Amber Angell

Amber Angell, PhD, OTR/L, is an Assistant Professor in the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, with a joint appointment as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine. Her primary affiliation is the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. She holds a PhD in Occupational Science (USC), MOT (Texas Woman’s University), and BS (Texas Woman’s University), with additional training in Implementation Science (University of Florida).

Education highlights include:

• 2020 | Graduate Certificate in Implementation Science, University of Florida
• 2016 | PhD in Occupational Science, University of Southern California
• 2005 | MOT, Texas Woman’s University
• 2003 | BS in Health Studies, Texas Woman’s University

Her research focuses on reducing disparities in autism diagnosis and services through the Disparity Reduction and Equity in Autism Services (DREAmS) Lab. Key interests include health equity, occupational justice, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent work addresses gender disparities in autism treatment, telehealth adaptations during the pandemic, and global autism diagnostic challenges in Ghana.

Notable achievements include the 2015 Diana Forsythe Award (American Medical Informatics Association) and leadership in interdisciplinary projects addressing healthcare access for marginalized groups. She advises multiple doctoral students and collaborates with diverse stakeholders to advance participatory research and policy change.

Professional contributions extend to lab leadership, grants focused on occupational justice, and advocacy roles in organizations like the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD). Her work bridges clinical practice, research, and community engagement to promote equitable care for autistic individuals and families.

Labs/Teams: Director of the DREAmS Lab, collaborating with global partners on autism disparities research.