Home ⟩Education at USC Chan ⟩Entry-Level Doctorate (OTD) ⟩Meet the Students

Deborah Metz MA ’18

What brought you to occupational therapy?
I have always been drawn to helping professions wanted to work with people. My first “real” experience in OT was volunteering at a summer camp for Kids with Hemiplegia using CIMT. I had a blast working with the children and felt like I was really making a difference. The children’s enthusiasm and the improvements they made in just 10 days truly inspired me and fostered my passion for OT.

What area of practice are you interested in?
I am interested in going into pediatrics. Specifically working in sensory integration, early intervention, and developmental disorders.

Describe your background before coming to occupational therapy.
I was born and raised North Carolina and graduated from North Carolina State University with a BA in Psychology and minors in international studies and French. After graduation I spent 7 months in South Africa shadowing occupational therapists and working with underprivileged children. It was the most rewarding experience and I loved every second of it.

If we opened your fridge, what would we see?
If you were to open my fridge, you would find at least 5 different types of cheese (cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, goat cheese, and sheep’s milk cheese!). Back home my family eats a lot of cheese and I love it!

How do you want to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered for making a difference in people’s lives; for helping others discover their strengths and live their lives to the fullest.

⋯

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.