The inaugural ACHE OT class tosses their caps with Dr. Moore at the center.
FORT SMITH, AR — The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) School of Occupational Therapy (OT) has officially graduated its first class of Doctor of Occupational Therapy students and with it comes a wave of pride, emotion, and excitement for the future.
“They were the first of everything,” said Jennifer Moore, PhD, Dean of the ACHE School of Occupational Therapy. “They created the first student OT association. They were the inaugural class that went to the American OT conference with faculty, and so much more. We started a lot of traditions in three years.”
For Dr. Moore and the faculty, graduation was an emotional experience. “I had cried so much the day before, I thought surely I didn’t have anything left,” she laughed. “But seeing them walk across that stage, I just felt overwhelming pride.”
This inaugural class was diverse, with students from Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, and even the Northeast. Despite the wide reach, Dr. Moore shared one particularly meaningful statistic: “About 90% of the graduates from the inaugural class are staying in our service area, which is huge!”
These graduates are already making a difference, working with patients across the lifespan, from infants to older adults, in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, early intervention programs, and home health. “They have chosen to work in traditional hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, early intervention programs, long-term care, and home health,” Dr. Moore explained. “I would say that our inaugural class has really just gone out there and has felt equipped to work in whatever environment they wanted to.”
Trent Gattis, OTD, carries the OT gonfalon at commencement, greeted by Dr. Moore.
Their success is already drawing attention, says Dr. Moore. “We had four OT professionals personally call me over the last semester and say, ‘I want to come up there and talk to your students because I’ve heard all the great things your students have been doing out there in the field.’”
Field work often turns into job opportunities. “A lot of our students, when they go out on their Level II field work, it’s almost like a three-month job interview. And many of them received job offers from where they did their field work.”
Some students already have clear paths ahead. “One student is making their career working with individuals with traumatic or acquired brain injuries,” Dr. Moore said. “I have some students who are interested in working with people who have hand injuries. Typically, the entry-level Occupational Therapist will generally start out broad and then they’ll find their little niche.”
Of course, the past three years weren’t all about academics and clinicals. “A student had a baby, and we had three or four marriages,” Moore shared with a smile. “This group always supported one another.”
ACHE OT students also left their mark in the local community. “The community expects our OT students to participate in certain events, such as the Inclusive Egg Hunt — which earned us the Legacy Award — as well as trunk-or-treats and the ACTS Play. The Fort Kids Museum even came to our students and said, ‘We need your help.’ Our students then helped create innovative programming for them. That’s the kind of initiative they’ve shown.”
Reflecting on this milestone, Dr. Moore summed it up best: “I am forever grateful. The first class defined the legacy of ACHE OT, and that legacy will continue. The next cohorts have big shoes to fill, but I know they’ll all go on to do amazing things too.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Moore is excited about what’s next. With each new cohort, more students are choosing ACHE from the surrounding region, signaling a growing recognition of the school’s excellence and commitment to community-based health care.
The School of Occupational Therapy at ACHE is not just graduating students; it’s building a movement rooted in compassion, innovation, and service. And thanks to the pioneering spirit of the Class of 2025, that movement is off to an inspiring start!
