Student Blog
Community

Remembering our Veterans ⟩
November 14, 2012, by Kendra

Community Getting Involved

This past Friday I had the pleasure of working the annual Veteran’s Day Reception for a second time. My father did not serve in the military and neither did my brother, cousins, uncles or aunts. But my two grandfathers did serve in the navy during WWII. So even though I do not have an immediate connection to the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, I feel a profound respect and gratitude for the services these people provide for our country.

I remember growing up and asking my grandfather to tell me stories about the war, he’d calmly respond with ‘another time’ or ‘when you’re older.’ Sadly I missed the opportunity to learn about their war experiences as they both passed away before I was ‘old enough’ to know more. Both of my grandfathers were quiet, reserved men. Was this a result of their generation? Or because of the war they lived through?

As we learn about wounded warriors, unemployment rates for our veterans, and the high prevalence of PTSD, I wonder what it was like for them. Did they have nightmares? Did they struggle to make a civilian life for themselves? Did they carry old wounds and bear the pain in solitude? Although I will never know the answers to these questions, I can use my curiosity to help the soldiers returning from war, and going back to war today.

During the reception, the keynote speaker stressed the importance of community and support. She applauded the closeness of the military family, but she also reminded us all that there is a community of support and aide outside of the military. As she remarked on the quiet, invisible effects of war I saw people bow their heads in silent agreement, and as she talked about assimilating back into civilian life and missing the war, again I saw agreement and was it guilt? Confusion? The military is about more than training soldiers, it offers a family and a bond that these people will carry for the rest of their lives. If I were in their shoes I’d feel confused, why should I want to go back there? But what is really missed is the feeling that someone will always have your back. Suddenly you’re home and without the safety net you came to rely upon overseas. That is a special and unique feeling, and once you have it you’ll always want to keep it with you.

This is why we must welcome our soldiers with open arms. We must provide medical, social, and occupational support. We need to show them our gratitude not just through educational opportunities and annual receptions, but by instilling the confidence in them that we will always and forever support our troops on the battlefield and at home.

⋯

Interdisciplinary Health Fair ⟩
November 13, 2012, by Paula

Community Getting Involved What are OS/OT?

Last Saturday, USC Occupational Therapy students participated in a health fair at the YMCA of Alhambra with our Health Science Campus neighbors! The PharmSC Clinic hosted this student-run health fair with support and involvement of the USC School of Pharmacy, USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, USC Physician’s Assistant Program and UCLA School of Dentistry. The event was a collaboration of efforts in order to educate the community and honor National Diabetes Awareness Month.

At one point in the day when there was a lull in the community attendance, a student from our tabling neighbors turned to our table and asked, “So, what is OT, anyway?” As an OT student, we often hear this question from the community and are used to educating others about OT. Providing this education to students of the other disciplines is just as valuable in order to advocate for our profession among future interdisciplinary professionals. Overall, it was a great morning of educating community members and students from the other disciplines. Many of the consumers who approached our booth had either not heard of Occupational Therapy or were familiar with OT but unsure of what OTs do in practice in terms of Diabetes management. Student volunteers educated consumers about the importance of a balanced daily routine. We also described how Occupational Therapists help clients find new strategies to stay on top of blood sugar levels, medication and insulin timing throughout the day. Another hot topic was the importance of good grooming and activity levels to improve general health and thus also help with Diabetes management.

Consumers responded with interest in learning more about OT and also an appreciation of what we do as a profession for such a variety of individuals and settings we serve. It was a great day of spreading the news of how valuable Occupational Therapy truly is!

⋯

Homecoming Weekend ⟩
November 12, 2012, by Paula

Community

This past weekend was a busy one for USC. The University was celebrating Homecoming weekend and nearly every division and organization associated with USC had something planned to properly celebrate the weekend. Here at the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, there were a number of events. Many OT alumni witnessed an unveiling and ribbon-cutting of the new Pediatric and Rehabilitation Laboratories and a reception in which Dr. Florence Clark spoke to the past and present of our department and of our profession.

I was lucky enough to be able to tend to some of the guests for the day’s events. Little did I know that these women would happen to be the same ones whose photographs don the hallways of our department because, oh that’s right, they are not only alumni but they are movers and shakers of OT. It took me a moment to realize that I was chatting with Dr. Elizabeth Yerxa and Florence Cromwell. Florence Cromwell, USC alumnus, served two terms as President of the American Occupational Therapy Association from 1967-1973. In 1974, she was instituted as Acting Chair of the USC Department of Occupational Therapy. Dr. Yerxa was named the Department Chair in 1976 and played a vital role in the USC Department of Occupational Therapy initiating the world’s first PhD program in Occupational Science in 1989. These two women were such a joy to spend time with, not only knowing how much they have done for the profession but also to see how excited they both are to see the Department growing and flourishing. And they were even interested in supporting our current student council by purchasing some USC OT shirts.

As a student ambassador, one of the most frequent questions I receive from prospective students is, “Why USC?” This past weekend was a perfect example why :]

⋯

OT outside OT school ⟩
November 7, 2012, by Kendra

Community Living in LA What are OS/OT?

Last weekend I attend wedding #527 of the semester in New Orleans. While chatting with the bride’s mother, I learned a dear friend of hers is an occupational therapist who manages a skilled nursing facility in San Antonio, Texas.

Let me meet this girl I said!

It was a really exciting moment for me, getting to ‘talk shop’ with a seasoned professional and hold my ground while doing so. In chatting I discovered she did the validity studies in the early ’90s for the Allen Diagnostic Modules (ADM). Validity and reliability studies are essential for evidence based practice. We need the evidence to show our assessments measure what they say they do (validity) and consistently between testings and different testers (reliability). It just so happens this semester I am interning with one of the developers of the ADM!

It’s moments like these that I am so proud of my education. Not only do I get to go to school with the movers and shakers in the OT world, but Los Angeles is also a city of brilliant and imaginative occupational therapists. I felt, even though I’m still a student, I already have the education to collaborate and work on par with seasoned professionals. Add to that my job as a student ambassador makes attending these kinds of functions; weddings, bridal showers, etc., so much easier to navigate because now I can talk about OT in a clear, succinct way. It was so rewarding getting to offer insight and swap stories with a professional who has been working in the field for 40+ years. And it is especially rewarding to see someone’s internal light bulb go on when they understand the value of an occupational therapist.

This is why USC is #1 in OT!

⋯

OT Global Day of Service ⟩
November 2, 2012, by Paula

Community Getting Involved What are OS/OT?

Last weekend, on October 27th, was the Occupational Therapy Global Day of Service in which occupational therapists worldwide become involved in volunteer efforts in observance of World Occupational Therapy Day. This year, students from USC’s Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy took this opportunity to go out with friends to lend a helping hand while also educating others on the all that the profession has to offer. Students were involved in many different ways for the Global Day of Service.

I was lucky enough to volunteer with an organization called CFY. This group helps families set up their own computer-based Home Learning Center at the beginning of the workshop, learn basic software operations and get hands-on experience using their Home Learning Center to improve reading, writing, and mathematics. In the sessions, we assisted families during the workshop and helped keep the day running smoothly. At the end of the trainings, families pack up their Home Learning Center and take it home. This was a truly humbling experience to be able to volunteer with this group and extremely applicable to occupational therapy as we were enabling families to learn in which was some of their very first exposure to a computer and we were able to give them the tools to interact in an educational manner with their children.

Having grown up in a generation which is so completely engrossed in all things technology, this was an extremely valuable experience for me and a reminder of how different lived experiences can be from one person to the next. I was so excited to participate in this day of service and I am proud of my fellow occupational therapy students and practitioners who also took the time out of their Saturday in order to give back to the community, to pay it forward, and to educate someone else of the importance and applicability of occupational therapy.

⋯