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Hana Khan MA ’22

What brought you to occupational therapy?
Some people say you are what you eat, OTs say you are what you do. I especially love the holistic nature of OT that acknowledges clients’ health and well-being. Health is defined as the absence of illness. But what happens when a person has a diagnosis? A person can still be happy and live a fulfilling, meaningful life. And conversely, a person without a physical illness or condition may need support in living a fulfilling, meaningful life. OT recognizes that there is more to life than a diagnosis and focuses on well-being in addition to health, life satisfaction, and quality and approaches its clients as humans and authors of their own narratives.

Describe your background before coming to occupational therapy.
I was admitted to USC as a BFA Design major at the School of Dramatic Arts because I really wanted to be a Disney Imagineer and design the parks! I really appreciate the therapeutic nature of an immersive, interactive, flow-promoting experience. I spent my undergrad at USC studying Psychology, Themed Entertainment design, and Occupational Science and hope to blend my passions in the future.

How do you plan to use Occupational Therapy in the future?
I would love to either bring accessibility to theme parks or bring themed spaces to the clinical setting. I am also interested in researching creativity and flow.

If you could be immortal, what age would you choose to stop aging at and why?
If I could be immortal I would not want to stop aging. I’d want to be a million years old and people would say “you’re a million years old? oh yeah I can tell” (I’d finally look my age!) and I’d look like a cute shriveled raisin.

You have your own late night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?
If I had a talk show, my first guest would be Dr. Samia Rafeedie.

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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.