The Occupational Therapy (OT) profession has evolved over the past century to be an essential, patient-focused component of rehabilitation services. Through evaluation and intervention, OT practitioners help persons with disabilities of all ages develop, recover, or maintain capabilities. While Vietnam’s Ministry of Health Vision 2030 mentions adding occupational therapists to all rehabilitation hospital teams, until recently there were no formal OT training programs and thus no domestic source for this expertise. Since 2015, USAID has partnered with the Ministry of Health and two local medical universities to develop the first Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in Vietnam. This support has helped Vietnamese universities develop program curricula, train faculty, organize practical application for students as well as set up post-graduation mentoring and coaching. On August 6, Hai Duong Medical Technical University awarded Vietnam’s first 36 Bachelor Degrees in OT. These 36 graduates will begin working in public and private hospitals this month and elevate rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in Vietnam.

So What? USAID support to create international-standard occupational therapists in Vietnam will enable persons with disabilities to lead independent, productive, and fulfilling lives.