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LEAVENWORTH - Sierra Eichman was one of 11 students receiving a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy on May 4 from the University of Saint Mary. The university recently received accreditation for its Occupational Therapy Program for the longest possible accreditation period. Sierra was among the inaugural class receiving their OTD as part of the 101st graduating class from USM.
Sierra has completed intensive fieldwork at USD 453 in Leavenworth, Kansas, University of Kansas Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center in Kansas City, Kansas, and the Veterans Administration’s Domiciliary in Leavenworth. She also completed both inpatient and outpatient rotations at HaysMed and an outpatient pediatric rotation in 2023. Sierra recently completed her Doctoral Capstone Experience with the Leavenworth school district working with 5th and 6th grade students investigating the positive impact of sensory regulation on behavior. She drafted her capstone project entitled Sensory Regulation Programming Paired with Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum to Improve Behavior in an Educational Setting in April and presented the results of her capstone study to the public on May 3rd. In addition to her course work, Sierra was the President of the campus’ Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), attended the 2023 national conference for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and was awarded the 2023 Graduate Student Leadership Award from the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Sierra is preparing for her National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy examination and has accepted an Inpatient OT position with HaysMed beginning later this year.
Sierra graduated from Hays High School as a 4.0 honors student and received her Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Health Professions from Fort Hays State University in 2021. While at FHSU, Sierra participated in and held various leadership roles in numerous campus organizations. Additionally, she was also recognized as a 2021 graduate of the FHSU Honors College. She is the daughter of Dave and Sheila Eichman, Hays, the granddaughter of Ronald and Carol Whitehurst, Garden City, and the late Cleo and Frances Eichman, formerly of Palco.