Alumni Help Launch Jamaica's First Occupational Therapy Program

From Jamaica, Queens, to Kingston, Jamaica, two York Graduates/Occupational Therapy (OT) Professors are Helping Expand the Discipline on a Global Scale.

Dr. Clover Hutchinson (Class of 1992), assistant professor at York College, CUNY, and Dr. Nardia Aldridge (Class of 2002), both Jamaican natives, were part of a five-member international team that spent nearly three years developing Jamaica’s first occupational therapy program at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, in Kingston.

Both alumni played key roles in curriculum development, ensuring the program aligns with standards set by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).

Reflecting on the initiative, the duo shared:
“As graduates of the York College Occupational Therapy program, it is incredibly meaningful to see the values of service, leadership, and community that York instilled in us extend beyond New York to Jamaica. Helping to establish the first occupational therapy program at the University of the West Indies represents an important step in expanding access to occupational therapy education and services across the Caribbean.”

Dr. Hutchinson added, “Nardia and I share both a professional and personal connection. We served on the executive board of the New York State Black Occupational Therapy Caucus (NYSBOTC), with her as president and me as vice president. I was initially approached about supporting the development of Jamaica’s first occupational therapy program at the University of the West Indies, and Dr. Aldridge was then invited to join the effort.”

Underscoring the urgency of the initiative, the professors noted that “only nine occupational therapists currently serve Jamaica’s population of more than 2.8 million people.”

“This new master’s program, launching its first cohort in September 2026, aims to ‘home-grow’ therapists to meet critical needs in school-based services, adult rehabilitation, and mental health,” Dr. Hutchinson said.

Drs. Aldridge and Hutchinson recently presented the initiative at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference (Philadelphia, PA, 2025) and the WFOT Global Conference (Bangkok, Thailand, 2026).

Congratulations to Professors Hutchinson and Aldridge on their good works under the OT department and York College banner!