Daniel Park OTD, OTR/L (he/him/his)
Director of Global Initiatives and Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
CHP 161A
(323) 442-3061
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Daniel Park holds his clinical Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degree and Master of Arts degree in occupational therapy, both from the University of Southern California. He has also earned a Master of Social Welfare (Health Services Specialization) degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Bachelor of Science degree in human development from Cornell University.
At the USC Chan Division, Dr. Park oversees Global Initiatives, which invests in international relationships at the faculty, practitioner and student levels. Dr. Park was previously a clinical occupational therapist at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (Burbank, Calif.), where he developed and launched the outpatient occupational therapy program at the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center designed specifically for the lifestyle and occupational performance needs of cancer survivors.
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
2010 | University of Southern California
Master of Arts (MA)
in Occupational Therapy
2009 | University of Southern California
Master of Social Welfare (Health Services Specialization) (MSW)
2006 | University of California, Los Angeles
Master of Education (MEd)
2001 | Harvard University
Bachelor of Science (BS)
in Human Development
2000 | Cornell University
Benitez, A. D., Park, D., & Bream, S. (2022). International students’ and alumni perspectives on their transition to graduate level occupational therapy education and daily life in the United States. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6(2), 11. https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2022.060211 Show abstract
International students who enroll in American occupational therapy academic programs must quickly adapt to the academic demands and everyday life rhythms within the United States. This qualitative study contributes to the body of knowledge of lived experiences of international occupational therapy students, specific to their transition to graduate occupational therapy education and daily life in a new country. Thirteen (13) international occupational therapy graduate students and alumni participated in an individual or joint interview. Three key themes emerged from the findings and include the following: 1) Challenges: Inside and Outside of the Classroom, 2) A Support System: A Home Away from Home, and 3) Giving Back to my Home Country: Improving Occupational Therapy Education, Practice, and Research. This study provides insights into the challenges experienced by international graduate occupational therapy students and alumni, strategies that are beneficial in supporting them as they transition into graduate level education and daily life within the United States, and their motivations for giving back to their home countries.
Carlson, M., Park, D. J., Kuo, A., & Clark, F. (2014). Occupation in relation to the self. Journal of Occupational Science, 21(2), 117-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2012.727356 Show abstract
Knowledge of the construct of occupation remains fragmented within traditional social science disciplines. In this paper, we aim to provide a theoretical synthesis by explicating the unique properties of occupation in relation to the self within social science discourse. Occupations relate to other social science constructs in three ways: (a) they recruit a set of associated changes into a person's life; (b) they serve a person's ability to achieve important goals; and (c) they act as a mirror by reflecting multiple dimensions of the self. Key characteristics of occupation such as its experiential salience and its repetitional flavor powerfully amplify its significant role in affecting self-relevant outcomes. Occupation represents a crucial playing field that profoundly affects the unfolding of human lives. Therefore, the continued pursuit of occupational science is warranted and can uniquely contribute to an improved understanding of the self.
Clark, F. A., Park, D. J., & Burke, J. P. (2013). Dissemination: Bringing translational research to completion. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67(2), 185-193. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.006148 Show abstract
Despite the availability of innovative health care research, a gap exists between research-generated knowledge and the utilization of that knowledge in real-world practice settings. This article examines the transition from research to implementation in the context of the dissemination of A. Jean Ayres' sensory integration procedures and of the challenges currently facing the University of Southern California Well Elderly Studies research team. Drawing from the emerging field of implementation science, this article discusses how researchers can develop an implementation plan to more easily translate evidence into practice. Such plans should address the intervention's reach (i.e., its capacity to penetrate into the intended target population), the settings for which it is applicable, the leaders who will encourage practitioner uptake, stakeholder groups, and challenges to dissemination. By taking action to ensure the more effective dissemination of research-generated knowledge, researchers can increase the likelihood that their interventions will lead to improvements in practice and more effective care for consumers.
International Service Award | 2024
American Occupational Therapy Association
Chan Bakes for Earthquake Relief ⟩
March 12, 2023
From March 6-10, more than 50 USC Chan students, staff, and faculty worked together to host a bake sale fundraiser in support of earthquake relief efforts after the February 6 earthquake in Syria and Turkey.
Chan Partners with LA Community Organizations in Blanket Drive ⟩
March 10, 2023
USC Chan Global Initiatives partnered with the Bless One Foundation to hold a Winter Blanket Drive on behalf of the St. Joseph Center in Long Beach, California.
Park running in 2022 AOTA elections ⟩
February 16, 2022
Director of Global Initiatives looks to elevate association's mission on global stage.
A USC Chantastic Friendsgiving Celebration ⟩
November 22, 2021
by Dr. Danny Park On Thursday, November 18, the USC Chan student community came together to celebrate Friendsgiving in one of the largest in-person community gatherings hosted by the Division since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 90 students from all Chan academic programs…
Finding Global Community and Connection in 2021 ⟩
February 23, 2021
As we say goodbye to a tumultuous year, all of us at Global Initiatives wish to send our warmest greetings of friendship to all of you, whether you are reading this blog locally in Los Angeles or around the world.
Chan Community Commission meets the moment ⟩
August 19, 2020
How student-leaders, faculty and staff kept the division connected during USC’s first fully remote semester.
Creating a virtual community for international students ⟩
May 13, 2020
Amidst a global pandemic and powered by online technology, USC Chan’s Global Initiatives proves that it’s a small, small world.
China Initiative Visits Shanghai | April 2019 ⟩
April 30, 2019
Purpose In April 2019, members of the USC Chan China Initiative team traveled to Shanghai to attend the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine (CARM) 2nd Annual Occupational Therapy Subcommittee Meeting. Prior to conference activities, the team had the opportunity to visit Shanghai…
For faculty with OT spouses, love actually is all around ⟩
February 14, 2019
Have you ever wondered what it would be like, both personally and professionally, to date or marry a fellow occupational therapist? Would it affect how you manage your household? Or how you raise children?
China Initiative Visits Beijing and Shanghai | December 2015 ⟩
December 27, 2015
Purpose
Deepening our understanding of the perceptions surrounding occupational therapy.
Delegation
USC Chan Division faculty members Florence Clark, Adley Chan and Daniel Park, and OTD residents Chia-Hsin Liu and Victoria Wong.
Panorama of the Shanghai Bund
39 USC Trojans presenting at the 2014 International Congress of the WFOT ⟩
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.
Summer English program to speed international student successes ⟩
February 6, 2014
The USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy's Global Initiatives office launched the Summer Occupational Therapy Immersion (SOTI) program in early February. SOTI is a four-week summer program specifically designed for international occupational therapists who are considering…
