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

Samantha Babbidge MA ’21

What brought you to occupational therapy?
I was first introduced to occupational therapy in high school when I was volunteering in a special education classroom. The teacher introduced me to the occupational therapist who then showed me around her therapy room and told me a little bit about what she did with the kids. I further explored occupational therapy by volunteering with an OT at a special needs preschool and an elementary school at my local school district. It was from this experience I knew occupational therapy is what I wanted to do.

What area of practice are you interested in?
I started out with a strong interest in school-based pediatrics. After less than a year in the program, I learned that I also have strong interests in feeding and neurorehabilitation.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
I enjoy rollerskating, rollerblading, gardening, cooking, swimming, spending time at the beach, and taking my dog to the dog beach or dog park.

Tell us about your favorite memory from the program so far.
I really enjoyed the summer when everyone would get dressed for the different themed days.

What are some small things that make your day better?
When my carpool buddy has the seat warmer ready for me in the morning, having clean sheets, seeing my dog or any dog, eating good food and having a freshly washed face.

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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®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccreditation Status 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. The program must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®).

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.