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University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville 

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April 21, 2010

 Occupational therapist gives community college credit

by Julie M. Fidler, UACCB Freelance Writer

BATESVILLE – Now at the beginning of what he calls a rewarding career, an occupational therapist gives a lot of credit to the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.

Chris Kohler of Jacksonville went on from UACCB to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy from University of Central Arkansas in Conway. “Through the six years of my college experience,” he said, “nothing was more pertinent to my goal of becoming a health care professional than the two years I spent with UACCB.”

When Kohler graduated from Batesville High School in 2003, he had no idea what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He graduated with all-state honors in football, but with less-than-average grades.

“Being 155 pounds soaking wet, the dream of playing college ball was nonexistent,” he said. “With no career choices in mind, I looked to UACCB to begin my college education.’”

Kohler said the admissions staff at UACCB introduced him to “limitless opportunities and career choices in various fields of study.

“They helped me narrow my interests to, at that time, law enforcement,” he said. “I was enrolled in basic college courses and dabbled in a law course. After taking one course in law enforcement, I decided it was not for me.”

Kohler said he got nervous and worried he would never find his “true calling.”

“I met with my adviser, who had an open-door policy to discuss my future,” he said. “He helped me find a path that eventually led to my career in occupational therapy. I changed my major to focus on health and science.”

The therapist said UACCB gave him an “educational foundation” for his college experience. “It provided me with an education in health care that really helped me understand everything once I got into the OT program at UCA,” said Kohler. “I felt like I was a step ahead of everyone.”

The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists do this by enabling people to do things that enhance their ability to participate, or by modifying the environment to better support participation. Occupational therapists analyze physical, environmental, psychosocial, mental, spiritual, political and cultural factors to identify barriers of daily activity.

“My classes in the math and science building were amazing,” said Kohler. “For me, it was the small classes and open door policies of the instructors, dedicated to helping each individual student succeed, that made my experience at UACCB one I would never forget.”

According to Kohler, “UACCB provides an atmosphere for learning that will prepare you for whatever road lies ahead in your future. I personally guarantee that, if you are unsure of your path when you begin, the excellent staff at UACCB will help you discover one that fits you.”

He completed classes at UACCB with an associate’s degree in science and a grade point average that guaranteed an interview for a spot in the occupational therapy program at UCA. Kohler was one of 53 out of over 200 applicants to be accepted.

“I credit my success to the unparalleled level of instruction provided by the professors in the math and science department, as well as every staff member at UACCB that played a part in my path toward higher education,” said Kohler.

He said the community college prepared him for intense instruction that resulted in his earning his master’s degree last year.

Kohler came back to Batesville to work at White River Medical Center. The health system helped pay for some of his education, with the understanding he would work for the hospital. After finishing school last July, he started working at WRMC in the in-patient rehabilitation unit.

It was only nine months before Incite Rehab out of Conway contacted Kohler. Incite Rehab contracts staff to 65 nursing homes around the state where the company provides therapy. “They were willing to buy my contract from WRMC, which was a significant amount, and give me a better rate to come here,” he said.

Now, Kohler works for two nursing homes – one in Batesville, right next to the UACCB campus, and another in Heber Springs. He splits his days between the two, helping residents with their therapy.

He said he finds his work at nursing homes, which can sometimes not be the most cheerful of places, rewarding.

“This is a person’s last chance to get out,” said Kohler. “If they don’t get done what they need at the hospital, they move to a longer term care facility like a nursing home where they’ll receive rehab on a longer time frame. It’s less intense, but they’re still receiving a significant amount of therapy a day.

“So, when you can get a patient from here, and you can get them home,” he said, “that’s the rewarding part about it. A lot of times, we do. We succeed, and they go home.”

Kohler and his wife, Mariah, live in Jacksonville.