Michael O’Hara, LCSW, MSW

Michael O’Hara, LCSW, MSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Tarjan Center Faculty, and Field Instructor at Luskin School of Public Affairs, Department of Social Welfare. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California Santa Barbara and a Master of Social Welfare degree from the University of California Los Angeles Luskin School of Public Affairs. Michael’s experience includes working in child welfare as a Children's social worker and as a Residential Therapist for foster and probation youth. Most recently she had the opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team as a Medical Social Worker in intestinal rehab, liver, and intestinal transplant at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Michael is currently a Field Instructor for the Center for Cerebral Palsy at UCLA/OIC and for Special Patient Care in the School of Dentistry at UCLA. Supervising two second year MSW Shapiro Advocacy Fellows in both the CCP and SPC Dentistry. She is passionate about bringing social work theory and practice to more areas of medical and dental care. Her work and programs focus on improving quality of life, health equity and addressing the social determinants of health of all people, especially those who identify as persons with disabilities or have special health care needs. As a mental health clinician, she continues to promote the importance of person centered, trauma-informed care and addressing the mental health impact on patients, caregivers, and families due to health differences and complex medical needs.