Go after your goals in the new year with online graduate programs from Gannon University

It’s a new year, and time to gain new skills. If you’re passionate about pursuing a career in health care, Gannon University can equip you with everything you’ll need to succeed. The private Catholic university, which has campuses in Ruskin, Florida and Erie, Pennsylvania, plus a plethora of online options, offers an array of academic concentrations in the health care sector. This could be the year you earn your post-professional occupational therapy doctorate, doctor of nursing practice degree or enroll in Gannon’s family nurse practitioner program. Best of all, the Gannon team makes the process easy.

“We provide a very strong support system for our online graduate learners,” said Zack Schafer, director of Gannon’s Office of Graduate Admissions. “This level of support from Gannon staff, in addition to the support of our engaging and dynamic faculty, is what sets Gannon apart from other institutions.”

Could a post-professional occupational therapy doctorate be the right fit for you? It’s your turn on your time: If you’re a practicing occupational therapist interested in amplifying your career, Gannon University’s PPOTD program can equip you with specialized knowledge, advance your evidence-based practice and prepare you for future opportunities within and associated with occupational therapy.

“Students learn about leadership, program development, collaborative opportunities and research to further the field, while learning about other areas of practice from their peers,” said Dr. Michele Karnes, associate professor and program director of the PPOTD program.

Gannon’s two-year, fully online PPOTD program combines an online curriculum with a one-time visit to Gannon to present your capstone project. Students can choose from eight different capstone concentrations, ranging from research skills to administration to leadership, theory development and more. Through Gannon’s small class sizes, each student has a capstone project mentor who guides them through the process.

“The PPOTD program has been an incredible journey, starting from (the) unknown to (developing) a passion for a leadership role within the field of occupational therapy,” said Gannon student Sarah Krause. “This program has developed my research skills and empowered me to pursue passions within expanded practice models and higher education.”

For those looking to excel in the medical field as a nurse practitioner, Gannon has the perfect program for you. The university’s online FNP program prepares students in the nurse practitioner role to care for patients across the lifespan. Students gain competencies and critical skills in assessment, diagnosis and implementation of advanced practice care to families, individuals and communities. Students learn through online courses as well as hands-on training in a variety of clinical settings.

“The FNP degree, following certification, allows students to practice in a wide variety of settings and our graduates generally find positions very quickly,” said Antonio Malito, interim director and assistant teaching professor at Gannon’s Villa Maria School of Nursing. “We have graduates who work not only in family practice offices, but also places like general surgery, gastroenterology and cardiology offices.”

Gannon University also provides an online DNP program. The DNP is offered as a bridge program or a post-master’s degree and prepares students to be leaders in their clinical areas. Some candidates complete the DNP program in just 23 credits. Students gain competencies in technology and information systems as well as in identifying and providing solutions to health care dilemmas. Students also gain increased knowledge of transcultural care, how to incorporate this into practice and how to effectively lead a multidisciplinary team. Also, unlike other DNP programs, the Gannon DNP degree can be completed 100% online and on a flexible schedule to meet your needs, so you can fit coursework into your week on your own terms.

“Gannon’s programs are offered in an online environment, but still maintain many parts of the more ‘traditional’ schooling feel,” Malito said. “Our faculty serve as advisors for students in these graduate programs, guiding them on course selection, assisting them with registration and maintaining availability for them through virtual office hours. ... The online flexibility allows working professionals to be more self-guided in their education but maintain those extra perks of a traditional university that allow for a stronger feeling of support.”

Don’t let another year slip by. Go after your goals and take advantage of the health care degree options available at Gannon University. Learn more about Gannon and its PPOTD, FNP and DNP programs today at www.gannon.edu.