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
OTD - Loma Linda University
MOT - Loma Linda University
BS in Health Science - Loma Linda University
Research Interests
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-Informed Pedagogy
Secondary Trauma for Healthcare Professionals
Infant-Pediatric Mental Health
Occupational Justice
Interpersonal Violence
Substance Use and Recovery
Dr. De Brun is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) San Marcos, CA campus. Dr. De Brun completed her Bachelor of Science, Master of Occupational Therapy and post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Loma Linda University. She has a wide variety of experience as a mental health occupational therapist working in emerging practice, community-based pediatric and adult mental health services. Her clinical practice experience includes pediatric trauma intervention centers, domestic violence shelters, substance use and recovery services, local school districts and regional centers.
Dr. De Brun’s research and scholarly interests have focused on emerging practice, program development, trauma-informed education, secondary trauma and burnout, early childhood trauma, the maternal-child co-occupational experience and occupational justice. She has served as a fieldwork educator in various emerging practice and community-based settings, including mental health programming for children, survivors of domestic violence and for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Dr. De Brun serves as chair of the Occupational Therapy Association of California’s (OTAC) nominations committee, where she advocates for OT leadership in California and for the occupational therapy profession. She joined USAHS in 2020.
