Occupational Therapy Director Gregory Wintz to Retire

Dr. Gregory Wintz, PhD, OTR/L, will retire from his position as director of the Pacific University School of Occupational Therapy. His retirement begins May 15.

Wintz earned his master's in occupational therapy from Texas Woman’s University in 1988 and his PhD in adult education with an emphasis in program evaluation and qualitative research at the University of Idaho in 2006. He joined Pacific in the fall of 2015 as an associate professor and director of the School of Occupational Therapy. While at Pacific, he was promoted to full professor.

At Pacific, Wintz led the School of Occupational Therapy through a major curriculum revision, hired seven new faculty, supervised an interim ACOTE accreditation, advocated for cost-effective tuition, and oversaw four graduating classes. 

Dr. Ann Barr-Gillespie, executive dean and vice provost of the College of Health Professions, credited Wintz with navigating a dynamic period for the school.

“I am deeply indebted to Greg for his skill and perseverance during the substantial transition in the School of Occupational Therapy," she said. "He has served as a stalwart member of the College of Health Professions leadership team and has set the School of Occupational Therapy on a course for a successful future.”

Until a permanent replacement is hired, Dr. Sean Roush, OTD, OTR/L will serve as interim director of the occupational therapy program, and Dr. Kevin Chui, PT, DPT, PhD, director of the School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training and associate dean of Faculty Affairs, will serve as the interim director of the School of Occupational Therapy.

Wintz served as the chair of the Occupational Therapy Department and associate professor of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Washington University from 2004 to 2015, where he guided the program’s transition from an entry-level bachelor’s to an entry-level master’s program. Prior to joining the faculty at EWU, he served for seven years as the founding director of Occupational Therapy program in the Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy at Idaho State University. 

He has 22 years of practice as an occupational therapist; he has worked in pain management, industrial rehabilitation, ergonomics, worksite analysis, consultation with augmentative and alternative communication evaluation teams, and pediatric orthopedics. Additionally, he has served as clinical consultant and team member with orthotics and prosthetics, habilitation training, transitional care programs, substance abuse and relapse prevention, and program evaluation. He was director of rehabilitation of Shriner’s Hospital for Children from 1992 to 1997.

“I wish to thank the School of Occupational Therapy students, staff, and faculty, and my colleagues in the College of Health Professions, for their support during my time as director," Wintz said. "I look forward to hearing of their continued success.”