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Russell Sakurai OTD ’26

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Some of my favorite occupations I engage in include working out, spending time outdoors, trying new foods and spending time with friends. I also love playing basketball and taking naps.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
I have always wanted to travel to South Korea. My friends and I always talk about going someday and eating just about everything so I hope I can go in the future!

How do you plan to use OT in the future?
My goal for my future self is to create real and impactful differences in my clients’ daily lives. I really value the aspect of OT that focuses on the needs or values of the clients and tailoring interventions towards ADLs and IADLs. I hope to work in either acute or long-term care and learn as much as I can!

You have your own late night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?
I would bring on Bruno Mars. I bet he has some interesting stories and, as a bonus, I can have him perform.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Don’t wait for the right opportunity, create it.” Learning to become a proactive self-advocate is challenging, but the empowerment I feel from forging new paths and connections has helped lead me to where I am now and drives my desires to achieve greater goals in the future.

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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.