In this episode, we will be learning about an occupational therapist in grassroots organization. Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is the director of admissions and associate professor of clinical occupational therapy at the USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Dr. Anvarizadeh is responsible for developing the holistic admissions process and maintaining effective admissions strategies and procedures within the division. She also oversees each academic program and makes sure the division is filled with high-caliber diverse students. Dr. Anvarizadeh is a founding member and chair of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), a nonprofit organization striving to empower occupational therapy leaders to engage in practices that increase diversity, equity, and inclusion for a more transformative occupational therapy profession. She is responsible for developing the COTAD toolkit, the Ignite Series, and COTAD chapters. She tirelessly works to support and establish COTAD chapters at academic programs across the country while empowering students to facilitate dialogue, awareness, and change related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the profession and beyond. Dr. Anvarizadeh recently made history as the youngest and first African American/Iranian woman to become vice president of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She is also the youngest woman of color inducted into the prestigious Roster of Fellows (FAOTA). Dr. Anvarizadeh currently holds leadership positions with AOTA as the Credential Review and Accountability Committee (CRAC) chair, a Representative Assembly Leadership Committee (RALC) member, a Governance Task Force member, and the liaison between the Governance and DEI task forces. She was also a member of the AOTA Special Task Force on Entry-Level Education and a crucial contributor to the professional dialogue on the entry-level degree requirements. She is a recent alumna of the 2020 cohort for the Executive Leadership Program for Multicultural Women. Within the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), Dr. Anvarizadeh serves as an Advocacy and Government Affairs Committee member. She is a recipient of OTAC’s Janice Matsutsuyu Outstanding Service Award and Vision Award. She previously held the position of communications chair for seven years.

Show Key Points:

·      Arameh gives us a glimpse of her background and interests

·      She describes her Uncommon OT work

·      She describes what inspired her to do this work and her path

·      She explains her mission and how it can benefit others

·      She provides OT practitioners with valuable career advice

·      She provides resources and her contact information

RESOURCES:

The Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity

https://www.cotad.org/

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

https://chan.usc.edu/people/faculty/Arameh_Anvarizadeh

Email: [email protected]

As always, I welcome any feedback & ideas from all of you or if you are interested in being a guest on future episodes, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Motus at [email protected] or DM via Instagram @transitionsot

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