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

Sarah Morris MA ’21

What brought you to occupational therapy?
My mother is a nurse and injured her wrist at work. As a result, she needed to see an OT with CHT specialty. I went to all of her appointments and worked one-on-one with her to do at home exercises. I witnessed firsthand the restorative properties of OT interventions and the focus on making sure patients can do what they want to do and are expected to do within real life contexts. I’ve always desired a career that would allow me to help others live their fullest lives and that’s exactly what OTs do!

Describe your background before coming to occupational therapy.
Before coming to occupational therapy I was studying Public Policy to one day influence healthcare legislation.

Tell us about your favorite memory from the program so far.
One of my favorite memories from the program thus far has been living in OT house and having group outings and study sessions! Having this little community has made LA feel more like home!

What are some small things that make your day better?
Music always makes my day better and improves my mood. I’ve also found that self care like regularly working out in the mornings allows me to start my day right and be fully energized for all the activities I want to do.

If you could visit any time in history, where would you go and why?
If I could visit anytime in history it would be the ’80s. I’m a big fan of the way John Hughes portrays life so truthfully and sentimentally.

⋯

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.