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Charmi Patel MA ’14

What brought you to occupational therapy?
I always wanted to be in the health care profession. After my high school, when I was applying for grad school, I heard about occupational therapy from a few friends. I got into OT school but I was waiting to get a transfer to PT school. As days passed by and I started to get to know what OT is and how I could bring about a change in the life of others, I decided to stay back as an OT. A doctor adds years to your life, but as an OT I can add life to those years.

What area of practice are you interested in?
Pediatrics and Mental Health.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Culinary, Badminton, Designing Indian ethnic wear with my mom.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I would want to time travel with a snap of the finger, so I could be near my family and friends just when I miss them the most.

If you could choose anyone (living or dead) to be your mentor, who would you pick?
One of my seniors from grad school, Pooja Mehta, and my mother.

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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 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.