Tracy Becerra-Culqui

College of Health, Human Services and Nursing
Department of Occupational Therapy
Assistant Professor
310-243-2726
tbecerraculqui@csudh.edu

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy, Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles

Master of Public Health (MPH), Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles

Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California

BIO

Dr. Becerra-Culqui became a licensed occupational therapist in 2006 and started her practice at Pediatric Therapy Network in Torrance, CA. Her experience comes from working in diverse pediatric settings, e.g., community mental health, school-based, early intervention, prevention, social-skills groups, clinic-based sensory integration, feeding. After receiving her public health degree, she was part of a team that established an Early Head Start program applying both her public health and OT backgrounds to envision an enhanced program for families of children 0-3 years old in an underserved community. After receiving a PhD in epidemiology, Dr. Becerra-Culqui focused on developing her research at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, integrating her point-of-view as an OT and conducting health services research: addressing safety of vaccines, effectiveness of medical procedures in reducing disease burden, health equity in care delivery access and quality, patterns of preventive care utilization, the health of special populations, quality of life after treatment, hormones and acute cardiovascular events, and modifiable failures in cancer disease detection.

SCHOLARSHIP AGENDA

Dr. Becerra-Culqui’s scholarship of discovery is exemplified through grants and research interests which are in the area of maternal and child health, understanding early life experiences, a sensitive period when interventions can alter the trajectory of and ameliorate health disparities, and improve health from a life course perspective.

She has evaluated the etiology and phenotypic heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Becerra-Culqui has published on the experience of parents with children with autism, describing their first concerns, timing of diagnosis, access to services and treatment, and experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These interests are further explored through Dr. Becerra-Culqui's scholarship of teaching "Occupations Across the Lifespan", "Case Seminar - Pediatrics", and "Interactive Reasoning" to the next generation of occupational therapists at CSUDH.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS, PEER REVIEWED

Autism Spectrum Disorder

1. Choi, KR, Becerra-Culqui, TA, Tejada, G, Coleman, KJ, Bhakta, B, Knight, EA, Gahre, TL, Zima, B. Habilitative Teletherapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Survey of Parents. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics: June 28, 2022 - Volume - Issue - 10.1097/DBP.0000000000001106
2. Choi KR, Becerra-Culqui TA, Bhakta B, Bruxvoort K, Coleman KJ. Parent intentions to vaccinate children with autism spectrum disorder against COVID-19. J Pediatr Nurs. 2022 Mar-Apr;63:108-110. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.019. Epub 2021 Nov 24.
3. Becerra-Culqui TA, Getahun D, Chiu V, Sy LS, Tseng HF.Prenatal influenza vaccination or influenza infection and autism spectrum disorder in offspring. Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Feb 17.
4. Choi KR, Bhakta B, Knight EA, Becerra-Culqui TA, Gahre TL, Zima B, Coleman KJ. Patient Outcomes After Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2021 Aug 2.
5. Becerra-Culqui TA, Chiu V, Getahun D, Tsent HF. Prenatal Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccination and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2018 Sep;142(3).
6. Becerra-Culqui TA, Lynch FL, Owen-Smith AA, Spitzer J, Croen LA. Parental First Concerns and Timing of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 2018 May 12:1-0.
7. Becerra TA, Massolo M, Yau V, Owen-Smith AA, Lynch FL, Crawford PM, Pearson KA, Pomichowski ME, Quinn VP, Yoshida CK, Croen LA. A Survey of Parents with Children on the Autism Spectrum: Experience with Services and Treatments. The Permanente Journal. 2017;21.
8. Becerra TA, von Ehrenstein OS, Heck JE, Olsen J, Arah OA, Jeste SS, Rodriguez M, Ritz B. Autism Spectrum Disorders and Race, Ethnicity, and Nativity: A Population-Based Study. Pediatrics. 2014 Jun 1:peds-2013.
9. Becerra TA, Wilhelm M, Olsen J, Cockburn M, Ritz B. Ambient Air Pollution and Autism in Los Angeles County, California. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2013 Mar; 121(3): 380-386.

Mental Health

10. Mak J, Shires DA, Prieto L, Ahmedani BK, Becerra-Culqui TA, Bradlyn A, Flanders WD, Getahun D, Giammattei SV, Hunkeler E, Lash TL, Millman A, Nash R, Quinn VP, Robinson B, Roblin D, Silverberg MJ, Slovis J, Tangpricha V, Vupputuri S, Goodman M. Suicide attempts among a cohort of transgender and gender diverse people. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2020 Oct;59(4):570-577.
11. Becerra-Culqui TA, Liu Y, Nash R, Cromwell L, Flanders WD, Getahun D, Giammattei SV, Hunkeler EM, Lash TL, Millman A, Quinn VP, Robinson B, Roblin D, Sandberg DE, Silverberg MJ, Tangpricha V, Goodman M. Mental Health of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth Compared with Their Peers. Pediatrics. 2018 Apr 16:e20173845.