News & Events

Faculty Member to Present at NeuroTrauma 2012 Symposium

May 10, 2012, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Division faculty member Samia Rafeedie, OTD, OTR/L, assistant professor of clinical occupational therapy, will be featured at the upcoming symposium NeuroTrauma 2012: How to Talk About Brain and Spinal Cord Injury with Patients and Families.

Dr. Rafeedie will specifically cover the topic of “Reintegration,” answering questions such as What are the challenges the TBI victim and families face rejoining family, workplace, school, etc.? and What can family members do to help the TBI victim reintegrate?

The event is free with RSVP.

Details
NeuroTrauma 2012: How to Talk About Brain and Spinal Cord Injury with Patients and Families
Date: Saturday, June 9, 2012
Time: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location:  Los Angeles County General Hospital (Conference Room A)
Contact:  Peter Gruen MD (Neurosurgery)
Cost:  Symposium and Parking FREE
Registration:  Please email or fax completed form to:
RSVP:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  323.226.7421 (phone)  / 323.226.7833 (fax)

USC Trojans Shine at 92nd AOTA Conference

May 1, 2012, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Division Associate Dean and current American Occupational Therapy Association President Florence Clark, PhD (‘82), OTR/L, FAOTA, presided over the 92nd annual AOTA conference, April 26-29, in Indianapolis, Ind. Conference highlights included a rousing Opening Ceremony, Clark’s Presidential Address entitled “Beyond High Definition: Attitude and Evidence Bringing OT in HD-3D,” a highly interactive Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture from Dr. Karen Jacobs, and a Plenary Session featuring U.S. Army veterans Tammy Duckworth and Jessica Lynch.

Congratulations also to the over 50 Trojan students, alumni, and faculty who presented various workshops, courses, and research posters!

Read more about the event at USC News Florence Clark Shines in National Spotlight.

Occupational Therapy Named a CareerCast.com “10 Best Jobs of 2012”

Apr 16, 2012, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Read more at CareerCast 10 Best Jobs of 2012 and at the Wall Street Journal Best and Worst Jobs of 2012.

Division “Lights It Up Blue” for World Autism Awareness Day

Apr 1, 2012, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

On April 2, the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy homepage “lights it up blue” in celebration of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). The goal of WAAD is to bring the world’s attention to autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), neurodevelopmental disorders recently estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to affect 1 in 88 children—a 1000 percent increase in the past 40 years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.

Light It Up Blue, now in its third year, is a unique global initiative by Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism advocacy organization, to help raise awareness about the growing public health concern that is autism. Iconic landmarks around the world will Light It Up Blue to show their support on April 2, 2012.

The USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy has previously partnered with Autism Speaks to offer an Innovative Technology for Autism Spectrum Disorders course instructed by Olga Solomon, PhD, assistant professor.

Division programming concerning autism and ASD include Sensory Adapted Dental Environments research, advanced training in sensory integration theory and intervention, and the Sensory Integration, Engagement and Family Life Initiative recently announced at the 2012 Occupational Science Symposium: Autism in Everyday Life.

Autism Speaks U USC will also shine a light on autism with events throughout the day. Free treats are available from 10am-2pm on Trousdale Parkway to everyone who wears blue in support of autism. The club will also be providing information about the 10th Annual LA Walk for Autism and Autism Resource Fair, as well as other information about autism. Starting at 7pm, USC’s iconic VKC Globe will also be lit blue in support of autism! Lear more about Autism Speaks U USC’s plans for the day on their Facebook event page.

The focus of Occupational Therapy services with individuals with autism and ASD includes enhancing participation in the performance of activities of daily living (e.g., feeding, dressing), instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., community mobility, safety procedures), education, work, leisure, play, and social participation. For an individual with an ASD, occupational therapy services are defined according to the person’s needs and desired goals and priorities for participation. Learn more about occupational therapy’s role with autism by visiting American Occupational Therapy Association Autism Resources.

Faculty Leaders Chair Occupational Science Summit

Mar 30, 2012, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

On March 11, nearly 80 scientists and researchers attended the first occupational science summit in St. Louis, Missouri, which was co-sponsored by the University of Southern California. Florence Clark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, associate dean and professor, and current president of the American Occupational Therapy Association, chaired the summit’s neurorehabilitation and neuroscience group, while Mary Lawlor, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, professor and director of research, led the pediatrics working group.

Read more about the event at AOTA News’ Occupational Science Summit: Bringing Together The Profession’s Scientists.