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

Jordyn Terukina OTD ’25

What brought you to occupational therapy?
Having the passion to help people reach their goals and being that one person who doesn’t give up on them, no matter what.

What area of practice are you interested in?
Pediatrics! I love working with children and helping them grow to achieve their full potential. In the process, I’ve learned that working with children also helps motivate me to be a better person as well.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Some of the occupations that I engage in are coaching and playing basketball, volunteering in the Japanese American community (Nisei Week), as well as watching K-dramas and listening to K-pop (I’m obsessed haha)!!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Straighten your crown, stay humble, bevel, and gaman like the goddess/queen that you are” — Leslie Kawai/“Mama Les” (Nisei Week Foundation)

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
If I could travel anywhere, I would want to travel to Okinawa so that I can learn more about my Okinawan culture, try the delicious foods and explore the beautiful island (which I heard is pretty similar to Hawai’i).

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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.