Trojan Occupational Therapists Make Firsts with Two USC Awards
May 21, 2013

Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Phuong Nguyen received the Keck Medical Center of USC’s Care Partner of the Year award at the 2013 Nurses Week Awards Ceremony.

The Nurses of Keck Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital annually nominate and select winners for various awards in celebration of National Nurses Week. While previous awardees have been exclusively nurses, non-nursing members of the care team were made eligible to receive this year’s award. Among thousands of USC providers, Nguyen was chosen as the first non-nurse clinician to win the accolade.

“I was definitely surprised by the award,” Nguyen said, “but more importantly I am honored to have been nominated and chosen by my nursing colleagues. I am truly fortunate to be able to work with some of the most amazing patients and health care providers on a daily basis.”

Associate Chair of Occupational Therapy Clinical Services Katie Jordan said, “Having our work as occupational therapists recognized by our colleagues in nursing is a great honor. We are all very proud of Dr. Nguyen and look forward to many more opportunities for interprofessional collaboration with the nurses of USC.”

Occupational therapy also made a strong showing earlier this month at USC’s first Interdisciplinary Poster Symposium during National Hospital Week.

Kimberly Perring, an occupational therapy doctorate resident, won the Evidence-Based Practice Award for her poster entitled “Behavioral Treatment for Urinary Incontinence and Urinary Retention.” In addition, occupational therapy was the profession with the second-most posters selected for display at the symposium.

“Having a poster alongside OT clinical faculty and other health care professionals was an honor in itself,” said Perring. “I hope my recognition will raise more awareness of OT’s unique roles within acute care.”

Added Jordan, “Having our work displayed through the hospital over Hospital Week has improved awareness of ur unique services and sparked new interprofessional collaborations around mutual interests.”

Read the article online at USC News.

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