Ling Yu (Elena) Meng OTD, OTR/L, BCP (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
CHP 107B
(323) 442-2325
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Dr. Elena Meng is a multilingual occupational therapist with experience in pediatrics, curriculum development, and population and global health. Her main role in the Division is to support the China Initiative, an educational partnership between USC Chan and Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC). She also teaches in a pediatric practice immersion course in the entry-level Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. While being a full-time faculty member, she is concurrently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Dr. Meng has lived in China and Canada prior to moving to Los Angeles and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and French. Dr. Meng has trained at pediatric institutions internationally including the National Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities in Tokyo, Japan; the Montreal Children’s Hospital in Montreal, Canada; and Momentum Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance, California. Dr. Meng has practiced as an occupational therapist in providing pediatric clinic-based, in-home early intervention, and telehealth services. She is board certified in pediatrics (BCP) from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
Education
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
2019 | University of Southern California
Master of Science (Applied) (MScA)
in Occupational Therapy (Non-Thesis)
2018 | McGill University
Bachelor of Science (BS)
in Rehabilitation Science (Major in Occupational Therapy)
2016 | McGill University
Selected Publications
McLaughlin Gray, J., Meng, L. Y., Chan, A., Chang, C., Liu, Y., Qian, L., Wang, H., Wang, N., Yang, Y., Zhou, M., & Baranek, G. T. (2024). Applying concepts of curriculum design and cultural adaptation: Collaborating on a dual-degree occupational therapy program in mainland China. Occupational Therapy International. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/1088666 Show abstract
Occupational therapy is a profession with origins rooted in Western values. As culture plays an important role in shaping theory and practice, the curriculum design of academic programs that train future rehabilitation professionals should reflect the local context. As part of an international partnership, a dual-degree graduate program in occupational therapy was established between a Chinese and an American university. A team composed of members from both institutions collaborated on culturally adapting an entry-level master’s program in occupational therapy for China, based on a U.S. program, which welcomed its first cohort in September 2019. This article details the timeline and process of program design and adaptation from conception, through implementation to evaluation and revision, with the aim of offering a framework for curriculum adaptation of other academic programs in the U.S. and internationally. The adapted curriculum includes the program mission, vision, and philosophy; the curriculum model with program outcomes and threads; the program scope and sequence; materials and resources; and course-specific objectives, learning activities, and assessments. The authors also share lessons learned through this experience of international collaboration as well as next steps for program evaluation and sustainability. The detailed overview of this international collaboration offers suggestions for individuals and institutions seeking to develop global partnerships and adapt curricula across cultural contexts.
Meng, L. Y. (2024, March 1). Teaching in higher education: Perspectives as instructor, clinician, and student. OT Practice, 29(3), 28–30. AOTA. Full text
Awards
Edith Aston-McCrimmon Professionalism Award | 2016
McGill University
In Chan News
July 26, 2024
The China Initiative team hosts three seminars in the summer semester to continue supporting the USC-PKUHSC dual-degree students with integrating their residency experiences and preparing for their return to China.
May 26, 2024
The China Initiative team travels to Beijing to visit with collaborators at the Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC) and attend the 2024 China Occupational Therapy Association (COTA) Conference and the International Occupational Therapy Educational Symposium in Weifang, Shandong…
March 18, 2024
A delegation from Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC) visited the USC Chan Division and attended the 2024 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando to promote continued collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two institutions.
August 31, 2023
USC Chan Division China Initiative welcomes the third cohort of dual-degree students from PKUHSC, setting a positive tone for the academic year and building a strong community for international students.
July 20, 2023
The China Initiative team gave a presentation to international visitors interested in OT in the United States, delving into its history, mission, and transformative role in advancing occupational therapy in China.
January 18, 2021
The inaugural cohort begins their first 8-week Level II fieldwork rotation to prepare them for entry-level competence as future OT practitioners.
Subscribe | RSS