Lending a Helping Hand
September 25, 2019

LAC+USC, or “County” as it is often referred to, is one of the busiest hospitals in the Western United States, providing healthcare services for people in the area who are medically underserved and treating over 28 percent of LA County trauma victims.

Why did you decide to pursue your OTD?
I decided to pursue the OTD because I wanted to improve my clinical expertise within the specialty of hand therapy. Graduating from the Master’s program at USC made me feel like I had the core foundations of occupational therapy with the clinical reasoning skills needed to be successful and impact our patients within many settings. But I thought the mentorship component of the OTD would help me to further improve the techniques and tools used within hand therapy, such as orthotic fabrication and wound care, under the guidance of experienced hand therapists.

What population does your residency site primarily serve?
LAC + USC Medical Center primarily serves individuals who are uninsured, come from a lower socioeconomic status, are undocumented, and/or are limited in their English proficiency. 

What does your typical day at LAC+USC look like?
My typical days at LAC + USC Medical Center may start off with a one-hour in-service where all of the occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists come together to learn about a certain protocol or project a discipline is working on. I then have about four one-on-one sessions before heading to the orthopedic clinic for the rest of the day. In the ortho clinic, I get to practice educating patients on activity and exercise home programs, and fabricating custom-made orthotics. 

What has been your favorite part about working at LAC+USC?
My favorite part about working at LAC + USC Medical Center is having a supportive community that is receptive and excited about my learning.

What are your plans after getting your OTD?
My plan after the OTD is to continue working within hand therapy and eventually become a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). I hope to be working with the low-income population of Los Angeles and providing high-quality patient care.

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