The Faculté des Sciences de Réhabilitation de Léogâne (FSRL) is Haiti’s first university-based program dedicated to educating occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs). Established in 2015 in partnership with the Episcopal University of Haiti (Université Épiscopale d’Haïti, UNEPH), FSRL represents a transformational step toward building sustainable rehabilitation services in Haiti—led by Haitians, for Haitians.
A Historic First For Haiti
For decades, rehabilitation services in Haiti were delivered primarily by visiting international clinicians and locally trained technicians. While impactful, these efforts could not meet the long-term needs of a country where more than 2 million people live with disabilities. FSRL was created to change that reality by investing in local professional education and workforce development.
FSRL offers a four-year bachelor’s degree program in both occupational therapy and physical therapy. Designed in alignment with international standards set by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) and World Physiotherapy, the program prepares graduates to become clinicians, leaders, educators, and advocates within Haiti’s healthcare system.
Coming Together
A defining feature of FSRL is its interdisciplinary curriculum. OT and PT students learn both within their respective professions and alongside one another, fostering collaboration and team-based care from the beginning of their training. This interprofessional approach reflects real-world healthcare delivery and strengthens outcomes for patients and communities.
An Integrated Curriculum
The curriculum also includes a research component, equipping students to contribute to the development of contextually relevant rehabilitation practices in Haiti and other low-resource settings.
Instruction is delivered through a hybrid faculty model, combining:
Clinical Training
Clinical education is central to the FSRL experience. Students engage in progressive, hands-on training throughout the program, beginning with early exposure to clinical environments and advancing to supervised fieldwork placements.
FSRL’s clinical training model emphasizes:
- Community-based rehabilitation
- Service in both urban and rural settings
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Culturally responsive, patient-centered care
Students complete clinical rotations in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and community-based programs located throughout Haiti. These experiences are designed to ensure graduates are prepared to address the diverse and complex needs of individuals and communities across Haiti.
Because rehabilitation infrastructure in Haiti is still developing, FSRL plays an active role in expanding clinical training opportunities, partnering with local organizations and healthcare providers to build sustainable fieldwork sites.
Centre Universitaire Tèt Ansanm (CUTA)
at Hôpital Sainte Croix
“Tèt Ansanm,” meaning “together” in Haitian Creole, reflects the clinic’s mission: to bring students, faculty, and the community together to advance rehabilitation care in Haiti.
CUTA is FSRL’s dedicated teaching clinic, established in collaboration with Hôpital Sainte Croix in Léogâne. CUTA serves a dual purpose:
- Clinical Training Site – providing structured, supervised learning experiences for OT and PT students
- Community Rehabilitation Clinic – delivering essential therapy services to individuals and families in the region
Through CUTA, students gain real-world experience while directly addressing unmet rehabilitation needs in the local community. Services include evaluation and treatment for individuals with physical disabilities, developmental conditions, neurological disorders, and injuries.
CUTA also serves as a hub for:
- Interprofessional education
- Community outreach and health promotion
- Development of culturally relevant rehabilitation practices
By integrating education and service, CUTA embodies the core mission of FSRL: building a sustainable rehabilitation workforce while improving access to care.