Elizabeth Ching

Programs and Courses Taught

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

OT 701 Integrative Seminar
OT 726 Psychosocial Dysfunction
OT 733 Health Promotion and Wellness
OT 735 Capstone Project Development
OT 721 Introduction to Fieldwork I

About Me

My practice areas are in mental health and brain injury. I have worked with underserved individuals and populations throughout my career in occupational therapy. I have taught for an occupational therapy assistant school, a non-profit at a community college, and adult education classes for Oakland and Piedmont. For ten years, I was an academic fieldwork coordinator. For two years, I worked part-time in the Samuel Merritt University (SMU) Office of Diversity and Inclusion. My focus is on reducing health disparities and creating inclusive excellence in my work at SMU.

Education

I became an occupational therapist in 1985, and I started teaching ten years later. I had an adult education teaching credential; however, I wanted to study adult learning so I attained a master's degree in Education in 2001. In 2017, I received my professional doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy so I have come full circle.

Teaching Interests

Health Promotion, Mental Health, Social Determinants of Health, and Reducing Health Disparities

Scholarly Interests

Mental Health, Interprofessional and Multicultural Education, Underserved Youth, and Health Equity

Publications

Ching, E. (2019). Seeds of Change: Health Science Mentoring Program for Underserved High School Students, Journal of Cultural Diversity, 26(1).
Ching, E., Contreras, E., Dimalanta, P., Duran, L., Freeman, R., Hawe, U., Hong, S., & Ramos, W. (2019). Social and Cultural Concepts Module: Curricula to Foster Cultural Responsiveness, Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 3(3). Retrieved from https://encompass.dku.edu/jote/vol3/iss3/4
Ching, E., & Amidi-Nouri, A. (2019). From Dams to Tides: Eliminating Health Disparities through Interprofessional Education, Diversity & Equality in Health and Care, accepted 6/28/19.
Ching, E., & Burton, G.U. Psychosocial and Cognitive Issues Affecting Therapy. In R.T. Lazaro & D.A. Umphred, (Eds.), Neurorehabilitation for the Physical Therapist Assistant (3rd ed.) Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated. In press, expected publication November 2019.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), and Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Action Coalition (POTAC) Steering Committee.

Community Service

FACES for the future, Oakland Technical High School, Oakland High School, Bay Area Community Services, Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, LifeLong East Bay Community Recovery Project, John George Pavilion, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, and Mosswood Park Resident Advisory Council.

Honors & Awards

Interprofessional Collaboration Award from AOTA's Centennial Conference (2017).
Strommen Dillashaw Award from SMU as highest honor bestowed for outstanding and exemplary commitment to support students' development (2014).
California Foundation of Occupational Therapy (CFOT) North Coast Medical Scholarship post professional graduate student scholarship (2017).
Core Values Scholarship from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions as awarded to outstanding student exemplifying core values of Clinical Inquiry, Service, Integrity, Leadership, and Sustainability (2016).