About
John R. Patro Jr.
PhD, OTD, OTR/L, CPAM, ACUE, FNAP
Founder & Principal Consultant — Patro Consulting Group
PhD, Educational Studies · Doctor of Occupational Therapy · Distinguished Fellow, National Academies of Practice
Background
Practitioner. Leader. Trusted Advisor.
John R. Patro Jr., PhD, OTD, OTR/L, CPAM, ACUE, FNAP — Founder & Principal Consultant
Patro Consulting Group was founded on a simple conviction: that the best consulting comes from those who have lived the work. With decades of experience as a program director, department chair, and academic leader in occupational therapy and health sciences education, I bring an insider's perspective that no outside consultant can replicate.
My career has spanned the full arc of academic leadership — from building and directing occupational therapy programs to guiding institutions through accreditation cycles, curriculum reform, and strategic transformation. As a Doctor of Occupational Therapy, a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, and a licensed and nationally registered OT (NY, NJ, PA; NBCOT), I bring both clinical depth and scholarly rigor to every engagement. I hold a PhD in Educational Studies with a concentration in Adult Learning and Development from Lesley University — my dissertation examined the development of cultural humility in entry-level occupational therapy education from a faculty perspective, scholarship that directly informs how I approach leadership development, faculty growth, and organizational change. I am an experienced programmatic accreditation evaluator with deep familiarity with accreditation standards and site visit processes that translate across healthcare disciplines. I also hold a credentialed leadership role with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), a Certificate in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework awarded jointly by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and the American Council on Education (ACE), and am a recipient of the IPEC IPE Collaboration Award for outstanding contributions to interprofessional education and collaborative practice. This consulting practice operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of any accrediting body or professional association.
I founded Patro Consulting Group to make that depth of experience available to programs and institutions that are ready to grow — whether that means achieving accreditation, reimagining their curriculum, or developing the leadership capacity of their teams. My scholarly work and publications are available on ResearchGate.
Expertise
What I Bring to Every Engagement
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Doctoral-level preparation in occupational therapy, grounding every consulting engagement in rigorous clinical and academic expertise.
PhD, Educational Studies
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies with a concentration in Adult Learning and Development, Lesley University. Dissertation: "Examining the Development of Cultural Humility in Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Education: A Faculty Perspective." Scholarly depth in how adults learn, grow, and lead informs every consulting engagement.
Distinguished Fellow, NAP
Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice — one of the highest honors awarded to practitioners who have made exceptional contributions to their healthcare discipline.
Academic Leadership
Decades of experience as program director, department chair, and academic dean in health sciences.
Accreditation Expertise
Experienced accreditation evaluator with deep, current knowledge of programmatic accreditation standards and site visit processes across healthcare disciplines. This practice is independent and not affiliated with or representative of any accrediting body.
AOTA Credentialed Leader
Credentialed leader with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), reflecting sustained engagement at the highest levels of the profession. This practice is independent and not affiliated with AOTA.
IPE Collaboration Award Recipient
Recipient of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) IPE Collaboration Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to interprofessional education and collaborative practice.
Certificate in Effective Teaching
Certificate in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework, awarded jointly by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and the American Council on Education (ACE).
Scholarly Research
Published researcher with work available on ResearchGate. Scholarly contributions span occupational therapy education, interprofessional practice, and academic program development.
Licensed & Nationally Registered OT
Licensed as an Occupational Therapist in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and nationally registered with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
Philosophy
How I Work
My consulting philosophy is rooted in genuine partnership. I don't arrive with a pre-packaged solution — I take the time to understand your institution, your people, and your goals before recommending a path forward. Every engagement is tailored, evidence-based, and focused on outcomes that last.
Integrity
Every engagement is built on honest, evidence-based guidance — even when the truth is difficult to hear.
Partnership
I work alongside you, not above you. Your goals, your context, and your people are at the center of everything.
Rigor
Academic excellence demands high standards. I bring the same rigor to consulting that I brought to the classroom and the boardroom.
Transformation
The goal is never just compliance — it's lasting, meaningful improvement that serves students and institutions for years to come.
Let's Work Together
Ready to advance your program?
Whether you're navigating accreditation, building a new program, or developing your leadership team — I'd love to hear about your goals and explore how we might work together.