Shelby Surfas OTD, OTR/L

Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy, joint appointment with the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Department of Pediatrics and Director of Occupational Therapy, USC University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

UCEDD
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Shelby Surfas, assistant professor of clinical occupational therapy at the University of Southern California, is a specialist in the area of pediatrics and currently serves as the Director of Occupational Therapy at the USC University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) based at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She is an active clinician with the Boone Fetter Autism Clinic, an Autism Treatment Network site which operates as a diagnostic, clinical and research center for autism and other Neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders.

Dr. Surfas’ recently appointed role with the UCEDD, has primarily addressed a nationally prevalent gap in occupational therapy services for children with mental health needs, while providing awareness and education, along with direct and consultative services which has quintupled since her inception. A new relationship with local Head Start programs has developed into presentations of continuing education lectures and brochure materials on the topics of autism and sensory integration in the classroom for educators and the families they serve. She has taught child development in the Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science Department at the University of Southern California, along with continuing education in advance practice for sensory integration, autism, and interdisciplinary assessments. Her recent publication, “A. Jean Ayres: The Pioneer Behind Sensory Integration,” is now available as a teaching tool for professionals and families as a model of dedication, leadership, and achievement of excellence in life.

Education

Selected Publications

In Chan News

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) is accredited by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. All states require licensure to practice; a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® OTR certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.