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

Vanessa Miller MA ’19

What brought you to occupational therapy?
With plans to pursue physical therapy, I decided to shadow an OT during my sophomore year of college to get a first-hand look at the differences between PT and OT. I fell in love with the preventative approach of occupational therapy and how there was a focus on finding adaptive strategies for individuals to use that would help them long-term.

What area of practice are you interested in?
Pediatrics.

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
I have run cross country and track since I was ten and like to do yoga. I also love to cook — particularly plant-based dishes!

If we opened your fridge, what would we see?
Mangoes and probably tempeh!

If you could choose anyone (living or dead) to be your mentor, who would you pick?
Rich Roll.

How do you want to be remembered?
As someone who has a passion for life and is unafraid to pursue what sets my heart on fire.

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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.