Student Blog

Day in the Life of a First-Year E-OTD Student ⟩
November 2, 2025, by Cara

Classes Community School/Life Balance Videos

Come spend a day in my life as a first-year student in USC Chan’s Entry-Level Doctorate program! One of my favorite things about this program is that I am never bored with the curriculum. The curriculum ranges from foundational courses like philosophy, kinesiology, and neuroscience to exercising my creativity through reflective practices and crafts. No two days are alike, and I leave each class more passionate about the profession and inspired by the impact I want to make as a future practitioner.

If you have questions about the program, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

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OS Symposium 2025 ⟩
November 1, 2025, by Trinity

Getting Involved

Hello everyone!

A few weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to go to the USC Chan Occupational Science Symposium focused on Embodiment, Emplacement, and Occupational Science. It was held at a great venue, the Huntington in Pasadena. I am so grateful to the people who made this event possible! It was truly an experience I will never forget!

The keynote speaker, Dr. Antoine Bailliard, gave a great talk on embodiment and emplacement and how they affect occupation. He explained that occupations are best understood through our perceptions of the world and the interconnectedness of our minds, bodies, and environments. I especially liked Dr. Bailliard’s focus on the sensory environment in our occupational experiences. When a sensory environment is familiar, it may make an experience more comfortable. It is important for occupational therapists to keep a client’s sensory needs as well as their sensory habits in mind when working with them. If you want to learn more from Dr. Bailliard, check out all of his publications!

Next, I attended a breakout session with Dr. Rebecca Aldrich  and Dr. Joy Agner, who, along with current PhD students, are studying “Third Places,” which are places that help individuals to socialize and build connections. Check here for more information into the grant supporting this research!

Similar to Dr. Bailliard’s address, the researchers stressed that environments shape experiences rather than creating the backdrop for our occupations. They highlighted a way to conceptualize these third places, my favorite of which is the importance of diverse participants.
You can read about their research in full detail here:
Dr. Aldrich and team
Dr. Agner and team

After this, we had a wonderful lunch and a walk around the beautiful grounds of the Huntington. The Huntington’s remarkable botanical gardens feature plants from all diverse regions that honor different cultures and communities. Walking around this beautiful place was a perfect break in the day.

Afterwards, Dr. Diane Parham gave a tribute to Elizabeth Yerxa, a great mover and shaker in the field of occupational therapy and a founder of occupational science. Yerxa, who passed away within the last year, did so much for the field of occupational therapy, and I am so glad I could witness this tribute. To learn more about Elizabeth Yerxa, check here!

Dr. Linda Tickle-Degnen, the Elizabeth June Yerxa Lecturer, spoke on how to be an occupational therapy professional, how to be a change agent, how to be a scientist, and how to be a mentor in the context of her current research projects and the life of Elizabeth Yerxa. She researches Parkinson’s disease. My favorite quote from her lecture was “Rebel against an uncooperative environment.”

Finally, I attended the lecture of Dr. Ashley Uyeshiro Simon and Dr. Diego Lopez. They talked about the importance of having an engaging classroom environment, especially in the university context. This was a great way to end a fantastic day as it prompted ample group discussion and activity. I learned how important it can be to disrupt a predetermined set of actions in the classroom by changing the environment, expectations, or the activity.

This experience was incredibly beneficial for me as an aspiring occupational therapist. It is so wonderful to be in a room of people who all know what occupational therapy is and who all want to make the profession better. To be in a room where everyone has a vested interest in what is being shared is not an experience to take for granted, and I will cherish it as I continue on my occupational therapy journey. Remaining up to date with the latest research in the field is essential to providing the best possible care, and attending events like the symposium can be one way to stay informed.

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Insights Into the 2025 Hill Day Experience ⟩
October 12, 2025, by Guest Author

Getting Involved

Hear from Guest Blogger Kyra Aligaen about her experience at Hill Day!

I went to the Hill to talk to my representatives about OT, and you can too! My Insights Into the 2025 Hill Day Experience.

As students and hopeful occupational therapy clinicians, it might not seem like we can move the needle much, if at all, when it comes to making change in our field. In all honesty, I used to be someone who thought so too.

It didn’t take long for me to be convinced of just how much power exists within my own voice. At the Chan Division, I am surrounded by countless leaders of the profession, including our very own American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) President Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh and Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) President Dr. Samia Rafeedie, who have inspired me to be an unapologetic advocate for the magic that is occupational therapy.

When the Chan Division Hill Day Leadership Award application came out at the end of August, there was no question that I would apply. Student Leadership Award recipients are allotted $500 by the Division to use on transportation and lodging costs in Washington DC. This is an incredible opportunity to focus your energy and efforts on the big day.

Twelve students from the Chan Division traveled to the nation’s capital for AOTA Hill Day. Based on our voting address (I am registered to vote in San Bernardino County), my peers and I were assigned groups and a series of meetings from about 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM to meet with our representatives or their staffers to discuss bills and policies that can support the profession and the people who receive OT care.

Some of you might be thinking, Kyra, I’m not a policy person, and I can’t talk about legislation. I’m here to say, don’t worry! Neither am I! AOTA sets up all Hill Day participants to be successful for all of their meetings. On the AOTA website, there is comprehensive and digestible information in the form of video and PDF summaries breaking down each of the bills you are responsible for as well as the explicit asks to make to your representatives.

If you are curious, you can take a look at the legislative issues we covered this 2025 Hill Day. One of the bills we talked about was the Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act (H.R. 2013). As it stands, occupational therapy services cannot be ordered as a stand-alone home health service under Medicare. This means that currently, occupational therapy cannot be ordered as a home health service without being referred to by nursing, physical therapy, or speech language pathology. This bill would allow OT to come into older adults’ homes without having to jump through other hoops just to reach their patients. As Dr. Rafeedie said in one of our meetings, “It’s like needing to see the optometrist but having to go through your dentist first.”

Every meeting, my peers, alongside our group’s designated OT, Dr. Hiral Khatri, divided and conquered our responsibilities in the brief time we were allotted to meet with representatives. Some of my peers were assigned to cover bills and others shared personal anecdotes about seeing occupational therapy’s impact. My primary role in each of the meetings was to provide a quick elevator pitch for what our profession entails. Some of you may know that this can be one of the hardest things to explain as OT students! My pitch for the day went along these lines, “Occupational therapists help individuals engage in meaningful occupations, so this is anything that a person needs to do, wants to do, and is expected to do. Some examples include helping individuals who had relearn self-care skills after a stroke, supporting those who have chronic conditions manage their medications or conserve energy,  or supporting children with disabilities engage in school-based classroom activities or social participation. While OTs can work in a diverse array of settings, ultimately our goal is to help individuals enhance their quality life.”

As time went on, we grew more confident about our spiel and even more excited to share about occupational therapy. As a resident of the Inland Empire, one of the most exciting parts of the day for me was getting to meet my very own Congressional Representative, Congressman Pete Aguilar of California’s 33rd District. We were informed earlier that morning that Congressman Aguilar would be finishing up voting in the House, close to when our meeting with him was slated. To see him, my peers and I were escorted by two of Congressman Aguilar’s kind staffers through the Capitol Hill underground tunnels to reach the House!

Spending a day on the Hill was nothing short of an amazing experience. AOTA reported that on Hill Day 2025, 29 states and Washington, DC were represented, 316 OT advocates participated, 173 congressional meetings were held, and there were 24 meetings with members of Congress (2 of which my group was able to participate in!) And it wasn’t all business! My peers and I met new friends from OT programs with students, faculty, and leaders across the country, brought together by our joint love of the profession and belief in our profession’s capabilities. After a long day of advocacy, we all celebrated by heading to a local pub together.

In DC, we were all at the heart of where change is, and can be made in this country. I saw the bustling people moving to and fro between offices and buildings across the Hill, and spoke with representatives and their staffers. It was just a glimpse into all the moving parts that it takes for this country to operate and for people to access the care and services they need. I got to play a small role in that process with the hopes that my brief visit to the Hill could cascade into greater change.

Taking the time to have one conversation with someone who can push your words, your stories, and your hopes forward could be the difference between a person receiving the care that can enhance their quality of life (what we as OTs are in the business of doing!!) — or not.

While I highly recommend that anyone participate in the Hill Day experience, traveling to Washington DC is not the only way to advocate for the profession. Joining and being active in your national and state associations is another way! If you’ve ever been excited to hear occupational therapy mentioned in a movie or TV show, your membership dues are what allow for that visibility of the profession. It is what gives OTs the platform and access to speak on issues that are important to us. You can also contact your representatives from anywhere! Follow AOTA for guidance on legislation and locate your representatives to voice your concerns to them about the needs of the profession by emailing or calling.

If that is still daunting to you, the biggest takeaway from my experience is this: At the end of the day, what legislators really want to hear from you is your why. Why did you choose to dedicate years of study to this profession? Why do you believe in it?

Hold onto your stories as you move throughout your studies and your career. When it comes to advocacy, that is your most unique superpower.

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My Guide for Finding Volunteering and Shadowing Opportunities ⟩
October 5, 2025, by Makayla

Getting Involved Life Hacks

When considering a career in occupational therapy as a high school or undergraduate student, it can be daunting to figure out where to start. As students, we may have a limited scope of practice in what career fields will best suit us in the long run. Therefore, volunteering and shadowing are the best ways to experience what it’s like to be in the shoes of an occupational therapist or any other healthcare practitioner of interest.

While engaging in these experiences can validate your own personal passions or align your own career goals, they may also serve as crucial experiences to help narrow down aspects of a potential career that you dislike. It is beneficial to keep the purpose of your experience to be to explore and discover areas of healthcare that may appeal to you, even if only by observation. A set number of volunteering and observational hours is not required for USC Chan’s Entry-Level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program Admissions; however, they are highly recommended, as they can help you see the breadth of the field of occupational therapy and the different pathways it can take you on your academic and career journey. Especially being a college student, gaining these experiences can not only help visualize your future in this profession but also provide unique insight and personal contexts that can help inform a great personal statement for applying to occupational therapy school.

Lucky for you, I want to share a few helpful resources to find prospective volunteering and shadowing opportunities that can be a touchpoint to finding new and rewarding learning experiences!

Helpful Resources I Have Found Volunteering/Shadowing

1. USC Chan Website: OS/OT Volunteer Opportunities:

The USC Chan Website has an amazing database of opportunities that highlight opportunities for experiential learning (Volunteer, Internship, Aide, and Observation) for current and prospective students of occupational science and occupational therapy. Unique to this database are organizations and sites that span across Southern California, the East and West coasts of the United States, and even internationally! Opportunities are organized by physical area, and within each physical area by Zip/postal code. Within each of the site’s descriptions, you will find valuable information about the site, whether it be the particular practice area of occupational therapy, who to contact, volunteer expectations, and further requirements. 

Additionally, you will find that many of these sites are owned or led by USC Chan alumni, which I believe enables an added layer of relatedness and connection when reaching out to them in the first place. Above all, this truly attests to the connections within the Trojan Family and supportive networks that can give you greater confidence in the pursuit of your academic and professional career in the future. Don’t believe me? Take it from me, and read my next blog coming up! This leads me to my next piece of advice:

2. Cold-Emailing:

Cold emailing can feel really intimidating, and sending a message to a healthcare professional or alumni can take great courage and initiative. However, in the long term, this one step can open the doors to so many meaningful connections, invaluable insight, and potential mentorship! What are the most effective ways of reaching out and networking with professionals whom I have never met before? Check out this blog guide by Kimberly Rochin, a 2024-2025 Chan Student Ambassador, who clearly outlines how to build connections with occupational therapy practitioners that can help you score volunteering or observation experiences.

Once you do your proper research and find a potential coordinator or liaison for a potential site, craft a thoughtful email to them. Have a clear subject heading and use the body of your email as an introduction. Include your name, major, and specify your interests in occupational therapy. Think clearly about what ways your personal or academic endeavors empower you to support a particular site that you are interested in or the populations you would like exposure working with. By researching beforehand, you can really drive home how a site’s goals or mission align with your desire to take part in an enriching learning experience. If you are reaching out to multiple sites, it is okay to have a template that you use; however, tailor your emails with site-specific personalization while keeping professionalism at the forefront. This goes for crafting CVs, cover letters, and resumes as well! Before you click send, do not forget to proofread!

Once you (potentially) get a response, be open to opportunities a professional can provide, or, in some cases, if they are unable to help, look into their recommendations for helpful opportunities that can be provided elsewhere. An effective thank-you email can make all the difference in continuing a relationship with a site for the future. Let’s say you don’t hear back? Follow up politely, and a quick nudge doesn’t hurt. If you do not receive a response, just know that rejection is redirection; plenty of other volunteer sites would love to have you.

3. Utilizing LinkedIn and USC’s Trojan Network platform

LinkedIn and USC’s Trojan Network are platforms with the same capabilities of cold emailing, if not more. Using USC’s LinkedIn, you can keyword search for specific titles, such as “Occupational Therapist,” to find alumni to reach out to.

Similarly, USC’s Trojan Network allows you to do the same thing, in addition to advanced search features, such as filtering by location or education.

Additionally, one of the best features that USC’s Trojan Network allows for is to connect with alumni with options for crafting a message with them based on different templates, and you can schedule a meeting with them right on the platform. This can help take the stress off of initial communication with prospective professionals or occupational therapy practitioners.

Also, be sure to be clear with your ask! Are you asking for advice, a volunteer position, or mentorship? Whatever it is, say so very clearly, and do not forget to touch on why you are interested in a position, given your personal experiences or academic goals.

 

 

 

3. Trojan Health Volunteers (THV) - USC Joint Educational Project (JEP)
I am personally involved in Trojan Health Volunteers  an organization under USC’s Joint Educational Project (JEP), which pairs undergraduate students with opportunities to gain valuable volunteering experiences in diverse healthcare contexts. Through THV, I have volunteered at USC Keck Hospital’s medical/surgical orthopedic unit floor. Fun fact: Dr. Rafeedie, fellow USC Chan Director of the Entry-Level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program and Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy, had worked on this floor, and I met her here! Check out Student Ambassador Cara’s recent blog about Dr. Rafeedie and her role as the president of Occupational Therapy Association of California

What makes this organization unique is that they have agreements with volunteer partner sites such as USC Keck Hospital, the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, amongst many others. In doing so, you essentially can bypass traditional volunteer applications associated with different clinical sites. As a THV student, you are not only required to volunteer at your site, but also required to complete service-learning requirements. This includes weekly site journals, participating in required discussions on contemporary healthcare topics, attending speaker events with established healthcare professionals, and participating in a journal club focusing on literature within healthcare.

THV comes with its perks, too! In my experience, by being a volunteer at Keck, you are allotted money to spend at the cafeteria every time you come in for a shift. Yay, free food! Also, THV has a Big/Little Program as a resource for all THV students to help one another navigate through different pre-health tracks. THV is definitely a hidden gem, and I cannot encourage participating in this organization enough!

5. USC PreHealth Office

The USC Dornsife Department of Pre-Health Advising is an office that serves students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare by providing services, programming, and support tailored to meet the needs of every student on campus. The USC PreHealth Office is located on campus at HNB 120 (Hedco Neurosciences Building, Suite 120). Their advising support not only empower students to be competitive applicants in their chosen health professional schools, but also connects students with a wealth of knowledge and resources including, but not limited to:

• Weekly newsletter
• Drop ins with Peer Advisors and Mentorship
• Wellness Initiatives: The Den (an in-office, multi-use lounge and study space)
• Pre-Health Job Board
• Dornsife/Keck Shadowing Program
• Pre-Health Leadership, Services, and Learning Involvement Opportunities
• Events, Panels, Discussions posted on their social media
• Learn more here!

6. Reach out to the USC Chan Ambassadors
Feel free to email us: (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) All of us come from diverse perspectives and experiences, so please use us as a resource to find what you are looking for! Check out our student blogs for a wealth of great information and resources that may pique your interest!

If you have read this far, congratulations! I hope these tips were helpful to you or at least can give you some direction on where to start looking to find volunteering and shadowing opportunities. The opportunities are out there and waiting for you; you just have to seek them out!

If you would like to add to USC Chan’s OS/OT Volunteer Opportunities page, please let us know by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and it may help future students as well!

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Bridging Cultures, Building Futures: Our PP-MA Journey ⟩
October 2, 2025, by Global Initiatives Team

Beginnings and Endings Classes Community Diversity Getting Involved Housing and Transportation International Living in LA School/Life Balance What are OS/OT?

Hi everyone! We’re Angel and Haemin, international students in the 2025-2026 Post-Professional Master’s (PP-MA) program at USC. Coming from the Philippines and South Korea, we are starting this new chapter in Los Angeles! We’re excited to meet new people, explore new places, and grow together as OTs.

Angel’s Journey

My name is Angel, a pure-blooded Filipina and current PP-MA student for 2025–2026. I earned my OT degree in the Philippines and worked as a pediatric occupational therapist for three years—a role that brought me so much joy working with children and their families. In 2023, I got married, and by 2024 I had moved to the U.S. to be with my husband, first living in Chicago before deciding to continue my OT journey here in LA.

When I began exploring further studies, USC stood out immediately. Its Post-Professional MA is one of the few programs in the U.S. that can be completed in just one year, allowing internationally trained OTs like me to deepen our skills, discover new ideas, and connect with people from around the world—all while returning to practice sooner. I also heard wonderful feedback from colleagues who studied here, describing supportive faculty, a vibrant community, and an environment that pushes you to grow. Most of all, I was inspired by USC Chan’s mission to optimize people’s engagement in the ordinary and extraordinary activities of life—a statement that perfectly reflects why I chose OT in the first place.

Life in Los Angeles has been a big adjustment after Chicago and the Philippines—new city, new culture, and no familiar faces. At first, it was daunting, but having my husband’s support made the transition easier. Together, we’re slowly building our rhythm, exploring neighborhoods, and enjoying small routines that make LA feel like home. Lately, we’ve started visiting local cafés for matcha and coffee, and Little Tokyo has quickly become a go-to spot for food and culture.

So far, the PP-MA program has been both exciting and humbling. One of my favorite courses is Foundations in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, where we explore and challenge diverse perspectives on both OS and OT. Because our cohort includes students from many different countries, I have gained a deeper understanding of how culture and society influence a person’s occupations. I have also come to appreciate the importance of language in our work as occupational therapists when connecting with patients.

What I value most about this program is how it encourages us to think critically about OT while equipping us with practical tools to grow as clinicians and leaders. It’s not just about earning a degree—it’s about shaping how we want to contribute to the future of the profession.

Looking ahead, I see this year at USC as a stepping stone. My immediate goal is to gain licensure in the U.S. so I can continue serving people in healthcare. Beyond that, I hope to bridge what I learn here with my roots in the Philippines, finding ways to give back and strengthen OT globally.

Haemin’s Journey

My name is Haemin, and, like Angel, I’m a PP-MA student, class of 2026. I graduated from my home university in South Korea this year and moved to LA to attend USC Chan’s Master’s program. Being a PP-MA OT student at USC has been one of the most exciting chapters in my life. When I arrived in LA to start my journey, I had mixed feelings of both excitement and being overwhelmed. I moved into a new apartment, met new people and classmates, and tried to make a new daily routine. Even though there were a lot of things to take in on my own, I found myself becoming more independent and confident.

Back in 2022, I joined the Summer Occupational Therapy Immersion (SOTI) program as an exchange student. It was such a memorable time to interact with people from all over the world with warm and supportive instructors. I loved exploring various OT fields through guest lectures and field trips, and it made me want to reflect more on the kind of OT I’d like to become. These experiences inspired me to deepen and broaden my own view of occupational therapy and to find the areas of practice that truly align with my interests and passions. Finding that USC provides strong support and resources to help international students achieve these goals gave me the confidence to come here for my master’s program.

Even though I have experience of living in the US before, moving to LA for graduate school was still a new adventure. I set up a new apartment and established daily routines like meal prep, errands, and transportation to balance my work and studies. It took time to adapt to a new environment, but I was able to figure it out thanks to so much support from my family, friends, and professors at USC Chan. As I figure out step by step, I find myself having done so many things, which makes me feel confident and mature 😊

One of the best parts of the PP-MA program is having classmates from all over the world. We share our OT experiences and cultures from our home countries, which makes every discussion richer and exciting. The atmosphere is so friendly and supportive, and the Global Initiatives team always makes me and other international students feel welcomed and connected. Working as a GI team member, I’m supporting students who want to celebrate their meaningful holidays, which is especially valuable in that I can learn about important cultural meanings from my classmates.

As for classes, Foundations of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy has been my favorite! At first, OS felt a bit philosophical and abstract, but it helped me see what occupation truly means and what the OT’s role is from a global perspective. Having discussions with international classmates adds so much fun and depth 😊

Even though we may have grown up in different countries and started OT in different ways, the PP-MA program at USC has brought us together. We’re learning, growing, and cheering each other on as we chase our own unique dreams as future OTs.

Outside the classroom, I love spending time at Hoose Library, which has a Harry Potter vibe. It’s so aesthetic and makes me focus on studying better.

Preparing for what’s next, one of my biggest goals during this program is earning the Sensory Integration (SI) certificate, which will be valuable for working with children. After graduation, I hope to continue working in pediatrics, especially with children and adults with ASD, and to expand into community-based practice. I’m excited to face my future clients with a richer perspective on occupation by everything I learned and grew from my time at USC.

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