In this issue...
3
OTAC awards
5
CSUDH at OTAC
Conference
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
Terry Peralta, Ph.D., OTR/L
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6
“Hi Dr. Neville-Jan!” I’d always say when she answered the phone every time I called. She’d always
reprimand me with a seemingly stern, “it’s Ann.”
I’d simply laugh. At times, she would say “oh, stop
that!” coupled with her typical giggly laugh.
I was Ann’s teaching assistant when she was my
dissertation chair in the late nineties, and through
the years, we’ve become friends. For more than 15
years, we’d regularly have dinner, meet up at conferences, and in both occasions, there would always
be wine. We would talk about work, life, family, and
everything else that is going on.
“You’d always be Dr. Neville-Jan to me!” I would
always say as she smiled bashfully. My respect for
Ann is beyond that of being a mentor, she has inspired me in many ways and has become the person
I go to for advice, may it be about minor life issues
or major career decisions. Being born with Spina
Bifida and told as a child that she will never walk,
Ann is a real survivor. Just watching her, one would
not know the difficulties of her daily life coupled
with multiple surgeries she needed to endure. I
especially remember being with her at Norris Cancer Center more than 10 years ago when she was
battling breast cancer, which she eventually won. To
me, she epitomized strength. So, it was not typical
when she seemed fearful about her recent diagnosis
and impending operation. I tried to comfort her,
but deep inside, I was not afraid…. because she was
my hero, and heroes don’t die! One week ago, she
did pass.
My condolences to the family she deeply loved. I
mourn with the OT Community wherein she has
earned great respect and admiration.
I miss you already. Someday, we’d meet up at an OT
Conference in heaven…. and God permitting, there
would be wine. Until then, I’ll look forward to that
time when I can again hear your giggly laugh when
I say “Hi Dr. Neville-Jan!”
Thanksgiving
Appreciation
Dinner
SOTA
Halloween
Contest
National Student Conclave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
OTAC Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Spinal Cord Injury Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Dr. Iwama Visits CSUDH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Student Appreciation Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Japanese Students Visit Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Conference Booth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Conference and Alumni Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Faculty Presentations & Publications . . . . . . . . . . 7
SOTA Halloween Costume Contest . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Occupational Therapy Newsletter
Department of Occupational Therapy
California State University Dominguez Hills
Editors: Dr. Terry Peralta , Melissa Broersma, and Patricia Suarez.
Special thanks to contibutors: Dr. Diane Mayfield, Lisa Langford,
Caleh Kim, Kristine Laird, Jacqueline Koh and Ashok Sadasivaiah. Photography by: Patricia Suarez and Jonathan Moh.
In Memoriam
Ann Neville-Jan, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
http://chan.usc.edu/faculty/directory/Ann_Neville-Jan
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