Four alums earn 2021 induction to AOTA Roster of Fellows
November 2, 2020

Four USC alumnae, including one current faculty member, have been named 2021 inductees to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Roster of Fellows.

The Roster of Fellows recognizes occupational therapists who have, through their knowledge, expertise, leadership, advocacy and guidance, made significant contribution over time to the occupational therapy profession, with measured impact on consumers of occupational therapy services or members of the association. The 2021 award recipients were announced this morning on AOTA’s website.

Arameh Anvarizadeh ’05, MA ’06, OTD ’07 is the USC Chan Division’s director of admissions and an associate professor of clinical occupational therapy. She has held various leadership positions within AOTA and the Occupational Therapy Association of California, and is a founding member and the vice chair of the non-profit organization Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity.

Julie Bissell MA ’79, OTD ’12 is an occupational therapist with the Anaheim Elementary School District and a former USC Chan adjunct associate professor of clinical occupational therapy. She was one of the first to establish occupational therapy in California public schools, has held leadership positions with AOTA and OTAC and currently co-chairs OTAC’s School-Based Practice Committee.

Heather Kitching MA ’02, OTD ’10 is the coordinator of the master’s degree in occupational therapy program at Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, and was most recently the president of the Occupational Therapy Association of California.

Lisa Test MA ’89, OTD ’09 is the coordinator for occupational therapy and physical therapy at the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has frequently served OTAC in various volunteer capacities, and most recently, the Lisa A. Test Endowed Scholarship and Endowed Research Awards were established at USC Chan in her name to support the future of our profession.

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