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Kaainaat Ali OTD ’22

Track: Advanced Clinical Practice

What brought you to occupational therapy?
My brother received OT services growing up and his home program involved us just playing together and having fun as a family! As I grew older and reflected on these experiences, I thought about how important this was for my family, and I knew that I wanted to be able to do that in the future for other people and their families.

Where are you located for your residency and what services are provided there?
I’m completing my residency at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, CA in the inpatient rehabilitation stroke unit. Rancho offers inpatient and outpatient services with therapists specializing in different areas including stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, vocational rehabilitation, and Lifestyle Redesign.

What do you hope to learn from this year?
I’m really looking forward to increasing my overall confidence as a therapist as well as expanding my toolbox. I also hope to learn how to be a better advocate for my patients navigating the healthcare system, but as well as learn to advocate for myself and my own needs!

If you could give any words of advice for incoming Master’s students, what would they be?
Some advice that I have followed or reminded myself of while going through the program:

• Take the time to engage in self-care and your favorite occupations (even if you add it to your planner so you get to it!)
• Don’t be shy to reach out to faculty/staff/other students for advice or mentorship — if that person can’t answer your question they probably know someone that can
• Remember that you are absolutely deserving of being here and of all the opportunities coming your 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 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.