Three SWLA graduates among Louisiana’s first-ever Doctors of Occupational Therapy

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - For the first time ever, a class of Louisiana students is graduating with Doctorates of Occupational Therapy. Three of them are Southwest Louisiana locals.

From receiving their high school diploma on the Broncos field in 2018, to accepting their doctoral degree in occupational therapy at the LSU Health Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions. Dr. Amelia Arceneaux, Dr. Abigail Cudd, and Dr. Kathryn Hall are making their mark on the place they’ve called home.

They are some of Louisiana’s ever members of this program to walk away with this degree.

“We went in knowing that it was a doctoral program, but it had not yet been accredited. So we were kind of just taking that leap of faith, like we know it’s going to get accredited while we’re there,” Cudd said.

“We had a lot of faith in our professors. We know they built a very strong program, and all leading up to that, I felt relief knowing that we would officially get our doctorate,” Arceneaux said.

Occupational therapists are licensed healthcare professionals who help people overcome challenges in performing daily activities.

Arceneaux, Cudd, and Hall hope to specialize in a form of care soon.

“I’ll be working at an outpatient pediatric clinic. I’ll just be with a lot of school-based kids but also serving kids with autism spectrum disorder,” Hall said.

“I’ll be working at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center in the acute care setting, and I’m looking to maybe get a neuro-based specialty in the future,” Arceneaux said.

“Sensory integration. If I stick with kiddos or some neuro specialties is something that I’m considering as well, so just whichever one I decide,” Cudd said.

The ladies say their love for people and helping to improve their quality of life keeps them going.

“What I love about the pression is that you take something that people already do on a daily basis. You just help them achieve it in whatever ailment they have,” Hall said.

“We really meet the person where they’re at to really enhance their quality of life. There’s this quote that says medicine adds days to life, but occupational therapy adds life today,” Arceneaux said.

In June, they will take the board certification exam to officially gain their titles and begin practicing.