Bay Path Names Tracy Bentley-Root Program Director of Occupational Therapy

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced the appointment of Tracy Bentley-Root as the new program director of Occupational Therapy. Bentley-Root brings more than two decades of teaching, research, clinical practice, and administrative experience to her new leadership role in Bay Path’s master of occupational therapy (MOT) program.

Bentley-Root joined Bay Path as interim program director in July 2024. Under her leadership, the MOT program has seen advancements in strategic planning, advising practices, and curriculum delivery. She also supports pre-occupational therapy programming at the undergraduate level and serves as faculty lead for occupational therapy for the older adult.

A licensed and board-certified occupational therapist since 1997, Bentley-Root earned both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in occupational therapy from D’Youville College and a doctorate in health science from the University of Indianapolis in 2022.

An active scholar and educator, she has presented her work at national and international conferences, including the American Occupational Therapy Assoc. and the upcoming 2026 World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress in Bangkok. Her research focuses on fieldwork education, interprofessional collaboration, cognitive intervention, and evidence-based practice. Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the D’Youville University Faculty Award for 2021-22.

In addition to her university roles, Bentley-Root has served in a variety of clinical and leadership capacities, including as corporate director of Rehab Clinical Resources at Amedisys Home Health. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Occupational Therapy Assoc. and the New York State Occupational Therapy Assoc.

“Tracy brings an extraordinary depth of experience to this role, along with a strong commitment to advancing the profession of occupational therapy and preparing students to meet the needs of an evolving healthcare landscape,” said Natalia Blank, vice president of Academic Affairs at Bay Path University. “We are thrilled to welcome her leadership.”