The Department of Occupational Therapy has been part of the College of Health Sciences since the Department's inception 40 years ago. The chairperson facilitates and leads the academic and research activities for this innovative entry-level doctoral program. The chairperson serves as the embodiment of the department within the larger institution, and national and international professional communities to realize its defined mission. The chairperson collaborates with the occupational therapy clinical director and community partners to assure the ongoing academic-clinical partnership, highlighting the department's commitment to occupation-based practice across the medical-community-based continuum, which is at the core of our mission, vision, and educational philosophy.