Yousef R. E. Babish BScOT, BLS(He/Him/His)

As a PhD student, my diverse background deeply influences my research and professional pursuits. I am a Middle Eastern and Christian occupational therapist from Palestine, with experience working with a varied patient population. My Western-based education, combined with my experiences from a marginalized Palestinian community marked by occupational injustice, deprivation, and apartheid, has profoundly shaped my perspective.

These experiences have broadened my understanding of the social determinants of health and underscored the need to challenge entrenched policies while advocating for holistic, person-centered care. My research interests are driven by a commitment to exploring the intersection of identity and mental health disparities. I am particularly focused on how social and cultural identities—such as race, gender, class, sexuality, and disability—interact to affect mental health outcomes at the community level. This intersectional approach illuminates the multifaceted barriers faced by marginalized communities, including limited access to healthcare, exacerbated health issues, and constrained physical activity, which contribute to secondary mental health challenges like collective trauma, chronic conditions, and complex grief.

In my research journey, I have investigated the influence of cultural and gender norms on occupational therapy practices in Palestine. A small-scale qualitative project, conducted over the course of two years in collaboration with local occupational therapists, aimed to understand how clients’ cultural values are integrated into therapeutic interventions. The discussion highlighted the theoretical necessity for cultural humility in occupational therapy, advocating for alignment with local values and addressing resource limitations to ensure effective service delivery. It also underscored the need for further research in occupational science and therapy that addresses the distinct needs of marginalized populations.

Looking ahead, I am dedicated to continuing my research and contributing to advancements that promote equitable and culturally informed healthcare services.

Education

Selected Publications

Awards

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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.