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Current Global Initiatives Projects

Global “Brown Bag” Speaker Series

The Global Initiatives Brown Bag Speaker Series aims to provide the Chan community with informal educational opportunities regarding relevant global topics. Students are invited to learn from occupational scientists and occupational therapists from around the world to further broaden their understanding of how occupation and occupational therapy is experienced outside the United States.

Recent Brown Bag presentations include:

Are online interventions effective for my child with ASD? A review of online interventions for pre-primary and primary aged children with ASD during the COVID-19 pandemic
by colleagues from the Centre for Autism and Other Disabilities Rehabilitation Research and Education (CADRRE)

Global Initiatives Conversation: Therapists Beyond Borders Show description

Global Initiatives x Therapists Beyond Borders Collaboration

Global Initiatives and the non-profit organization Therapists Beyond Borders (TBB) have been building a relationship that has opened the doors to thinking about international travel and delivery of services in a way that combats “voluntourism”. Through this collaboration, both groups aim to help the other grow, learn, and expand their horizons with regards to traveling beyond borders and the ethics surrounding providing care in other countries. Both organizations are aiming to be proficient in these topics because the hope is to create a dialogue that conveys how vital it is to keep ethical practice at the forefront of our minds. With that comes the importance of co-developing programs with the communities we visit and commitment to sustainability. GI and TBB have held one informal panel discussion and are working on holding more. In the future, this can create opportunities for OT students to travel abroad and implement all the aforementioned skills and values.

The presentation that was held was titled “Global Initiatives Conversation: Therapists Beyond Borders”. TBB’s mission was shared, along with personal reflections on ethical and responsible engagement with the global community.

Perspectives on Advocacy: Standing Up for Mothers and Children in the US and the Philippines
by Dr. Apple Sepulveda OTD, OTR/L, BCP, SCFES

Sex, Love and OT in India
by Prutha Satpute and Dr. Sakshi Tickoo

Occupational Therapy and Culture in Venezuela/Colombia and South Korea
by Valentina Vera and Catherine Shin

Global Initiatives Seminars

The seminars are organized to provide practical information that is focused on relevant occupational therapy topics identified by our current and past international students. Our previous topics and panels have included:

Occupational Science Seminar: Working Together to Decolonize OT Education and Practice Through Global Perspectives

Navigating the NBCOT exam
with the Director of Credentialing Services at NBCOT

Thriving After Graduation: Tips for Succeeding in the First Year of Practice as an International Alumni
(panel featuring recent international alumni and local occupational therapy employers)

“Global Perspectives” Student Connection

Global Perspectives aims to establish a forum for USC students and OT students from universities around the world to discuss important global issues impacting all of our lives. By utilizing videoconferencing technologies, students engage in dialogue and learn from each other about culture, health and wellness, occupational therapy, and occupational science on a global scale. Previous Global Perspectives partners include:

Kaohsiung Medical University (Taiwan):
Exploring Occupation, Health, and Wellness in Taiwan and the United States

La Trobe University (Australia):
Innovative Responses to COVID-19: Discussion between USC Chan and La Trobe University

Friendtorship Circles

The Global Initiatives Friendtorship Circle program aims to cultivate a supportive and diverse community within the Chan Division through “friendtorship” (friendship + mentorship). The program facilitates mentorship circles of 4-6 students across all academic programs in the Chan Division (Bachelor’s-to-Master’s, Post Professional Master’s, Professional Master’s, OTD, and PhD programs). Participants attend monthly meetings hosted by Global Initiatives in which they connect and share their personal experiences, build lasting relationships, and provide support to one another throughout their journeys to become occupational therapists.

Global Pen Pal Program

The Global Pen Pal program is a unique opportunity to connect with occupational therapy students from different regions around the world. The program aims to provide students with a new way to engage in cultural exchange, practice language skills, and build friendships all while expanding their professional networks. Once paired up with a pen pal, the students engage in communications of their choice such as emails, traditional handwritten letters, video calls and other creative ways. The Global Initiatives Pen Pal team also hosts Zoom meet ups regularly throughout the semester for our program participants to engage with one another virtually. Current university partners in the Pen Pal program include:

Bethlehem University (Bethlehem, Palestine)
Universidad del Rosario (Columbia)
Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education (Poland)
National Taiwan University (Tainan, Taiwan)
University of Ghana (Accra, Ghana)

Shared Plates Community Dinner

Shared Plates is an annual dinner jointly hosted by Global Initiatives and the USC Occupational Therapy and Science Council to foster community and celebrate our cultural diversity while enjoying delicious global cuisine. Students teach one another how to prepare personally meaningful dishes such as curry, lumpia, and ssambap. Once the meals are cooked, attendees gather and enjoy a potluck style meal together.

In 2020, Shared Plates was hosted virtually, as ​a meal framed around “finding the global in your local community.” Participants were invited to cook their own dinner or support diverse businesses in their local community by ordering dinner (i.e., takeout). Whether virtual or in-person, this event is a special opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural diversity within the Chan community and share fellowship with one another!

Celebrations

Throughout the academic year, Global Initiatives hosts a variety of celebrations to ​recognize meaningful holidays and student milestones, and to build community and connection.​ These events enable students to socialize, form relationships, and learn more about each other’s cultures. Past celebrations we have held include World Occupational Therapy Day, American Thanksgiving celebration, Holi, and Lunar New Year.

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. All states require licensure to practice; a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® OTR certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.