Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are advanced healthcare practitioners with similar responsibilities, such as diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medications. However, their training and paths toward certification differ in significant ways. This blog post unpacks the key differences between NPs and PAs to help you determine which career path best aligns with your goals. What Is a Nurse Practitioner? A nurse practitioner (NP) is a licensed clinician who provides comprehensive healthcare to patients of all ages. An NP can work in virtually any healthcare setting, diagnosing patient conditions and prescribing medications. As of October 2022, nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 27 states, meaning that they can practice Read more
Dr. Orozco Arteaga is a Doctoral Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy programs on the San Marcos, CA campus. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctor of Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC) and holds a Certificate in Sensory Integration from USC/WPS.
Dr. Orozco Arteaga was previously an Assistant Professor at the USC Chan Division of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, with a joint appointment at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She was appointed faculty at the USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), dedicated to caring for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and other special healthcare needs through trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. Dr. Orozco Arteaga co-led interdisciplinary health education and wellness program development through a partnership in pediatric primary care between CHLA and AltaMed Health Services, the nation’s largest independent federally qualified community health center. Dr. Orozco Arteaga focused on increasing health equity through program development, research and advocacy.
Dr. Orozco Arteaga has co-authored several interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publications related to her clinical research, most notably leveraging play and technology for family lifestyle interventions and the inclusion of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in AUTISM, a major international peer-reviewed journal. She has presented at professional conferences, including American Occupational Therapy Association, Occupational Therapy Association of California and Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS). Dr. Orozco Arteaga’s research and academic interests continue to center on health disparities, equity and inclusion.
She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2020.
