Synopsis:

This presentation documents the speaker’s journey from clinician to clinician‑scientist during her OTD residency in the USC insp!re Lab.

Dr. Cindy presents preliminary findings on screening for autism‑related traits in preterm infants, outlines challenges and strategies encountered while transitioning from clinical practice to research,  and explains the motivations that sustain her clinician‑scientist career path. Attendees will learn practical steps to begin clinically‑embedded research and why occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to support early autism screening.

Speaker’s Profile:

Cindy leads strategic initiatives as Occupational Therapy Coordinator in the Development Support–Learning Support (DS‑LS) Programme Consultancy Team and practices clinically as a Senior Occupational Therapist in the Department of Child Development.

Grounded in evidence‑based practice, she recently served as Principal Investigator to the Wagga project, integrating research rigor with clinical expertise to deliver programmes that advance children’s developmental outcomes.

Cindy graduated in 2023 and still works closely with USC as a global ambassador.