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Sarah Almyra Presno MA ’21

What brought you to occupational therapy?
Throughout college, I always had occupational therapy in the back of my mind. Even though I pursued a public health major, I still wanted to work with people one on one. After graduating, I struggled to choose between pursuing public health and OT. I volunteered in OT clinics, talked with some OTs, and even went through a major surgery. I became passionate about the mission of OT and the dimension of care it provided patients. OT also values advocacy, equality and inclusivity — aspects of public health that I loved. OT became — and still is — the melting pot of my many passions.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
Reading (especially poetry), running, calligraphy, organizing, and exploring nature.

How do you plan to use Occupational Therapy in the future?
Occupational therapists address many factors in patients’ lives, not just the acute health crisis. Although I do want to work with patients on improving their health, I also want to strengthen overall well-being by encouraging self-advocacy and self-care. I also want to use occupational therapy to educate patients about and address barriers to access. Patients are more than a diagnosis, they are people. I want occupational therapy to be a time when patients are reminded that they are humans and that they matter.

If you were famous, what would you be famous for?
Doodling over everything I own and drinking too much coffee.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Real Gs move in silence like lasagna.”

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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.