Deborah Pitts PhD, MBA, OTR/L, BCMH, CPRP is an assistant professor of clinical occupational therapy in the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. She has developed an expertise in the philosophy and practice of psychiatric rehabilitation. She weaves her expertise in the area of schizophrenia, psychosocial rehabilitation and community support programs into her interest in how occupation influences the "lived experience" of recovery for persons labeled with psychiatric disabilities. She has provided consultation to local and statewide providers of community-based psychiatric rehabilitation services in California. She has served as a CARF behavioral health surveyor. She has conducted numerous workshops and published in the occupational therapy, psychiatric rehabilitation and mental health literature on these topics as well.

She served as AOTA's Mental Health Special Interest Section (MHSIS) Chairperson from 2003-2006 and as an MHSIS Professional Development Liaison from 2006-2009. She chaired the work group that developed the competencies for AOTA's Board Certification in Mental Health. She has chaired or served as a member of several AOTA ad hoc Work Groups that have focused on the mental health practice issues. She currently serves as the AOTA representative to the WFOT's Mental Health Special Interest Group. She was the 2011 recipient of OTAC's Annual Practice Award in acknowledgement of her long-standing commitment to advocating for the role of occupational therapy in mental health.