Lewis School of Health Sciences | Clarkson University

Outstanding Healthcare Wherever It’s Needed

Superbly educated and trained healthcare professionals are in constant demand, especially in communities outside urban centers — and Clarkson’s Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences is meeting that demand for quality rural healthcare.

We are a national leader in preparing graduates to meet rural and distance-challenged healthcare needs through a growing portfolio of programs that advance careers, research, and innovation.

The Lewis School consists of three fully accredited graduate-level programs: Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and Occupational Therapy. Our location allows students the unique experience of providing healthcare in a more rural setting, from working with individuals who sustain farming or industrial injuries to serving highly competitive athletes who use Lake Placid’s Olympic facilities. We work closely with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe at nearby Akwesasne and with the U.S. Army installation at Fort Drum, allowing students to be introduced to healthcare needs in those distinctive communities, too.

Future expansion of existing programs and the addition of new programs will maintain our special emphasis on rural health.

Recent News: Johns Named Founding Dean of the Lewis School of Health Sciences

After conducting a nationwide search, Clarkson University has announced Dr. Lennart D. Johns as founding dean of its Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences.

Read the story

Our Programs

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Occupational Therapy

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree consists of 92 credit hours and can usually be completed in 27 months. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). In 2019, 100% of Clarkson graduates sitting for certification passed. The Clarkson Assistive Technology Resource and Education Center is a project of our Occupational Therapy Program, serving as a resource for our campus, local, and regional communities.

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Physical Therapy

The Physical Therapy program offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. The program is a 101-credit full-time, post-baccalaureate curriculum that takes two and two-thirds years to complete. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) National Physical Therapy Licensure Ultimate Exam pass rate for Clarkson University graduates was 100% (based upon a two-year average from 2018 and 2019). According to survey results, 100% of program graduates responding who sought jobs as physical therapists were employed as physical therapists within 12 months.

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Clarkson University Physician Assistant Program

Physician Assistant Studies

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree is offered in a curriculum spanning 28 consecutive months. Accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant. The faculty has a variety of clinical backgrounds as do the local health care providers utilized for rotations. The Lewis School utilizes clinical sites in St. Lawrence and surrounding counties as well as more distant sites. Students receive clinical experience in a variety of healthcare settings while serving diverse populations.

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About The Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences

A transformational gift from Earl “Skip” Lewis’66 and Barbara Lewis has enabled Clarkson University to establish the Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences. The couple are long-time donors to Clarkson, its healthcare programs and recreational facilities. They also have provided the major funding for the Lewis Income Share Agreement Program, which offers interest-free financing to qualified students who agree to pay back a percent of their future earnings.

Clarkson University Lewis School of Health Sciences — Earl and Barbara Lewis

While business interests take them all over the world, the Lewis’ regularly come home to Barbara’s family farm in Fort Covington as well as for Clarkson functions.

A personal family experience raised their awareness of rural healthcare challenges and was the impetus for the family to engage in Clarkson’s health sciences programs. “We have seen firsthand the need for more rural healthcare options and know the expansion of these programs at Clarkson can positively impact the quality of life for the many friends, neighbors and relatives we have in the North Country,” said Barbara Lewis.

“By ensuring resources in the health sciences for expanded educational offerings and practical research at the University, we can leverage Clarkson’s location and leadership in the North Country to continue producing health professionals whose education spans all boundaries,” said Earl Lewis.

Read the full press release on the Lewis gift.

Accreditation

The Clarkson University Master of Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association. See full details here.

The Clarkson University Doctor of Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). See full details here.

The Clarkson University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). See full details here.