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

Lisa Le MA ’19

What brought you to occupational therapy?
After deciding I was going to make a career change, I stumbled upon an opportunity working as a counselor for adults with developmental disabilities at a non-profit. My clients had what seemed to be simple goals that they wanted to achieve and maintain in order to continue to live successful independent lives. Without filters, I experienced their successes and failures with them. It was invigorating to know I was able to guide and motivate them to accomplish goals that they didn’t believe they ever could. A friend of mine, who was in the program, told me about occupational therapy and the similarities it had to what I was doing. Everything just seemed to fall into place after that.

Describe your background before coming to occupation therapy.
I graduated with a BA in Environmental Studies from UCSC and started working with DigDeep, a human rights non-profit working to help ensure every American has access to clean water. I worked on the Navajo Water Project, specifically with the community located on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, helping raise awareness and funds to bring clean water to 250 homes. After DigDeep, I worked as a counselor for adults with developmental disabilities at United Cerebral Palsy where I decided to go into occupational therapy.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Trying new food, playing One Night Ultimate Werewolf with friends, going to the gym, and watching YouTube videos.

If we opened your fridge, what would we see?
A bunch of kale, acai juice, fruits, jars of homemade Vietnamese mixed fish sauce, and a bag of hot cheetos.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
New Zealand because of The Lord of the Rings.

What do you think is the greatest invention of mankind?
Indoor plumbing.

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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.