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

Leila Yasha OTD ’25

What brought you to occupational therapy?
My brother received OT when we were children. I knew I wanted a career in allied health but I didn’t know what I wanted. I observed pediatric OTs and fell in love with the profession all over again. It encompassed all the things I valued: advocacy, creativity, and functionality.

Describe your background before coming to occupational therapy.
Before coming to occupational therapy I studied speech-language pathology, gerontology and social work in undergrad. I also worked in healthcare at doctor’s offices.

Tell us about your favorite memory from the program so far.
My favorite memories from the program so far are the discussions and friends made in OT 511 and Thursday farmer’s market lunch breaks.

You have your own late night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?
If I had a late night talk show I would invite Oprah Winfrey so that I could turn the table. She’d be the one getting interviewed!

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
If I could travel anywhere I’d travel to Peru because I was supposed to have a study abroad there but it was cancelled due to COVID-19. I’d hike Machu Picchu.

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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.