Best Practice Models’ in both traditional and non-traditional community settings; and

• Initiate diverse recruitment practices to engage the best and brightest faculty and student scholars.

This is an exciting time for Howard and the OT Department.  That is why a special endowed account, the Delcina Bean-Burrows Endowed Fund, has been established to help maintain and enhance the department’s academic and clinical research pursuits. My initial contribution of $20,000.00 is intended to amplify the point that we can all give something to support Alma Mater and to encourage you to build on the foundation this gift represents. The goal of Caring for Independent Learning is to raise $100,000.00 annually. 

Friends and colleagues, please join me to celebrate the legacy and secure the future of Howard University Occupational Therapy education. Make a generous pledge to Caring for Independent Learning. Howard is counting on you! We look forward to seeing you at the Alumni Reception on February 24, 2006.

Sincerely,

Delcina R. Bean-Burrows, M.Ed., OTR
President of Health Tech Renaissance, LTD Bermuda
OT Class President (1987-89)