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Alexis Rodriguez MA ’22

What brought you to OT?
When I was 16 years old, I had a stroke, which enabled me to have an occupational therapist of my own. She was very positive minded and helped me get back to health. Since I spent a lot of time with her, she explained to me what an occupational therapist does and what she particularly enjoyed about it. Her charismatic energy gave me a new outlook on life, and I knew from there, I wanted to instill that faith and hope to other individuals. I decided I wanted to be an occupational therapist as my career choice and attend the best program in order to gain exceptional experiences.

What area of practice are you interested in?
I am interested in working in pediatrics specifically with children who have autism. I enjoy sensory integration interventions and feel this population will enable me to utilize that foundation the most. I also would like to work in a school-based setting. My ultimate goal would be to work in the NICU at a children’s hospital.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family. I also love to go hiking, traveling, binge watching shows and movies, and going to the beach. Attending Dodger games are one of my favorite things to do as well.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
If I could travel anywhere, I would love to go to Greece and to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. I honestly would enjoy any location with a vast amount of history.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I would have to say to “Let go and Let God”. I say this mantra whenever situations are beyond my control and understanding. I lean on my faith a lot to get through difficult and overwhelming situations.

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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 fully 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) has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccreditation Status 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. The program must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®).

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for certification by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.