Student Blog
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Cancer Can’t Catch Caryn ⟩
November 27, 2012, by Amber

Community

It’s challenging being a graduate student. The constant demands of schoolwork can become overwhelming at times. Now imagine doing it with cancer. My classmate and friend Caryn is fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has been undergoing chemotherapy for the past two months. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for her to continue with life as usual. Yet Caryn shows up to class every day with a smile and infectious laugh. She continues to excel academically, conquering midterms and continuing her role as Co-President of our honor society. She is even training for a half marathon in January, raising money to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

To say Caryn is an inspiration is an understatement. So after learning that she shaved her head this weekend, the occupational therapy class of 2013 mobilized a response. On Monday, every single member of our class of 130 people wore hats or scarves in a show of love and support for our friend. It was incredibly touching and more than a few tears were shed. We will continue to support Caryn in any way that we can while she continues her fight!

Read Caryn’s cancer blog.

Fight On, Caryn!

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USC OT gets interactive! ⟩
November 16, 2012, by Kendra

Community

Hi blog readers. One of the great things about USC OT being #1 is we are constantly pioneering in all realms of OT. As part of our endeavor to continue being the best program in the country, we are going with the times and getting into social media!

This is where you come in. Help us test our social media this weekend by checking out our blogs and just like it is on Facebook and Twitter if you like what we have to say or have something of your own to say, like it or leave a comment (we actually check those!). Or if you want to share our link on Twitter/Google help us out by being the first to do so.

So as you watch USC Fight on and beat UCLA, take a minute during half-time to read about OT and share it with your friends!

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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.

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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!

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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 :]

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