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Daphne Carcedo MA ’21

What brought you to occupational therapy?
I wanted to be able to help people in a way that felt right to me. That didn’t just mean I would practice within the medical field according to my own beliefs and values, but that I wanted to be part of a holistic, progressive profession that aimed to heal as well as understand the whole person.

What area of practice are you interested in?
Physical Rehab encompassing the entire lifespan as well as education, specifically in LGBTQ+ health.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Cycling, rock climbing, playing guitar, working out, and photography are all occupations I love to engage in when I’m not working at my part-time job.

If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
My childhood would be a combination of a few smells for different days of the week. I remember the scent of Saturday morning Fabuloso that my mom would use to clean the garage. Sundays were for pancake or waffle or omelette breakfasts with the family. Weekday accidental opening of a specific cabinet would let out the slight smell of my father’s old cologne that would trigger feelings of memories I didn’t know I had.

What are some small things that make your day better?
One of my favorite things is getting a text from a friend or partner that demands nothing but only wishes you a good day and let’s you know the person is thinking of you. Having a good laugh, finding that thing I had been looking for, and getting to the gym for even 15 minutes can all make my day turn around.

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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 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.