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

Mariamme Ibrahim MA ’22

What brought you to occupational therapy?
As an undergraduate at the University of California, Riverside studying neuroscience, I came across occupational therapy with a simple Google search! I wanted to learn about the different career paths I could take with my background and couldn’t believe what I was reading when I came across OT. I had never heard of OT and once I read about it, I instantly fell in love with the blend of science, art, creativity, and advocacy efforts of the profession.

How do you plan to use Occupational Therapy in the future?
In the future, I plan to use Occupational Therapy by addressing some of the health disparities (stigma towards mental health, developmental disabilities, etc.) in underrepresented communities, and more specifically the Egyptian community which I grew up in and love! I hope to really bridge the gap between resources in OT and minority groups’ access. I am passionate about working in a pediatric setting and being a support for caregivers throughout their child’s experience in OT.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Some occupations I enjoy engaging in are traveling, hiking, playing basketball, and being a Sunday school teacher! I love exploring new coffee shops and I’m also always looking for new places to try Thai tea (best drink ever!).

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
Interlaken in Switzerland! This place looks like a dream!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Always keep an open mind towards different perspectives; you’ll never stop learning this way.

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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.