Latest Chan Division News
Academics and Courses

Meet the Class of 2018 ⟩
May 7, 2018

Academics and Courses Events Students

Before the 135th USC Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 11, meet some of the outstanding Trojans receiving degrees in occupational science and occupational therapy.

Melody McKay, Master of Arts Degree in Occupational Therapy Melody McKay (Photo by Hong Le) Amid the hustle and bustle of studying for her "final finals" of graduate school, Melody McKay MA ’18 still seeks the same work-life balance she has been mastering since her first day in USC Chan's master's…

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Earth Day Q&A with Camille Dieterle ⟩
April 20, 2018

Academics and Courses Faculty Health and Wellness Lifestyle Redesign

In recognition of Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, Camille Dieterle — an assistant clinical professor at USC Chan and passionate advocate for all things environmentally friendly and sustainable — spoke with our Student Ambassador Erika about occupational therapy, the environment and healthier lifestyles.

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok/Pexels In your own words, can you explain the intersection where environment, occupation and health meet? The state of our environment has become a human health issue, now and increasingly into the future. In addition to changes in technology and policy, many scientists…

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USC Chan begins strategic planning ⟩
March 1, 2018

Academics and Courses Clinical Faculty Research Students

On Jan. 7, the USC Chan Division began the process of building a new five-year strategic plan to guide its vision and mission, according to a Mar. 1 memo released by Associate Dean and Chair Grace Baranek. "This comprehensive Strategic Plan will account for internal and external opportunities and…

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Interview with student Kim Jones MA ’18 ⟩
February 23, 2018

Academics and Courses Diversity, Access, Equity Students

February is Black History Month, and Student Ambassador Erika Lim MA ’18 spoke with master's degree student Kim Jones MA ’18 about what led her to occupational therapy, her experiences as a student at USC Chan and how identity, authenticity and diversity enable occupational therapists to provide the best service possible.

Photo courtesy of Kim Jones Thanks for meeting with me, Kim! Let’s start with the simple stuff: Why did you choose to pursue a career in occupational therapy? I was in an Intro to Kinesiology class and the professor was talking about this “holistic perspective” and how occupational therapists…

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“Why PhD?” Applying to the USC Chan PhD program ⟩
November 27, 2017

Academics and Courses Students

With Friday's approaching deadline to apply to the USC Chan PhD in Occupational Science degree program, first-year occupational science PhD student Raymond Hernandez shares his rationale for pursuing a PhD degree at USC

By Raymond Hernandez PhD ’22 USC occupational science student Raymond Hernandez PhD ’22 We all use our own strategies when trying to make the big decisions in life. Some common examples include: “going with your gut,” making a pros/cons list, careful self-reflection, even flipping a coin.…

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The veteran occupational therapist ⟩
November 11, 2017

Academics and Courses Alumni Events

In commemoration of Veterans Day 2017, USC Chan alumna and U.S. Army veteran Jen Hermanson reflects on what it means to be a veteran occupational therapist

By Jen Hermanson MA ’15, OTD ’16 Photo courtesy of Army Medicine When I agreed to write this article I thought it would be pretty easy. Hey, I’m a veteran and an OT, so I feel like I’m highly qualified to write about being a veteran and an occupational therapist. When I actually sat down to…

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Who are the people in your neighborhood? Meet Viviana Padilla ’16, MA ’19 ⟩
August 23, 2017

Academics and Courses Chan in the Media Community and Partners Events Students

The first-generation college student’s journey from a South Los Angeles elementary school to the 2017 White Coat Ceremony

By Mike McNulty Viviana Padilla ’16, MA ’19, whose latest Trojan affiliation is as a new USC Chan graduate student/Photo by Hong Le Most of the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy’s new grad students are adults when they first set foot on campus. Viviana Padilla…

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Inaugural class inducts new sensory integration continuing education ⟩
September 2, 2016

Academics and Courses Clinical Faculty International

By Mike McNulty Clinical professor Erna Blanche and research assistant professor Stefanie Bodison review video of a SI treatment session. (Photo/Phil Channing) The inaugural cohort of participants has successfully completed the first of USC’s new sequential four-course Sensory Integration (SI)…

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Class of 2015: The courage to change ⟩
May 7, 2015

Academics and Courses Students

It took him nearly a decade, but Brian Wylie has found a career in occupational therapy that ties together his many disparate interests

By Mike McNulty 2015 master's degree graduate Brian Wylie While one’s life is most often lived looking forward, it is perhaps best understood only by reflecting backwards. For Brian Wylie MA ’15, a soon-to-be master’s degree graduate from the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and…

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JEP and occupational therapy — New mini courses ⟩
May 8, 2014

Academics and Courses Chan in the Media Community and Partners Health and Wellness Students

JEP pilots its first semester introducing OT mini courses with great response from students

By Madison Aguirre MA ’14/USC JEP Newsletter April marks the start of OT Awareness Month. But, what is OT? As a second-year master's student in USC's Division of Occupational Science (OS) and Occupational Therapy (OT), I am quite familiar with this question. According to USC's Division of OS and…

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