USC Independent Health Professions at the Ostrow School of Dentistry

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Faculty

Associate Dean and Chair: Florence A. Clark, Ph.D., OTR/L

Associate Chair: Ann Neville-Jan, Ph.D., OTR/L

Professors: Sharon Cermak, Ed.D.; Florence A. Clark, Ph.D., OTR/L; Gelya Frank, Ph.D.; Mary Lawlor, Sc.D., OTR/L; Cheryl Mattingly, Ph.D.; William Morgan, Ph.D.

Associate Professors: Ann Neville-Jan, Ph.D., OTR/L

Assistant Professors: Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, Ph.D.; Natalie Leland, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCG (Gerontology); Trudy Mallinson, Ph.D., OTR/L; Beth Pyatak, Ph.D., OTR/L; Shawn Roll, Ph.D., OTR/L, CWCE; Olga Solomon, Ph.D.; Barbara Thompson, Ph.D.

Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Linda Fazio, Ph.D., OTR/L

Associate Professors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Erna Blanche, Ph.D., OTR/L; Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L; Linda Liang, M.A., OTR/L; Julie McLaughlin Gray, Ph.D., OTR/L

Assistant Professors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Sarah Bream, OTD, OTR/L; Carlin Daley, OTD, OTR/L; Ceslo Delgado Jr., OTD, OTR/L; Camille Dieterle, OTD, OTR/L; Michelle Farmer, OTD, OTR/L; Don Gordon, Ph.D., OTR/L; Ashley Halle, OTD, OTR/L; Karrie Kingsley, OTD, OTR/L; Michael McNulty, OTD, OTR/L; Jaynee Meyer, OTD, OTR/L; Helen Mirsaeidi, OTD, OTR/L; Phoung Nguyen, OTD, OTR/L; Shannon O’Brien, OTD, OTR/L; Daniel Park, OTD, OTR/L; Joanne Park, OTD, OTR/L; Lindsay Price, OTD, OTR/L; Samia Rafeedie, OTD, OTR/L; Chantelle Rice, OTD, OTR/L; Shelby Surfas, OTD, ORT/L; Ashley Uyeshiro, OTD, OTR/L; Myka Winder, OTD, OTR/L

Instructors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Aimee Aguillon, OTR/L; Mahjabeen Aftab, OTR/L; Catherine Crowley, OTD, OTR/L; Kim Eggleston, M.A., OTR/L; Kathleen Gross, M.A., OTR/L; Heather Kitching, M.A., OTR/L; Michelle Lee, OTD, OTR/L; Stephanie Mielke, OTD, OTR/L; Tessa Milman, OTD, OTR/L; Whitney Pike, B.S., OTR/L; Deborah Pitts, Ph.D., MBA, OTR/L; Lindsay Pugh, M.S., CCC-SLP; Janice Rocker, M.S., OTR/L; Joan Vartanian, B.S., OTR/L

Research Professor: Michael Carlson, Ph.D.

Research Adjunct Professor: Susan Lipton Garber, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professors: Jesus Diaz, OTD, OTR/L; Cheryl Vigen, Ph.D.

Adjunct Assistant Professors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Kiley Hanish, OTD, OTR/L; Susan McNulty, OTD, OTR/L; Bonnie Nakasuji, OTD, OTR/L, C/NDT; Clarissa Saunders-Newton, Ph.D., OTR/L; Susan Spitzer, Ph.D., OTR/L

Adjunct Instructors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Susan Bowles, OTD, OTR/L; Cynthia Burt, M.A., OTR/L; Remy Chu, B.S., OTR/L; Lisa Deshaies, M.A., OTR/L; Heidi Dombish, M.S., OTR/L; Arlene Long, B.S., OTR/L; Karen Park, M.A.; Barbara Phillips, M.A., OTR/L; Tammy Richmond, M.A., OTR/L; Pamela Roberts, M.A., OTR/L; Joan Surfus, M.A., OTR/L; Ana Verran, M.A., OTR/L

Emeritus Professors: Elizabeth J. Yerxa, Ed.D.; Ruth Zemke, Ph.D.

Degrees Offered

The USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy offers a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, a minor in Occupational Science, and a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy. The Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy is offered for students continuing their education following their undergraduate degree in occupational therapy, for those whose first degree is in another field and also for certified occupational therapists seeking a post-professional degree. The division also offers the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) and the Ph.D. in Occupational Science. The USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy entry-level master’s degree program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education®, c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-3449, (310) 652-6611 ext. 2914. Visit acoteonline.org.

Entry into occupational therapy practice is at the graduate degree level only. In order to practice, students in the bachelor’s program must earn an M.A. degree in Occupational Therapy, successfully complete a minimum of 24 full-time weeks of clinical fieldwork, sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy® (NBCOT) exam and apply for a license (in most states including California).

Pi Theta Epsilon

Pi Theta Epsilon is the national honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni. This society recognizes and encourages superior scholarship among students enrolled in entry-level graduate programs of occupational therapy across the United States.

The Alpha Eta Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon at the University of Southern California selects candidates early in the spring semester of each year based on their academic standing and their potential for leadership in the profession.