Finding His Lane: How One Muskie Discovered an Unexpected Calling

When Josh Ehrichs (G’25) enrolled in Muskingum University's Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program, he expected to earn an advanced degree and grow professionally. What he didn't expect was to discover a passion that would ultimately shape his career and lead him to become a business owner.

Like many MOT students, Ehrichs was balancing a full schedule. As a working Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with family responsibilities, he needed a program that would fit real life. Muskingum's hybrid format offered that flexibility, but it was something else that made the strongest impression from the very beginning: the people.

"From my first phone call with Jennifer Baird, I could hear the heart behind the program," Ehrichs recalls. "I knew I would be part of something bigger than myself."

That sense of community became a defining part of his experience. Faculty members became mentors, classmates became colleagues and friends, and the challenges of balancing work, school, and family helped him discover just how much he was capable of accomplishing.

"The MOT program showed me that I can do hard things," Ehrichs says. "It taught me to push through challenges, dig deep, and keep moving forward."

One weekend on campus would prove especially life-changing.

During a residency session, students were introduced to the specialty field of driving rehabilitation. An occupational therapist demonstrated adaptive driving equipment and shared how practitioners help individuals with conditions ranging from stroke and brain injuries to autism and dementia maintain safe, independent mobility.

Something clicked.

"I left that weekend energized," Ehrichs says. "It ignited a passion I didn't even know I had."

Fortunately, his professors noticed.

Dr. Lawler recognized Ehrichs' enthusiasm and encouraged him to explore the field more deeply. Together with Dr. Coalt, she helped connect him with a specialized fieldwork opportunity that would allow him to pursue that growing interest. Rather than steering him toward a traditional placement, they supported his emerging dream.

That support changed everything.

The experience led Ehrichs to become involved with the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED), earn his Driving Rehabilitation Professional (DRP) credential, and pursue additional specialized training. Today, he owns Way Maker Medical Driving Solutions, LLC, helping individuals maintain independence through driver rehabilitation and adaptive driving solutions.

While the career path has been rewarding, Ehrichs says some of his most meaningful memories come from the relationships he built during his time at Muskingum. Through participation in the MOT program's SOTA Club, he collaborated with fellow students and faculty to mentor younger cohorts, strengthen community within the program, and establish the program's first pinning ceremony.

As he reflects on his Muskingum journey, gratitude remains front and center.

"The faculty believed in me, even before I fully believed in myself," Ehrichs says. "Without their encouragement, guidance, and support, I wouldn't be where I am today."

For Ehrichs, Muskingum provided more than an education. It provided mentors who recognized potential, a community that fostered growth, and an opportunity to discover a purpose he never saw coming.

And it all started with a single weekend, an open mind, and a university willing to help a student follow a spark of curiosity down a road that would ultimately become his life's work.