Ruth Ford
Ruth Ford
Ruth Ford, EdD, MSBS, OTR/L
EdD (Education: Leadership and Policy Studies) Bowling Green State University
MSBS (Biomedical Sciences: Rehabilitation) Medical College of Ohio
BS (Occupational Therapy) Ohio State University
Ruth Ford, EdD, MSBS, OTR/L is an Associate Professor at Belmont University. Her teaching responsibilities include both the master and doctorate degree coursework in occupational therapy. She has over thirty five years of clinical experience in adult and geriatric rehabilitation, home health, administration, corporate consulting, expert witness, and faculty appointments in higher education.
Leadership and executive responsibilities have included past Associate Dean of the School of Occupational Therapy, Corporate Director of Therapy Services in long term care and past appointments to the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Licensure Board, Board of Trustee for Hancock County Society for the Handicapped, Board of Director for WAVES, and Rotary International.
Dr. Ford is trained as a CarFit Event Coordinator for the AAA, AOTA, and AARP driving program and has most recently worked with state agencies – Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Department of Transportation, and Tennessee Highway Patrol on Safety Initiatives for older drivers. In addition, she has been certified as a Master Trainer in “A Matter of Balance”, a fall prevention initiative with the TN Department of Health.
Dr. Ford supervises graduate OT students’ research projects on aging issues. In addition, she teaches Occupational Performance III, Aging Population, Clinical Studies III, and Kinesiology OT graduate classes. Publications have included topics on older adult worker issues as well as clinical manuals. Currently, she is the grant administrator for a grant from Baptist Healing Trust to provide resource monies for doctoral students on residency with an emphasis on compassionate care.
Dr. Ford maintains licensure as an occupational therapist in Tennessee and Ohio. She is a member of the Franklin at Breakfast Rotary Club in Franklin, Tennessee and a Paul Harris Fellow. She currently is an alumnus in the Leadership Franklin Program in Franklin, TN.