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Trojans Talk OT
Podcast

Trojans Talk OT is a podcast series designed by students and faculty of the USC Chan Division to inform and entertain occupational therapy practitioners, students, educators, and our friends; and to bring the voices of leaders, innovators and advocates in the field to a wider audience.

Podcast Objectives

• To promote USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and showcase its commitment to innovative research, education and clinical practice.
• To educate the general public about occupational therapy as well as foundations of the practice and profession, to uplift occupational therapy as an innovative, collaborative, and significant profession in transforming health and well-being through meaningful occupations.
• To amplify traditionally marginalized voices.

Subscribe
As well as listening to episodes of the Trojans Talk OT podcast here, you can subscribe using Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Latest Episode

Season 3, Episode 1: New Hosts, and a New Season of Trojans Talk OT
Welcome to Season 3 of the Trojans Talk OT Podcast! In this season’s pilot episode you will get to know your co-hosts, Mason Suba & Jaida Cruz, and explore their unique experiences discovering OT, finding USC Chan, and moving to Los Angeles. Stay tuned for future episodes, featured guests, and more!

Episodes

Trojans Talk OT, Season 3: 2024 –

Trojans Talk OT, Season 2: 2022

Trojans Talk OT, Season 1: 2014 – 2020

Hosts

Mason Suba — Co-Host (Season 3)

Hi everyone! My name is Mason Suba and I am in my second year of USC’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program! I am originally from Sandy Hook, Connecticut so to all my East Coasters I see you! I currently serve the Chan Division as a student ambassador for our accelerated bachelor’s to doctorate program and I am super excited to be starting up a new season of the Trojans Talk OT podcast. I am on track to becoming a double Trojan, as last May I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from USC and am now almost halfway through my doctorate.

A little about me, I love swimming, road biking, and gaming, and I am an avid and proud coffee drinker! So far my favorite things in LA have been biking down the scenic river canals and going to the beach with friends. In an OT sense, I initially came into this program with my heart set on pediatrics, but recently I have been more interested in inpatient and acute rehabilitation.

I am so excited to work with Jaida on the podcast this semester and hope you all get a chance to listen and connect with our content!

Jaida Cruz — Co-Host (Season 3)

Hey, ya’ll! My name is Jaida Cruz and I am a third-year student in the Entry-Level OTD Program at USC Chan. After having served already as a Student Ambassador in my second year, I am so excited to be joining the Trojans Talk Podcast to continue sharing information about the amazing profession of OT! While I am only a single Trojan, having completed my bachelor’s in Arkansas, I have enjoyed all that LA has to offer in my time here.

Certain identities such as being a daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend, are ones that I cherish dearly. Then there are the identities that allow me to showcase more of my personality, such as being a foodie, theme park enthusiast, escape room professional, karaoke lover, and science fiction aficionado.

I am so honored to be working with Mason on this engaging format of content and I hope that you all enjoy listening to this podcast just as much as we enjoy making it!

Elaina Rodriguez Garza — Co-Host (Season 2)
(she/her/hers)

Elaina Rodriguez Garza is a recent graduate of USC Chan’s MAOT program and current student in USC Chan’s Post-Professional OTD program. She claims her southern roots and is a proud 3rd generation Tejana. She also self-identifies as a granddaughter/daughter, sister, sorority sister, friend, Air Force brat to Army officer, roller gal, singer, amateur dancer, research nerd, flower lover, snake mama, spiritual being, and mental health advocate. Before joining the field of occupational therapy, Elaina graduated from the illustrious Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Since being at USC, Elaina has been able to contribute to important work as a research assistant with the Lifestyle for Chronic Conditions Lab and is still connected with the research lab through her doctoral residency position in a primary care clinic at LAC USC Medical Center.
Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn

Elissa S. Lee — Co-Host (Season 2)
(she/her/他)

Dr. Elissa S. Lee is a proud daughter of immigrants; she is also a sister, a grandchild, a cousin, a caregiver, a friend. In her attempts to improve health equity and make the world a kinder and braver place, other titles she holds include: health care journalist, chronic care researcher, occupational therapy clinician, nonprofit consultant, dancer, and amateur cook. Lee completed her MA and clinical doctorate in occupational therapy at USC, studying chronic care management amongst historically excluded and medically underserved populations, with the USC Lifestyle Redesign for Chronic Conditions lab. For her work, she was named a Student Innovator by the Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation. She is also a graduate of UC Berkeley, with a major in psychology and minors in disability studies; dance and performance studies.
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USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

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.