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Trojan Occupational Therapists Make Firsts with Two USC Awards

May 21, 2013, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), in General News

Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Phuong Nguyen, received the Keck Medical Center of USC’s Care Partner of the Year award at the 2013 Nurses Week Awards Ceremony.

The Nurses of Keck Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital annually nominate and select winners for various awards in celebration of National Nurses Week. While previous awardees have been exclusively nurses, non-nursing members of the care team were made eligible to receive this year’s award. Among thousands of USC providers, Nguyen was chosen as the first non-nurse clinician to win the accolade.

“I was definitely surprised by the award,” Nguyen said, “but more importantly I am honored to have been nominated and chosen by my nursing colleagues. I am truly fortunate to be able to work with some of the most amazing patients and health care providers on a daily basis.”

Associate Chair of Occupational Therapy Clinical Services Katie Jordan said, “Having our work as occupational therapists recognized by our colleagues in nursing is a great honor. We are all very proud of Dr. Nguyen and look forward to many more opportunities for interprofessional collaboration with the nurses of USC.”

Occupational therapy also made a strong showing earlier this month at USC’s first Interdisciplinary Poster Symposium during National Hospital Week.

Kimberly Perring, an occupational therapy doctorate resident, won the Evidence-Based Practice Award for her poster entitled “Behavioral Treatment for Urinary Incontinence and Urinary Retention.” In addition, occupational therapy was the profession with the second-most posters selected for display at the symposium.

“Having a poster alongside OT clinical faculty and other health care professionals was an honor in itself,” said Perring. “I hope my recognition will raise more awareness of OT’s unique roles within acute care.”

Added Jordan, “Having our work displayed through the hospital over Hospital Week has improved awareness of ur unique services and sparked new interprofessional collaborations around mutual interests.”

Read the article online at USC News.

Jaynee Taguchi-Meyer Appointed to California Occupational Therapy Board

May 16, 2013, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), in General News Alumni News

Jaynee Taguchi-Meyer (OTD ‘06, MA ‘98), Academic Coordinator of Fieldwork Education and Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy, has been appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the California Occupational Therapy Board.

Taguchi-Meyer joins alumna and Division Board of Councilors Chairwoman Linda Florey (PhD ‘98, MA ‘68) as a member of the California Occupational Therapy Board.

Calif. Governor Brown Announces Appointments for May 15, 2013 including State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Classmates Rally Around USC Student

May 15, 2013, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), in General News Student News

With one touch last summer, what was just another day in the life of a Trojan graduate student suddenly became something much more.

“It was the third day of school and I was in class, touching my neck,” recalled Caryn Roach, a student in the entry-level professional program of the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. “And I felt a big lump.”

Continue reading the entire article at USC News.

Alum Suzanne Asherson writes in the New York Times and L.A. Times

May 3, 2013, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), in General News

Division alumna Suzanne Asherson MA ‘06, OTD ‘08 writes in the New York Times “Room for Debate” blog and in the L.A. Times on the benefits of cursive handwriting in the classroom. Fight On!

Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy kicks off $6 million initiative

Apr 29, 2013, by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), in General News

The USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy officially announced its entry into the Campaign for the University of Southern California on Apr. 27 before a capacity crowd of over 400 Trojans gathered at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel ballroom.

The kickoff celebration, scheduled to coincide with the annual conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association, included live entertainment, an inspiring video presentation, and a rousing toast from Associate Dean and Chair Florence Clark.

“USC has an undeniable legacy of leadership to the profession of occupational therapy, and we are the founders of the occupational science discipline,” said Clark. “This Campaign will take USC occupational science and occupational therapy to an even higher level, and I am so excited to have the entire Trojan Family join together in this unprecedented adventure.”

The Division’s $6 million campaign goal is believed to be the largest in the history of occupational therapy higher education. Primary giving objectives include faculty recruitment and retention, research initiatives, student scholarships and fellowships, infrastructure improvements, and patient care programming.

Clark, who completes her term as AOTA President later this year, also recognized Board of Councilors members in the audience, commended them for their investments, and offered examples of USC’s leadership to the profession. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks the Division as the nation’s #1 occupational therapy graduate educational program. USC has held this top spot for more years than all other programs combined.

Clark was welcomed to the stage by occupational therapy doctoral student John Lien Margetis BS ’11, MA ’12, who spoke about his personal experiences of occupational therapy.

“Occupational therapy helped me learn how to talk about my disability in a way that made sense to me, as a child back then,” said Margetis, who was born without hands or feet, and had been a consumer of occupational therapy services throughout his early life. “It helped me seamlessly integrate my disability into my identity as a person, and now, as a clinician.”

The campaign announcement comes as the Division concludes a year of celebrating the 70th anniversary of USC occupational therapy education, which was founded in 1942 in response to the nation’s demand for clinicians to rehabilitate active and veteran military personnel injured during World War II.

“USC has always been about creating leaders, shaping the profession, and building better lives,” said Board of Councilors Chairperson Linda Florey MA ’68, PhD ’98. “It’s amazing to think that now is perhaps the most exciting time in our distinguished history.”

Learn more about the Campaign at ot.usc.edu/campaign