Around 650 future health care professionals from across the River Valley came together Friday, October 2, for the second annual Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) Unified Field Day.
Hosted on the ACHE campus, the event brought together students from ACHE’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Master of Science in Biomedicine (MSB) and Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. This year’s event also expanded beyond ACHE, welcoming nursing students from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith (UAFS), Carl Albert State College, PEAK Innovation Center, and paramedic students from Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus.
Throughout the day, students worked alongside peers from different health care disciplines as they completed a series of interactive activities focused on communication, teamwork, and patient care skills.
“Unified Field Day gives students an understanding and respect for the roles each plays in patient care,” said Kerrie Sanders, Director of the ACHE Center for Clinical Skills Development. “By turning important concepts like patient safety, communication and advocacy into hands-on activities, we hope students carry those lessons with them into their future health care careers.”
The second annual event marked significant growth for Unified Field Day. The inaugural event in 2025 brought together nearly 500 students from three ACHE programs. This year, participation grew to around 650 students representing multiple ACHE programs and neighboring institutions.
By bringing students from different disciplines and institutions together, the ACHE Unified Field Day gives future health care professionals an opportunity to practice the collaboration and communication that will be essential throughout their careers.
