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

Miranda Waddle MA ’22

What brought you to occupational therapy?
After suffering my own injuries, I was drawn to the field of occupational therapy. I realized the importance of helping others return to the activities that mean the most to them. To me, occupational therapy is the embodiment of empathy.

Describe your background before coming to occupational therapy.
Before beginning my journey at USC, I worked in the fields of teaching and later archaeology.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
I love to travel. Whether it is going to a remote island or exploring a new neighborhood, traveling truly opens your mind to different viewpoints and experiences.

How do you plan to use Occupational Therapy in the future?
I want to work in advocacy for marginalized populations. I am also interested in working in international occupational therapy.

If you could be immortal, what age would you choose to stop aging at and why?
If I were immortal, I would like to stop aging at 25 because at this age one starts to feel more comfortable in one’s own skin.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
I really want to visit Croatia.

You have your own late night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?
If it could be anyone living or dead, then I would choose Robin Williams. If the guest can only be a living person, then Betty White.

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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.