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Deborah Metz MA ’18

What brought you to occupational therapy?
I have always been drawn to helping professions wanted to work with people. My first “real” experience in OT was volunteering at a summer camp for Kids with Hemiplegia using CIMT. I had a blast working with the children and felt like I was really making a difference. The children’s enthusiasm and the improvements they made in just 10 days truly inspired me and fostered my passion for OT.

What area of practice are you interested in?
I am interested in going into pediatrics. Specifically working in sensory integration, early intervention, and developmental disorders.

Describe your background before coming to occupational therapy.
I was born and raised North Carolina and graduated from North Carolina State University with a BA in Psychology and minors in international studies and French. After graduation I spent 7 months in South Africa shadowing occupational therapists and working with underprivileged children. It was the most rewarding experience and I loved every second of it.

If we opened your fridge, what would we see?
If you were to open my fridge, you would find at least 5 different types of cheese (cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, goat cheese, and sheep’s milk cheese!). Back home my family eats a lot of cheese and I love it!

How do you want to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered for making a difference in people’s lives; for helping others discover their strengths and live their lives to the fullest.

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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.