History

The foundations of the occupational therapy profession, which has a history of 100 years in the world, were laid for the first time with the establishment of the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation affiliated to the Hacettepe Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Opened by Prof Dr İhsan Doğramacı to train rehabilitation therapists, the school includes Occupational Treatment and Occupational Treatment departments among the departments specified in the regulation published in the Official Gazette dated 24 July 1964. The studies on these subjects were realized with the establishment of the occupational therapy unit of the college.

The Occupational and Occupational Treatment Unit was first opened in Hacettepe University Hospitals Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, and was closed after operating for a while. Since 1981, it has started to operate in Hacettepe University Hospitals Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and since 1983 it has continued its activities in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.

Studies continued in two separate education, research and application units operating in the field of pediatrics, adult and vocational rehabilitation. In the following years, the sensory integrity practice room was opened. Studies on occupational and occupational therapy in the units; patient treatment continued in the form of domestic and international training activities. With the development of these units as education and research units, different disability groups in need of rehabilitation were provided and scientific publications were made. Occupational and occupational therapy course in the 3rd year in the curriculum of the School of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, related unit studies of the internship course in the last year, and post-graduate training studies were carried out by physiotherapists who specialized in the subject.

In 1996, Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Master's and Doctorate Programs were opened under Hacettepe University Health Sciences Institute, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.

More than 150 scientific studies have been produced within the scope of the Occupational and Occupational Treatment Unit and the post-graduate program. Between 1982 and 2009, 31 theses were written in the field of Occupational Therapy in Hacettepe University Health Sciences Institute, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. Since 1998, 24 (16 master's, 8 doctorate) theses have been completed in Occupational Therapy Master's and Doctorate Programs affiliated to HU Health Sciences Institute, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.

In accordance with Article 7/d-2 of the Law No. 2547, amended by the Law No. 2880, by the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education on 18.02.2009, the Occupational Therapy Department affiliated to Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences and the Occupational Therapy Department affiliated to it were opened.