On May 10, the first graduates of ETSU's Occupational
Therapy program will cross the stage at commencement.

As Madilyn Guerard completed her undergraduate degree at East Tennessee State University in 2022, she knew she wanted to go into occupational therapy.

When Guerard was 12, she broke both of her elbows at the same time – enduring surgery on each elbow and weeks in casts and splints to allow healing. That experience opened her eyes to the field of rehabilitation health sciences. 

“I knew I wanted to help others the way I was helped, and I loved how occupational therapists treat their clients holistically, addressing all their needs and occupations,” said Guerard, who wanted to remain in East Tennessee after completing her undergrad degree. 

Fortunately, ETSU’s College of Health Sciences had just announced the establishment of a new Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, which would be housed in a newly renovated wing of Building 2 on the James H. Quillen VA Campus. 

Guerard and 15 others were part of the program’s inaugural class, which began in May 2022. On May 10, the members of that first cohort will make history as the first graduates from the program. 

Officially sending off its first class will cap off a milestone academic year for the program, which received its accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) earlier this year. 

“It is bittersweet to say goodbye to our first class, but it also marks a major milestone in the history of this program,” said program director Dr. Don Lewis, who also serves as interim director for the College of Health Sciences’ School of Clinical Sciences. “As our program continues to grow and expand, we look forward to seeing the incredible work our graduates will do in improving the lives of the clients and communities they will serve.” 

ETSU’s OTD program places an emphasis on hands-on, real-world education, which includes clinical rotations in a variety of health care settings, as well as several community-engaged learning opportunities in schools and restaurants, so students could gain experience in a multitude of settings across a diverse client population.  

Taylor Willis, another member of the Class of 2025, said those learning opportunities helped give her the confidence needed to succeed upon graduation. 

“I believe it is critical for programs to provide hands-on education opportunities, and I am confident that ETSU provided the experiences I needed to succeed – giving me perspective on how to work with a variety of individuals,” said Willis. “As with any new program, road bumps are expected, but overall, our professors did an awesome job listening to our needs as a class.” 

Taylor Friedman echoed her classmate, calling it “crucial” to have those educational opportunities. Friedman, originally from Ohio and a graduate of Ohio State University, was drawn to ETSU because of its emphasis on interprofessional education. 

Now, she’s set to return to her home state – comfortable that her experiences at ETSU will benefit her long after she’s graduated. 

“Being away from my support system in Ohio was tough, but I was able to make lifelong friends throughout this program,” said Friedman. “I also created amazing relationships with my faculty, and I hope to continue to be mentored by them in the future. 

“I truly feel that being the first cohort brought us closer together because we were all learning how to navigate the program together.”  

To learn more about the OTD program at ETSU, or to apply, visit https://bit.ly/42LYdnt.  

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

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