UNE Department of Occupational Therapy celebrates 30th anniversary of first graduating class

The Department of Occupational Therapy (OT) will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its first graduating class during Alumni Weekend on September 18–20.

Activities begin on Friday evening at 6–8 p.m. in the WCHP Lecture Hall on UNE’s Portland Campus. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a reception and a continuing education lecture titled, “Sensory Modulation Challenges in Veterans with PTSD: A Wellness Approach with Implications for Improving Occupations,” presented by Founding Director Judith G. Kimball, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will also be awarded.

Saturday’s gathering will be held on UNE’s Biddeford Campus at the Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences beginning at 3 p.m. It will include a reception and raffle of memorabilia to benefit the Kimball Scholarship for UNE OT Students.

The first OT class came to UNE in 1981 to join a brand new, unaccredited OT program with a young team of faculty and staff members. Nursing and Physical Therapy inaugurated programs soon after. The university was also young, having formed just three years prior, combining the new College of Osteopathic Medicine with St. Francis College. into one institution.

Now, 30 years later, UNE has three campuses hosting numerous colleges and programs. Students from the first class of OT graduates are now seasoned professionals, actively practicing, teaching, writing and participating in research. Approximately 1400 students have since gone on to graduate from the program.  

Questions about raffle item donations should be directed to Dr. Kimball at jkimball@une.edu

Registration and further information regarding this event is available online