RICHMOND, Ky. — Jap Kentucky College (EKU) is house to one of many prime Occupational Remedy (OT) applications within the nation, boasting a 99% commencement fee since 2020.
Just lately, EKU ranked No. 22 in Finest Occupational Remedy Packages for 2024 Finest Well being Colleges by U.S. Information & World Report, transferring up from a earlier No. 29 place. The brand new Occupational Remedy Doctorate (OTD) program was not too long ago accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Remedy Training (ACOTE), for the utmost seven-year interval.
“With April being Occupational Remedy Month, it’s solely becoming that we have fun EKU’s success on this area and the profound influence it has on the lives of our college students and the broader neighborhood,” mentioned EKU President David McFaddin. “Offering well-trained professionals to fulfill the wants of communities throughout Kentucky and past is what we do greatest at EKU. We’re proud to see our OT program proceed to realize nationwide recognition for excellence on this healthcare area.”
An occupational therapist works with sufferers who’ve circumstances which can be mentally, bodily, developmentally or emotionally disabling. They assist sufferers develop, get better or keep the talents wanted for every day residing and dealing.
EKU Affiliate Chair/Graduate Coordinator and Affiliate Professor, Dr. Renee Causey-Upton, spoke on this system’s construction, stating, “College students enter our program as juniors. After finishing a bachelor’s diploma in Occupational Science, college students are in a position to enter immediately into the OT doctorate diploma program. They finish our program with each occupational science and occupational remedy backgrounds.”
College students who full the tutorial observe to graduate from EKU’s OT program can be ready to enter the sector as generalist occupational therapists, Causey-Upton mentioned. College students who full the mixed OS/OTD program are eligible to take the nationwide certification examination given by the Nationwide Board for Certification in Occupational Remedy (NBCOT) and apply for licensure in all states, which is required to follow.
“College students can go into any space of follow and work with any inhabitants from the tiny child within the NICU, all the way in which as much as aged sufferers. I’ve had purchasers as outdated as 104 years,” mentioned Causey-Upton, who has labored as a working towards occupational therapist herself.
Whereas she mentioned many graduates keep within the Richmond space or select to serve their house communities, EKU’s OT graduates are working throughout the USA, even so far as Alaska, and a few go to work as occupational therapists internationally.
Kris Kleine, ’00, is working as an occupational therapist in 4 elementary faculties in New Hampshire. Kleine has used his OT abilities, schooling and expertise to serve his neighborhood of various ages within the public faculty system.
Kleine first got interested within the OT area as a baby, stating, “My aunt was developmentally disabled and got here to dwell with us after my grandparents handed away.” At 43 years outdated, she had by no means been in a position to feed herself because of her incapacity, Kleine mentioned.
“As my dad (Glen Kleine) was a professor at EKU on the time, he knew in regards to the OT program and organized to have a number of EKU OT college students come to our home to see if they might assist her learn to feed herself,” Kleine mentioned. “After they started working along with her, the scholars developed some adaptive utensils for her which gave her the flexibility to lastly have the ability to feed herself after a number of weeks.”
Seeing the actions of the EKU OT college students left an impression on Kleine. EKU performed a task in shaping what occupational remedy meant to Kleine after which by way of the diploma program, aligned along with his personal path for achievement within the area.
“The OT program at EKU helped present me with many hands-on experiences each within the classroom and thru the numerous fieldwork experiences,” mentioned Kleine. A co-op alternative at Hitachi Automotive, he mentioned, broadened his talent set as he realized easy methods to collaborate with a big workforce, practiced public talking and gained expertise in negotiating with people of various mindsets.
As a pupil in EKU’s OT program, he mentioned, “I used to be in a position to each observe and take part in OT evaluations and periods with college students inside the native faculty system. I at all times felt supported by professors and particularly my fieldwork placement coordinator. By means of these relationships, I’m now paying it ahead and have supervised a number of OT college students from northeast OT applications and nonetheless join with them on a private degree as properly.”
EKU’s Occupational Remedy program offers college students with the information, instruments and expertise to enter a rewarding and fulfilling occupation of serving others. From EKU and throughout Kentucky to New Hampshire and past, graduates from the College of Alternative are making a constructive distinction for people and their communities.
—By Evan Bentley, EKU Information
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