Occupational Therapy Associate Professor Ricky Joseph retires

Recently retired Associate Professor Ricky Joseph, PhD, OTR, had worked in the occupational therapy profession for almost 47 years when he retired May 31.

When he joined the Department of Occupational Therapy in 2013, Joseph brought more than two decades of experience working as an occupational therapist in the U.S. Army.

“Prior to retiring from the Army in 1999, I served as a consultant at the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) Surgeon’s Office for the Army Medical Specialist corps and provided support for OTs, PTs and dietitians,” he said.

Upon his military retirement, Joseph received an appointment at the Medical College of Georgia as an assistant professor, going on to serve as the vice chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy. He was re-called from retirement to Army active duty in 2008 to develop the US. Army-Baylor University doctorate of science in occupational therapy. After developing and directing this program from 2009-2013, he again retired from the Army and joined the faculty of the Department of Occupational Therapy at UT Health San Antonio.

A passion for interprofessional education

Joseph particularly enjoyed the camaraderie and collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Occupational Therapy, as well as his work promoting interprofessional education.

“I was appointed as a representative for UT Health San Antonio for interprofessional education by Dr. Henrich back in 2015,” he said. “I was able to work with individuals from other university medical centers in Texas, and we developed a consortium for interprofessional education. And from that I got the fire to promote interprofessional education here at UT Health San Antonio.” 

Those efforts eventually led to Linking Interprofessional Networks for Collaboration (LINC), the institution’s Quality Enhancement Plan.

“We’re right now one of one of the leading institutions on interprofessional education as far publications, and of course, that’s under the skillful hand of [LINC Executive Director] Dr. Joseph Zorek. I’ve enjoyed seeing that be successful,” he said.

Bringing compassion and organization to the classroom

“As far as occupational therapy, one things I’ve loved is teaching and seeing students be successful and also mentoring other faculty,” he said. 

Organization and compassion are essential for effective teaching, he added, sharing some advice he recently gave a junior faculty member.

“One of the things that students enjoy is that no matter how skilled you are, how knowledgeable you are, your courses have to be organized — organized in such a way that [the students] understand where they are and where they’re going,” Joseph said. “They have to sense your compassion, your compassion for them in their learning and your care about them as students.” 

“And if that's not communicated, and if you forget that, you've lost the students. You can be an expert on the subject matter, but if there’s not that communication of concern for that individual student, then the student doesn't have the motivation to keep going.”

Although Joseph has retired from his full-time role, he will be in the classroom a while longer in a part-time capacity, said Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, associate dean for academic affairs and chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy.

“We are thrilled he is continuing to teach select courses this upcoming academic year,” she said. “Dr. Joseph’s expertise and leadership in mental health occupational therapy practice and interprofessional education has led to many substantial contributions during his tenure. He is highly regarded in occupational therapy education, and we have been so fortunate to have him as a part of the faculty.”