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Home ⟩The People of USC Chan ⟩Meet Our Trojan Family ⟩Entry-Level Doctorate (OTD)

Adelita Marie Arredondo MA ’20

What brought you to occupational therapy?
I found occupational therapy through years of self-discovery and really examining what I wanted in a career. Through some help from a career counselor and advice from my mentors, I realized how compatible occupational therapy was with everything I sought out in a career. It’s a healthcare profession where you make a meaningful and positive impact in the lives of patients, their families, and communities. Best of all, the possibilities are endless of where occupational therapy can be utilized. What’s not to love?

What area of practice are you interested in?
From the beginning, sensory integration and feeding have been interests of mine. Most of my experience has been in pediatrics. However, through the program, I was introduced to Lifestyle Redesign and I was drawn in as I learned about how it can be used with different populations.

Describe your background before coming to occupational therapy.
I received a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and a certificate in American Indian Studies from California State University, Long Beach.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Dancing has always been a favorite occupation of mine. I enjoy arts and crafts and outdoor activities such as hiking and going to the beach.

Tell us about your favorite memory from the program so far.
My favorite memory so far was the White Coat Ceremony. After an intense summer of graduate coursework, being part of this ceremony was truly special. As we pledged ourselves and became initiated into the field of occupational therapy, it was in this moment that everything set in for me and felt real.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
Maldives! I dreamt of it before I knew it was a real place. Basically a few months after my dream, I came across an ad for it and decided that it’s a place I must see.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
As a Simon Scholar, my scholarship foundation always told us, “Achieve what others believe to be impossible.” Before, I took it as something to keep me motivated and push through any obstacles that stood in the way of my educational goals. Now, I take it as something to carry on through my career and help others in achieving what they believe to be impossible. I want to help others overcome their own adversity and reach accomplishment through occupational therapy.

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USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE). The USC entry-level OTD degree program (cost of attendance) has been granted Candidacy Status by ACOTE. View our program’s ACOTE standards public data. ACOTE c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, (301) 652-6611 x2914, acoteonline.org

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for certification by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.