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

Bella Schaerf OTD ’25

What brought you to occupational therapy?
I’ve always had a passion for health, fitness, and helping others. When I discovered the field of OT, it seemed like the perfect way to combine creativity and healthcare. I am inspired by the endless opportunities within the field to give back to to the community and elevate the wellbeing of others.

Describe your background before coming to occupational therapy.
Before coming to occupational therapy, I attended the University of Florida where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a dance minor and my Dance in Medicine Certificate. My degree taught me all about the resilience and adaptability of the human body, largely inspiring me to pursue OT. With the Dance in Medicine program, I was able to teach movement and dance to a vast number of populations, from children with disabilities to older adults. This program truly showed me that I needed a career where I could inspire people everyday and show them that they are capable of anything they set their mind to. The joy I felt when teaching dance to children with Down Syndrome inspires me to work in pediatrics. I hope to merge artistry with healthcare, creating safe spaces for others to reach their potential and engage in meaningful activities.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Some of my favorite occupations are dancing, practicing yoga, gardening, and crocheting. I also love the outdoors and anything nature-related like visiting the beach and hiking!

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Greece because the oceans and mountains look breathtaking!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is that things do not always work out as we hoped, but we can still take control of our circumstances and shape our own narrative. This goes along with the idea that healing isn’t linear, but through the ups and downs we discover our ability to empower ourselves and others.

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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.