Current PhD Students

Camille Parchment ⟩(she/her/hers)

I am a PhD student within the Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, under the mentorship of Dr. Amber Angell. My research interests are healthcare implementation, occupational justice in healthcare and more specifically, improving access to mental health services for all, including underserved members of the mental health community. As a research assistant within the Disparity Reduction and Equity in Autism Services (DREAmS) lab, I support research projects that aim to reduce disparities in autism diagnosis and services, particularly among autistic women and girls.

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Madeline Parga ⟩(she/hers)

As a researcher, I am interested in transdisciplinary investigations at the intersection of disability studies and technology applications. This was largely inspired by increasing collaboration in the field between occupational scientists and engineers, as well as between occupational scientists/therapists and disability studies scholars through the OT+DS network. Due to the strengthening of these connections, I believe it is not only largely possible but responsible to draw upon this network of researchers to consider how smart technology applications will influence both social and physical factors of accessibility.

As an occupational scientist, I hope to apply the biopsychosocial model to investigate how advanced applications of technology will impact all people, while emphasizing disability as an identity that must be considered. I am also interested in the process of designing technologies with applications to contexts such as the workplace and how these technologies can promote enjoyment and reduce ongoing barriers.

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Helde Pereira MRes ⟩

My research interests are mental health, homelessness, spatial analysis, and community-based participatory research. Before becoming a PhD student, I worked as an occupational therapist at a Psychosocial Care Center in Brazil, with a focus on individuals utilizing substances (CAPS AD Nordeste). During this time, I conducted research on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the occupations of users within the Brazilian Network for Psychosocial Care.

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Shannon Roux MAT ⟩(she/her/hers)

After 6 years of experience as an elementary special education teacher in the inclusion setting, I have observed how neurodiverse classrooms can lead to more equitable academic outcomes for students with disabilities and support the socio-emotional development of all students. However, I have also witnessed the significant challenges and barriers that teachers, Occupational Therapists, and administrators face in fostering an environment that allows students to reach their full potential.

I transitioned to the PhD program to explore my interests in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), sensory regulation, and environmental modifications. My long-term research interests include exploring sensory and environmental interventions to identify the highest leverage supports for students with and without ASD in the inclusion classroom. I hope that this work will not only create better outcomes for students but could also improve longevity and work satisfaction for teachers.

I am currently working in the TEM Research Lab (Tailored Environmental Modifications) under the guidance of Dr. Stein Duker. Current projects aim to investigate the efficacy of environmental modifications to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, and Dental Fear and Anxiety in the dental environment. My goal is to apply the insights gained in this work to the educational setting, furthering my commitment to supportive and effective learning environments for all children.

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Jordan Segal ⟩

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Lily Shkhyan ⟩

I am interested in how culture, identity, and structural context intersect to shape health experiences across the lifespan. Rather than treating culture as a static set of beliefs, I approach it as dynamic and embedded within institutions, power structures, and social relationships.

My work examines how these layered influences shape clinical encounters, health communication, and patterns of healthcare seeking among disabled and neurodivergent populations. I am particularly interested in processes of acceptance of disability and identity development, and how these unfold within broader contexts of stigma, marginalization, and community belonging. This includes attention to how individuals interpret symptoms and diagnoses, how they negotiate labels and disclosure, and how prior experiences with healthcare systems influence future engagement.

Simultaneously, I strive to examine how healthcare environments reproduce or disrupt inequities through provider assumptions, institutional norms, and implicit expectations of normalcy. By situating disability and neurodivergence within intersecting cultural, relational, and structural frameworks, my research seeks to better understand how health behaviors and healthcare encounters are shaped long before a patient enters the exam room.

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Min Ji Song ⟩

Prior to beginning the PhD program in Occupational Science, I completed a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy and a Post-Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. As an occupational therapy practitioner, my practice area was in hand therapy, working with individuals with upper extremity injuries and conditions. My academic and professional experiences have shaped my research interests in occupational science.

My research interests primarily focus on the integration of emerging or smart technologies for the assessment, prevention, rehabilitation, and management of musculoskeletal disorders affecting the upper extremity in the working adult population. My interests center around understanding how the use of emerging technologies can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of practices related to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, thereby optimizing individuals’ potential to live meaningful, productive, and fulfilling lives as occupational beings.

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Brianna Stevens PT, DPT ⟩(she/her)

Hello! I’m passionate about understanding how the brain supports learning, attention, and sensory processing in early childhood. My work focuses on neural mechanisms underlying sensory and attention differences in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, with the goal of improving early identification and intervention. I have clinical experience working with diverse pediatric populations in Southern California, which has strengthened my commitment to supporting meaningful engagement and participation for every child. I particularly enjoy using neuroimaging techniques, such as EEG, to explore brain-based biomarkers that may help us better understand and support neurodiverse development. I’ve always known I wanted to work with children, and my combined clinical and research experiences continue to inspire me to create bridges between neuroscience and everyday life for kids and their families.

Research Interests. Sensory processing, learning and attention, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroimaging techniques

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Svitlana Stremousova MS, MBA ⟩

I am a PhD candidate at the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy under the mentorship of Dr. Mary Lawlor. In my present role, I support research projects examining current understandings of the sensory processing difficulties of autistic individuals across the lifespan and manage uncertainty in the lives of autistic children, families, and clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

My research interests relate to dog companionship and community participation of autistic adults. I am specifically interested in applying qualitative research methodologies, both textual and visual, to inform researchers, clinicians, families, and community members about first-person experiences of autistic people. If you have any questions about my research interests, please feel free to contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Yu (Tony) Tang ⟩

My research interests focus on children’s development and the support needed for neurodivergent individuals throughout their life cycles. Some of the specific aspects of my inquiries include: What are protective (predictive) factors that can enhance the developmental outcomes of autistic children? What are the factors that can mediate the risk factors of disadvantaged autistic children? What are protective factors that can promote appropriate sexuality and self-identity development for autistic children and youth? What are factors that can foster autonomy and meaningful occupational engagement among autistic children and youth? How to create culturally attuned sensory and occupation-based assessment tools for different age groups?

I am thrilled to be a part of the insp!re lab under the supervision of Dr. Baranek and wish to discover meaningful findings through the lens of occupational science and other interdisciplinary collaborations.

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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 doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) 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 master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is in Accreditation–Inactive 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.

Professional program graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the 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.