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USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
University of Southern California
University of Southern California
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HomeEventsChan at ConferencesOTAC Conference

USC Chan at OTAC Conference

2025 OTAC Annual Conference & Expo
November 6-9, 2025
Hilton Pasadena Hotel

More than 70 faculty, staff, students and alumni of USC Chan presented at the 2025 Conference of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), including keynote addresses from faculty member Arameh Anvarizadeh ’05, MA ’06, OTD ’07 and from alumna Kathryn Sorensen MA ’06, OTD ’16. Congratulations to the eight Trojans who won annual awards this year — Fight On!

2025 Award Recipients

Luella Grangaard Political Action Award
Lisa Test MA ’89, OTD ’09; and Rena Katrikh MA ’09

Occupational Therapy Practice Award
Don Gordon MA ’94, PhD ’02

Outstanding Student Award
Trinity Mecham OTD ’28

Lifetime Achievement Award
Terri Nishimura MA ’85

Susan J. Harris OT Entrepreneur Award
Barb Phillips OTD ’11

Spirit Award
Jhenny Rivera OTD ’25

Vision Award
Rebecca Cunningham MA ’15, OTD ’16

Keynote Presenters

Saturday, Nov. 8, at 5:45 p.m.
Align with Your WHY: Courage as a Critical Link to Cultivating Connection, Fostering Community, and Empowering Collective Action
Arameh Anvarizadeh

Sunday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 a.m.
Refueling Your Purpose: Reactivate the WHY That Got You Here
Kathryn Sorensen

President’s Mix ‘N Mingle

Saturday, Nov. 8, at 6:15 p.m.
Hosted by OTAC President Samia Rafeedie MA ’05, OTD ’06

Trojan Family Reception

Date: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Hilton Pasadena (168 S. Los Robles Ave, Pasadena)

2025 OTAC Speakers and Presenters

Leila Abu-Lashin | Suzanne Afuso-Sugano | Melina Allahverdian | Arameh Anvarizadeh | Yousef Babish | Sahana Baker-Malone | Amber Bennett | Talitha Black | Ashley Bonzell | Talia Bornstein | Erin Bussell | Megan Chang | Jasmine Chapman | Candace Chatman | Eddie Chu | Rebecca Cunningham | Jayson Davies | Celso Delgado, Jr. | Nora Dixon | Shanpin Fanchiang | Kayla Gan | Stephani Gharehptian | Jasmin Gonzalez | Don Gordon | Kimberly Grenawitzke | Sharon Han | Kiley Hanish | Caroline Hardin | Hanalynn Hunt | Tracy Jalaba | Jennifer Jones | Rena Katrikh | Leah King | Karrie Kingsley | Heather Kitching | Michelle Laforteza | Miri Lee | Ingrid Leu | Anna Lynch | Deanna Mannarelli | Marissa Marchioni | Mary McGregor | Erin McIntyre | Jenna Mele | Tessa Milman | Annette V. Morales | Lauren Newhouse | Kaitlin O’Hara | Javi Enrique Orellana | Elizabeth Pauly | Mark Petersen | Sarah Putt | Samia Rafeedie | Nandita Raman | Kary Rappaport | Carlin Reaume | Guy Reavis | Clarissa Saunders-Newton | Michaela Scanlon | Emma Schiewe | Apple Sepulveda | Lindsey Shomer | Winny Soenaryo | Min Ji Song | Kathryn Sorensen | Susan Stouffer | Jaynee Taguchi Meyer | Lisa Test | Marilyn Thompson | Allyson Tong | Cecilia Tran | Bari Turetzky | Christine Turnbull | Vicky Vu | Katie Weschsler | Rhonda Windham | Lora Woo | Janis Yue

Please note, every effort is made to accurately recognize the USC Trojan Family; if an omission or error has been made to the list above, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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