At a key transition point in their studies, occupational therapy students across all USAHS campuses participate in a meaningful ritual, witnessed by family and friends. The OT pinning ceremony marks the end of the classroom portion of their studies and the beginning of their fieldwork. For Residential MOT and OTD students, this happens in their fourth term, and for Flex, in the seventh term.
A longstanding tradition in OT practice, the pin celebrates the diversity of practice areas, the client-centered nature of our practice and the values of our profession.
“It’s an opportunity for faculty to acknowledge our students’ transition from classroom learning to clinical learning,” says Mary Zadnik, ScD, MEd, OTR/L, director of the entry-level OT programs on Read more
PhD, Health Science/Health Care Administration, Touro University International
MA, Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California
BS, Human Services, California State University Fullerton
Research Interests
Animal Assisted Therapy
Disaster Response and OT
Interprofessional Education
Spinal Cord Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
Assistive Technology
Dr. Health Thomas is an award-winning educator, public speaker and author with a passion for service and volunteerism. Her long history working in occupational therapy education includes her current role as Professor and Curriculum Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate and Masters in OT program at West Coast University in Los Angeles, as well as a 10-year tenure as full-time faculty at Loma Linda University.
She authored the top-selling textbook “Occupational-Based Activity Analysis,” translated into different languages for use around the world, and has published varied articles in industry journals. She is frequently invited to present at international, national and state conferences on topics ranging from the application of modern technologies in the OT field to using the OT practice framework to reignite the practitioner’s focus.
