Since 1976, Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Occupational Therapy (OT) program has been preparing occupational therapists to enter the workforce equipped with both technical skills and a people-first approach to care. Students in the program benefit from experienced faculty and extensive hands-on learning, gaining exposure to the many paths an OT career can take.
“EKU has a long history of excellence in healthcare education, with our nationally ranked OT program producing highly sought-after professionals for 50 years,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “This legacy shows EKU’s vital role in meeting the healthcare needs of Kentucky.”
For Katelyn McCommons, ’14 ’16, the OT program gave her a way to care for people holistically, which shaped her career long after graduation. Today, she owns her own private practice, a step she credits EKU with giving her the confidence to take.
Originally from Cincinnati, McCommons said she “stumbled upon” EKU, applying because she was referred by a childhood friend. Once at EKU, she fell in love with the campus, and a conversation in her residence hall introduced her to occupational therapy.
As McCommons progressed through EKU’s OT program, she realized how expansive the profession could be. Rather than focusing narrowly on one setting or model of care, the program exposed students to nearly every facet of occupational therapy. That flexibility, she said, allowed students to discover their own interests rather than being funneled into a single career path.
“EKU does an amazing job of allowing the therapist to find their niche,” she said.
After graduating, McCommons put that versatility to work. “When I graduated, I worked at every place possible,” she said. “Because EKU gave me the skills to try anything, I was really able to figure out what I liked most.”
She worked across a range of settings, including schools, geriatrics and hospital environments. While she admits the process of “bouncing around” was challenging at times, she said EKU empowered her to explore without feeling stuck.
That mindset, she later realized, was not common elsewhere. EKU, she said, teaches students to practice occupational therapy, but also to look at innovative approaches in the field and work toward change.
“You’re getting an education, but you’re also getting so many more skills that are going to set you apart,” she said.
Now, with her own private practice, called Grow Together, she uses the versatility and hands-on skills she learned at EKU to make a difference in her community of Loveland, Ohio.
“I knew that people deserved better, and there was a better way to do things,” she said.
McCommons’ experience reflects the mission EKU’s occupational therapy program has upheld for the past 50 years of high-quality healthcare education.
In honor of its anniversary, EKU’s OT program is hosting a donation drive. A $50 donation in celebration of 50 years provides OT starter kits for two students in the program.
EKU’s Occupational Therapy program earned a top 25 ranking in Best Occupational Therapy Programs from U.S. News & World Report. Through engaging coursework, clinicals and faculty mentorship, EKU students prepare to enter a wide range of professional settings and adapt as healthcare needs evolve.
Learn more about EKU’s Occupational Therapy program.
Interested in a degree from EKU?
Earn your undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree from a university that has been an education leader for more than 100 years. Choose from a variety of in-demand and nationally recognized academic programs, offered both online and on-campus.
Whether you want to start, finish or advance your education, EKU has a program that can fit your schedule and your needs. Complete the form to learn more about how EKU can help advance your career.
Eastern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees.