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, Texas Tech University
MS, Texas tech University
BS, OT Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Research Interests
Neuro rehabilitation, with a focus on neuroplasticity and postural control
Addressing health disparities in in the Global South and under resourced communities
Dr. Aranha has been an occupational therapist for the past 26 years. She has 22 years of clinical experience in rehabilitation, and 5 years of teaching experience. She has a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, a Master of Science in Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences in the biomechanics track, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development and Family Studies, with a specialization in gerontology and human agency of the older adult. She works primarily in the US, but has international experience, and has taken students on medical humanity trips to Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the US/ Mexico border town of Laredo. In 2000-2001 she lived in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and worked with people and organizations across the life span. Her experiences in Zimbabwe and the global south have motivated her to advocate for individuals who are under-resourced and the disabled in the Global South. In 2016, during her tenure with University of Texas Medical Branch, she started a student-led OT pro bono clinic for people without resources in Galveston. She is on the Board for Occupational Therapy Benevolence Endowment, an organization that seeks to help occupational therapy professionals in times of a crisis. As an occupational therapist and an investigator, her expertise is in neurorehabilitation and finding ways to address neuroplasticity with people with acquired neurological lesions, community health, and global health.
