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OT & PT: Same Team, No Games ⟩
June 25, 2025, by Cara

Community What are OS/OT?

One of the most common questions I’m asked at outreach events is, “What’s the difference between OT and PT?” If you’re unfamiliar, there’s a bit of a running joke about the OT versus PT rivalry. It’s something I first noticed while shadowing in an inpatient setting, and now experience personally with my sister, who’s a PT. But what is often overlooked is how OTs and PTs complement each other. So let’s clear up the confusion.

What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?
OT empowers individuals to live their fullest lives by improving the fine motor, emotional, cognitive, and social skills needed to re-engage in everyday activities, or “occupations,” that provide meaning. Whether that’s getting dressed, cooking, socializing, a hobby, working, or self-care. The goal is to find alternative ways to maintain a sense of normalcy and fulfillment when adversity affects how they usually perform these activities.

What is Physical Therapy (PT)?
PT, as my sister described, is about the body’s gross motor skills such as ambulation lifting mechanics and balance. The goal is to reduce pain and injury risk while helping individuals move more freely, which in turn supports their ability to do their occupations.

Simply put, PT gets your body moving again, and OT teaches you to apply that movement towards something functional, like feeding yourself or getting dressed.

How do OT and PT work together?
During my time in an inpatient setting, I often observed OTs and PTs do joint treatments. PT would gently stretch the lower body, while the OT assessed upper body motion and strength. The OT also helped with getting out of bed and personal hygiene, and the PT helped them practice walking and standing. In my sister’s experience working in schools, she partners with OTs to address sensory-seeking behaviors she encounters among students, combining their expertise to provide more holistic support.

OTs and PTs may tease each other, but at the end of the day, there’s mutual respect. While we focus on different aspects of care, we share the same goal: supporting individuals in finding motivation, purpose, and direction in doing what matters most to them. So no, neither profession is “better.” We’re just different pieces of the same puzzle, and it’s only through collaboration that the full picture is complete.

 

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Life at USC! ⟩
June 12, 2025, by Trinity

Community Living in LA

Hey! I wanted to talk about some of the fun things I have gotten up to at USC! There are events hosted by staff and students almost everyday. Since I have been here for over four years, I have gotten to do many wonderful things.

Athletics
Beyond academics, USC is known for its athletics programs. Sporting events are an essential part of being a student here. I highly recommend going to at least one game of every sport. All sports are free to watch for students, excluding football, and even football is much more affordable for students. At USC, I have found how much I love watching sports. I go to every game that I can. The chants and cheers are a huge part of the culture here, and the Trojan Family Spirit is never stronger than at a sporting event.

Football definitely has the most spirited fans, but my favorite to watch is Women’s basketball. Right now, the Women of Troy are making history, and they are so much fun to watch! Soccer and Lacrosse are great too, and we are getting a new stadium soon! Perhaps most iconic is the USC band! They come to every game of every sport, and they always bring the fun. If you are ever near USC, you should definitely try to catch a game. Check out the USC Athletics website for all the details.

Performing Arts
USC also has fantastic performing arts programs. So many students here are incredibly talented, and it is so much fun to get to watch their accomplishments. Knowing I am seeing people who will be famous one day is surreal.

I love to watch plays put on by the School of Dramatic Arts. Every semester, students and staff put on between six and seven productions, and USC students can watch them for a discounted rate. They do musicals too! My favorite productions were Much Ado About Nothing and Rent, but I have not seen a bad one yet. Check out the USC School of Dramatic Arts website for all the details.

There are also productions completely put on by students. Often, they include work written, produced, and directed by students with student actors performing. They are often not as well known as some of the other productions, but they showcase the talents of students at USC beautifully. Plus, most of the time they are free to attend.

The dance program is phenomenal here. They have a showcase every semester, and I truly can’t believe how incredible the students are. It almost does not seem real because they are so good! Check out the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance website for all the details.

One program that deserves more recognition is the Opera. USC holds one opera a semester, free for students and with only student performers on the stage and in the band. For me, going to the opera is a transcendent experience. There is no experience like it! Check out the USC Thornton School of Music website for all the details.

Campus and Student Life
The coolest part of attending all these events is that I also go to class and work with the people involved. I’ve shared classes and made friends with athletes, actors, and musicians. USC is a school full of talent, but everyone comes together in the classroom. Every student matters, and every student is learning along the way.

Beyond these amazing student efforts, there are also events hosted by various student and staff organizations. I have had the incredible opportunity to work as a Resident Assistant for the last two years, so I am privy to some of these fantastic events hosted by Student Life, the residential association at USC.

In my community at Cardinal Gardens apartments, I hosted a make your own stuffed animal event, a board game night, a Valentine’s party, a bouquet making event, and more. These are just a small sample of the amazing events,  and there are many more all around USC. Most of them include food, and all of them include fun! Events are free for students (unless otherwise noted), and they are a great place to make friends. Check out EngageSC for all the details.

USC has a lot to offer in all areas of life for all types of people! I am grateful to have had such a wonderful time here!

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Two Letters, One Enlightening Minor ⟩
June 2, 2025, by Cara

Beginnings and Endings Community What are OS/OT?

Though it’s been a few weeks since graduation, I find myself constantly reminiscing. My undergraduate experience was nothing short of exhilarating and transformative. A large part of that was due to being part of the OS Minor. The below is a love letter to the program and everything it gave me. 

Dear OS Minor,

It’s not often you find an environment that makes it worthwhile to show up to class. But you were one of those hidden gems. You arrived when I needed it most, turning the fear that comes with transferring into a sense of community, direction, and opportunity.

The courses themselves weren’t just theoretical — they were opportunities for self-expression, connection, and catharsis. I gained practical skills both for my OT toolbox and to thrive in life. Whether it was intimate class discussions, creative group work to understand OT across the lifespan, or service-learning like beach clean-ups and interacting with shelter animals, I learned to build meaningful connections and approach every space I occupy with open-mindedness, humility, and inclusivity. Additionally, I better understood who I am and what matters to me. Embracing the power of personal narrative allowed me to express my values to inspire others in my community, like Thrive Pod, a newsletter column for USC’s AAPI community, encouraging students to break the stigma and prioritize self-care.

But what truly makes the program valuable isn’t fun, unique courses that merely fulfill credit. It’s the professors, some of the most wholesome and remarkable individuals I’ll ever know.

To the faculty: there will never be enough words to do you justice. From the start, you created a welcoming and nurturing space, where every student was on a first-name basis with you all and going to office hours didn’t feel formal or intimidating. I’ll never forget Ashley’s sweetness and natural talent for breaking the ice, Diego’s childlike energy, Arameh for being the ultimate girl boss, Gabe for being down-to-earth, and Kate who, put simply, is the epitome of “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. Thanks to all of you and the comfort you provided, I found the reassurance I needed that USC was the right place for me, and that I’d be supported with the quality education and support concomitant with my aspirations. 

Besides your personalities, what sets you apart from other professors is the way you constantly enhance learning. It’s not just in your thoroughly written syllabus, but rather through the compassion you give so sincerely and freely. You took the time to understand my interests, offered mentorship, helped me get involved on campus, guided me through graduate school applications, and believed in my potential as an OT. I greatly appreciate your investment in me as more than just a student and hope to embody that same warmth, empathy, and dedication for my future patients.

Oh — and I can’t forget about being an Undergraduate Student Ambassador. From outreach efforts to filming faculty doing the silliest social media trends for recruitment, this was one of the highlights of my time at USC. It gave me the opportunity to give back to the program, promote OT, support prospective students, and become more connected to the Chan OSOT community. To everyone I’ve worked with this past year — thank you for the wonderful memories and friendships.

While part of me wants to freeze time, I’m eager for what’s next. This isn’t goodbye, OS Minor, for you were the foundation for everything to come. Sometimes I wonder what my college experience might’ve been like without the minor, but I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

✌️
Cara

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A Great Adventure with Great Friends ⟩
May 23, 2025, by Trinity

Beginnings and Endings Community

Hi! My name is Trinity, and I am a current BS-OTD student. Essentially, I am getting my undergraduate degree and doctorate of occupational therapy in six years here at USC. (Take a look Here on the website for more information on this program!)

I am just starting my first summer in the OTD program, and I am beyond excited. Some of my favorite occupations include watching sports, reading and baking. I am a huge Lego fan too! Originally I am from Joshua Tree, California. I absolutely love USC and occupational therapy!

Four years ago, I chose to come to USC to study occupational therapy, and just last week, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree! It was the fastest four years of my life, but it was filled with so many incredible memories and experiences. When I committed to this program, knowing I would be here for six years, I did not realize how quickly each day would pass and how much I would learn about myself along the way. Now I am over halfway through the program, and I am trying to cherish every moment.

One aspect of this program that is definitely worth cherishing is the group. During the doctorate program, there are about 40 people in each group who I take the majority of my classes with. I met all of these amazing individuals last fall when I started taking graduate courses full-time. I have realized that people who decide to pursue occupational therapy have a lot in common, and that makes us get along famously. When you have similar goals and outlooks, it becomes easy to make friends and build connections. Occupational therapy is great, and the people who want to be occupational therapists are pretty fantastic too!

Beyond my group in the OTD program, I have had a cohort of 10 BS-OTD students who have been with me since freshman year (all the way back in 2021) and who are still in the OTD program with me now. I am beyond grateful that I have such amazing people on this journey with me. Every one of them has become a wonderful friend, and they are a big reason why I have loved my time here.

Sneak a peek at us in 2021. It feels just like yesterday and also so long ago!

I remember meeting them all during the first online information session, not knowing how close we would become. Then, we were all unsure about what the future would hold. Now, we have graduated!

The first time we rode the shuttle from USC’s main campus to the Health Science Campus when we took anatomy was something I will always remember. We got there very early because we were so nervous. When we wore scrubs for the first time in that class, it felt like we were Real Adults.

Every year, we make time for a holiday party and gift exchange. Coordinating 10 schedules isn’t easy — especially close to breaks — but we always make it happen. Those evenings filled with food, laughter and conversation are among my favorite memories. Whether it’s having class in the iconic OT house, grabbing dinner or coffee after class, or showing up to support each other at events, my cohort has made this journey unforgettable.

Last week, my cohort and I graduated together. This commemorating event has allowed me to reflect on my experience in college, and I am realizing how important the people I have met at USC were to my experience. I am so grateful we could take graduation pictures together, so I can forever remember the cohort who got me through school.

Thank you to Alvin, Berenice, Cristina, Daniel, Joseph, Kyra, Lauren, Lexee and Manny!

USC is great, occupational therapy is wonderful, but it is the people I have met who have made this experience the absolute best it could be!

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The People Make the Place ⟩
May 11, 2025, by Avery

Beginnings and Endings Community

Moving away for college is scary. In August of 2023, I packed up all my things in 4 suitcases and left to go to school in a brand new state, without knowing a single person there. I was terrified, to say the least.

Before classes started my freshman year, the Chan Division hosted a welcome dinner for my BS-OTD cohort at the USC Health Sciences Campus (HSC). I was anxious about figuring out how to navigate the free USC shuttle from the University Park Campus (UPC) over to HSC on my own. That was until, on my walk to the bus stop, I met a girl as equally confused as I was, coincidentally trying to get to the same dinner. She introduced herself as Pauline, and we quickly discovered we were in the same BS-OTD cohort. Little did I know in that moment that she would become one of my best friends.

Fast forward a week to my first day of class as a freshman at USC, I stepped into OT 250 (greeted by a smiling Dr. Diego Lopez). I awkwardly sat next to Pauline and some other girls whom I met at the welcome dinner. It didn’t take long for us to become fast friends.

Mia and I bonded over our love of weightlifting and running, and today you can often spot us at the gym together. Jordan and I discovered we were taking several of the same GE classes, and actually ended up having 3 out of our 4 classes that first semester together. Ellie and I coincidentally joined the same sorority, and now the two of us are inseparable.

I don’t think I would have made it through my classes thus far without these girls. We’ve spent countless hours camped out in the Leavey Library study rooms, covering the whiteboards with diagrams and study notes. Mia’s insanely detailed Quizlet sets have probably saved my grade more times than I can count. They have seen me at 1 am crying over the amount of terms I have to memorize for an upcoming test, and they are my go-to people for lunch dates, spontaneous beach runs, bus buddies on the shuttle to UPC, and honestly, just the first people I go to vent about anything.

Before coming to USC, I had no idea the impact that the OT community would make on me here.

The value of having deep friendships with people going through essentially the exact same schooling as you is indescribable. Especially in such a unique sequence, such as USC’s BS-OTD program. We each understand what the other is going through, whether it is a tough exam, a breakup, friend drama, missing home, or big life and career decisions.

Growing up in a small town, I had the same friends since I was 5 years old. Coming to college, I was scared that I wouldn’t find people who understood me in the same way. But sure enough, somehow my friends here already feel like family. And the fact that we are only 2 years through a 6-year program together makes me that much more excited for the years to come.

So, if I have any advice, it’s to find your people. Maybe they will be in your academic cohort, a club you join, or someone random you run into at the dining hall. But keep your eyes open, because community is so important, especially in college.

The Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy community here at USC has given so much to me. From my best friends, to professors that make me excited to learn, and peers and coworkers that I adore spending time with. Being an Occupational Therapist requires a special kind of passion for helping others, and being surrounded by people who share that same heart has created a college experience more meaningful than I ever could’ve imagined.

As I wrap up my last finals of my Sophomore year of college, I reflect on the impact this community has had on me over the past two years, and I am eternally grateful.

So if you are moving away from home for the first time, or maybe to a new area for grad school, my wish for you is to find your people. And if you are coming to USC, know that the Chan OSOT community will always have your back!

 

 

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