Trojans win their 2024 AOTA elections races
February 26, 2024

By Mike McNulty

USC Chan faculty members and alums Arameh Anvarizadeh ’05, MA ’06, OTD ’07 and Sarah Bream MA ’96, OTD ’09, and alumnus Bryant Edwards MA ’05, OTD ’06, have each won their races for volunteer leadership positions in the American Occupational Therapy Association, according to election results released today. They will assume their respective roles beginning July 1.

Anvarizadeh, associate professor of clinical occupational therapy, has been elected AOTA President-Elect. In this role, Anvarizadeh will continue to work alongside current AOTA President Alyson Stover for one year until assuming the three-year term of AOTA president on July 1, 2025.

Anvarizadeh is the fifth Trojan to be elected president of the national professional association, following Wilma West MA ’48 (president from 1961-64), Florence Cromwell MA ’52 (1967-73), Mary Foto ’66 (1995-98) and Professor Emeritus Florence Clark PhD ’82 (2010-13).

“We did it — the people have spoken loud and clear,” Anvarizadeh said. “This tells me there is a strong mandate for the changes I have campaigned for, which is incredibly exciting. Thank you all for your unwavering support. I am humbled and honored by the OT community, and ready to continue working with AOTA President Stover for another year as we build the association and move our profession forward.”

Bream, associate chair of operations, community partnerships and development and professor of clinical occupational therapy, has been elected to the Board of Directors. The board is AOTA’s voluntary leadership group responsible for determining the association’s mission, vision, values and strategic directions, and ensuring AOTA has the resources to successfully enact them. Six elected directors sit on the board, which meets monthly.

“I am grateful to the occupational therapy community for the support they have shown in my capacity to fulfill this role with integrity and effective leadership,” Bream said. “I know there is much work to be done, and I look forward to contributing to the positive trajectory of the profession.”

Edwards has also been elected to the Board of Directors. He is the executive director of Rehabilitation & Professional Services at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, as well as the current president of the Occupational Therapy Association of California.

“I’m so honored to be able to step into a leadership role on the AOTA board, and so appreciative of all the support,” Edwards said. “I know we have a huge responsibility and a huge opportunity to effect positive change, and I look forward to contributing to the profession!”

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