Arameh Anvarizadeh OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
CHP 128
(323) 442-2822
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Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA is a founding member and chair of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), a non-profit organization striving to empower occupational therapy leaders to engage in practices that increase diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and anti-oppression for a more transformative occupational therapy profession. She is responsible for developing the COTAD toolkit, the Ignite Series and COTAD Chapters.
Dr. Anvarizadeh recently made history as the youngest and first African American/Iranian woman to become vice president of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She is also the youngest woman of color inducted into the association’s prestigious Roster of Fellows (FAOTA).
She also currently holds leadership positions with AOTA as chair of the Credential Review and Accountability Committee (CRAC), as a member of the Representative Assembly Leadership Committee (RALC), as a Governance Task Force member and as liaison between the Governance and DEI task forces. Dr. Anvarizadeh was also a member of the AOTA Special Task Force on Entry-Level Education, and a crucial contributor to the professional dialogue on the entry-level degree requirements. She is a recent alumna of the 2020 cohort for the Executive Leadership Program for Multicultural Women.
Within the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), Dr. Anvarizadeh serves as a member of the Advocacy and Government Affairs Committee. She is a recipient of OTAC’s Janice Matsutsuyu Outstanding Service Award and Vision Award. She previously held the position of Communications Chair for seven years.
Dr. Anvarizadeh is an accomplished speaker who has lectured in numerous state and national conferences, as well as internationally at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ (WFOT) Congress. Dr. Anvarizadeh is passionate about building healthy, diverse communities through inclusion, equity, empowerment and advocacy.
Education
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
2007 | University of Southern California
Master of Arts (MA)
in Occupational Therapy
2006 | University of Southern California
Bachelor of Science (BS)
in Occupational Therapy
2005 | University of Southern California
Selected Publications
2023
Chang, M. C., & Anvarizadeh, A. (2023). An adapted model of constraint-induced movement therapy for young children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. In E. A. Pyatak & E. S. Lee (Eds.), 50 studies every occupational therapist should know (pp. 217-222). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780197630402.003.0031 Show abstract
The chapter “An Adapted Model of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for Young Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy” describes a study examining the effects of a modified constraint-induced movement therapy on children between 18 months and 4 years of age who were diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The results showed that the 6-month modified constraint-induced movement therapy significantly improved voluntary hand use on the affected hand after 2 months of treatment with 2 hours of use daily. The chapter also provides information about related research evaluating the modified constraint-induced movement therapy among children with cerebral palsy and presents a case study applying the study’s findings to clinical practice.
Keywords. constraint, movement therapy, pediatric rehabilitation, hemiplegia, cerebral palsy, occupational therapy
2021
DeJesus, M., Oliver-Derry, K., Baldwin, E., Anvarizadeh, A., Lancaster, S., & Hoyt, C. R. (2021, June). Acting in 2021 for occupational justice: Acknowledging roles, creating conversations, and taking action. OT Practice, 26(6), 12-15. Full text
2015
Wilson, S., Anvarizadeh, A., Hoyt Drazen, C., Holland, D., Kwebetchou, N., Reyes Smith, C., & Skowronski, J. (2015, November). Diversity in the workforce: Perspectives from emerging leaders. OT Practice, 20(21), 19-21. Full text
Awards
Roster of Fellows | 2020
American Occupational Therapy Association
Certificate of Appreciation for Valuable Contributions | 2010–2018
Occupational Therapy Association of California
Vision Award to the Centennial Float Committee | 2017
Occupational Therapy Association of California
Service Commendation for Mentor, Emerging Leaders Program, 2015 | 2017
American Occupational Therapy Association
Janice Matsutsuyu Outstanding Service Award | 2013
Occupational Therapy Association of California
In Chan News
July 28, 2022
How a six-week undergraduate pathway program empowers future occupational, physical therapists from underrepresented minority backgrounds.
January 29, 2021
USC Chan faculty members and alums Arameh Anvarizadeh ’05, MA ’06, OTD ’07 and Ashley Halle ’08, MA ’11, OTD ’12 will soon be contributing their talents to the national occupational therapy professional association, as each won their respective races for volunteer leadership positions,…
January 6, 2021
Meet the Trojans looking to make a nationwide difference for the good of the profession.
November 2, 2020
Four USC alumnae, including current faculty member Arameh Anvarizadeh, to join AOTA Roster of Fellows in 2021.
September 16, 2020
Four USC Chan faculty members and two alumni will be speaking during the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 2020 Education Summit. The annual event brings together hundreds of faculty members from academic institutions across the country to learn about new trends, innovative classroom…
September 27, 2017
By Mike McNulty Eight Trojans have been named recipients of annual awards presented by the Occupational Therapy Association of California, a non-profit professional society that represents the interests of the more than 15,000 occupational therapy practitioners working in California. Associate Chair…
February 27, 2015
By Mike McNulty All three USC Chan Division students running for elected positions to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Assembly of Student Delegates (ASD) won their respective races. Joseph Ungco MA ’16 was elected chairperson, Ellen Wleklinski BS ’14, MA ’15 was elected…
June 11, 2014
Congratulations to the 39 USC Trojan alumni and faculty members scheduled to present at the 2014 International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists in Yokohama, Japan. Congrats and Fight On! Click below to view the list.
March 26, 2014
Congratulations to the 68 USC Trojan faculty, alumni, students and staff who presented at the 2014 Conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association, March 3-6 in Baltimore. Additionally of special note, alumnae Dottie Ecker Cert. ’58, MA ’68 and Sue Knox MA ’68, PhD ’97 were…
October 22, 2013
85 Trojan alumni and faculty will be presenting at the 2013 Conference of the Occupational Therapy Association of California, Oct. 24-27 at the Sacramento (Calif.) Convention Center. On the evening of Friday Oct. 25, be sure to join your USC Trojan Family at the conference's alumni cocktail mixer.…
April 23, 2013
128 USC alumni, faculty, and students are scheduled to present at the 2013 Conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association, April 25-28 at the San Diego Convention Center. Presentation formats include a pre-conference institute, workshops, short courses, research and professional posters…
January 18, 2012
Two Trojans were among 17 future professional leaders selected by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) to attend the 2012 Emerging Leaders Development Program, hosted last week at AOTA headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. Arameh Anvarizadeh (BA ’05, MA ’06, OTD ’07) and current…