AOTA Podcast

In this episode of AOTA's Everyday Evidence Podcast, we explore what happens when occupational therapy is included in comprehensive health assessments for children entering foster care and why that moment may be one of the most important opportunities for developmental support.

Joining us are Kristine Fortin, MD, MPH, Anne-Ashley Field, OTR/L, BCP, and Judith Dawson, RN, BSN, from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Fostering Health Program. Their study, "Occupational Therapists Enhance Comprehensive Health Assessments for Children in Foster Care", examines how adding occupational therapy to multidisciplinary evaluations impacts developmental detection, referrals, and caregiver education.

Children in foster care face high rates of developmental delay, placement instability, and barriers to accessing services. This research explores how occupational therapy functions to identify needs early and provide real-time strategies during a critical transition period.

Additional Resources:

Interoception & Trauma: The Latest Science on Healing

Trauma, Occupation and Participation, Considerations in Occupational Therapy by Amy Lynch and Rachel Ashcraft

Sensory Healing After Developmental Trauma by Marti Smith

Complete the following survey for a contact hour certificate:

https://forms.aota.org/forms/everyday_evidence_copy?PODCAST=Everyday Evidence: Occupational Therapy and Foster Care: Strengthening Development at First Contact

In this episode of Everyday Evidence, we explore what happens to occupation when someone is fighting for their life in the intensive care unit.

Joining us are Dr. Stephanie Tsai, OTD, OTR/L and Dr. Elyse Peterson, OTD, OTR/L, authors of "Occupational Therapy Interventions and Early Engagement for Patients in Intensive Care: A Systematic Review," recently published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

ICU rehabilitation literature has long focused on early mobilization, but occupational therapy brings something more. This review introduces the term early engagement to describe OT-specific interventions that support participation in activities of daily living, physical rehabilitation, and functional cognition during critical illness.

Whether you work in acute care, outpatient rehab, community health, or education, this episode challenges us to ask:

How early can occupation begin in the healthcare continuum?

Read the full article in AJOT: https://research.aota.org/ajot/article/79/1/7901205020/26024/Occupational-Therapy-Interventions-and-Early

Complete the following survey for a contact hour certificate:

https://forms.aota.org/forms/everyday_evidence_copy?PODCAST=Early Engagement in the ICU: Reclaiming Occupation in Critical Care

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Britt St. John (PhD, MPH, OTR/L), occupational therapist, Fulbright Scholar, and researcher at the University of Washington whose work bridges family health, autism research, and food science.

Britt shares the remarkable story behind her "From Focus Group to Chicken Nugget" project, a participatory research collaboration that began with focus-group conversations among autistic adults about sensory preferences and safe foods and evolved into the development of a hybrid-protein, sensory-modified chicken nugget.

We discuss how inclusive and community-driven research can transform clinical understanding of selective eating, challenge assumptions about "picky eaters," and demonstrate that joy and preference are integral to both participation and biological health. Dr. St. John's pilot studies revealed that participants who enjoyed the nugget showed greater positive microbiome changes! A finding that connects sensory processing, nutrition, and gut health in profound new ways.

Contact Hour Survey Link

Want to learn more or support this work? You can reach out to Dr. St. John directly at [email protected] with questions, collaborations, or inquiries about future research opportunities.

How does occupational therapy help people live meaningfully even as life nears its end? In this deeply human episode of the AOTA Podcast, we sit down with Lindsey Buddelmeyer, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, Christian Jacobus, MD, FACEP, FAAHPM, David Benthall, MS, OTR/L, BCG, and Heather McKay, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, to explore how occupational therapy practitioners bring dignity, purpose, and connection to individuals navigating serious illness, hospice, and palliative care.

Together, our guests share how OTPs address functional decline, support legacy work and life review, and empower caregivers facing loss and transition. From bedside stories to systems-level advocacy, this conversation highlights how occupational therapy bridges the physical and the emotional to help clients find meaning, comfort, and autonomy at every stage of care.

Resources:

• AOTA Official Document: End-of-Life Care and the Role of Occupational Therapy (2023)

• Quality of Life: Occupational Therapy in Chronic Condition Management, Palliative Care, and Hospice (AOTA Press)

What does it mean to think globally as an occupational therapy practitioner? On today's episode, we sit down with three internationally recognized leaders: Samantha Shann, MSc, PGCert, Dip COT (UK), FRCOT, President of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Ginny Stoffel, PhD, OT, FAOTA, AOTA Delegate to WFOT, and Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, CYT, FAOTA Alternate AOTA Delegate to WFOT, to explore the mission and impact of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

Together, we dive into:

• WFOT's global role and its upcoming 75th anniversary in 2027
• How practitioners and students can become members, volunteer, and engage in international OT initiatives
• Signature resources like the Occupational Therapy Workforce Resource Hub and Human Resources Project 2024
• The growing collaboration between AOTA and WFOT and how that partnership is shaping the future
• World OT Day (October 27): its origins, themes, and how to get involved
• What to expect from the WFOT Congress in 2026

Whether you're an occupational therapy student curious about global opportunities or a seasoned practitioner ready to expand your impact, this episode offers practical ways to connect, contribute, and celebrate the worldwide OT community. Learn more at: https://wfot.org https://www.aota.org/events/calendar/world-ot-day

How does occupational therapy fit into the primary care puzzle? In this episode, Dr. Sue Dahl-Popolizio shares her vision and experience on integrating occupational therapy into primary care teams. From managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension to improving outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal and mental health concerns, this conversation explores the expanding role of OT in upstream, preventative care. Dr. Dahl-Popolizio unpacks the functional outcomes, cost savings, and workflow benefits of having OT in primary care settings. She also shares strategies for overcoming cultural and systemic barriers, practical documentation and billing tips, and real-world case examples that highlight the value of OT's holistic lens. Resources: Primary Care Occupational Therapy: A Quick Reference Guide Developing Tailored Program Proposals for Occupational Therapy in Primary Care Enhancing the Value of Integrated Primary Care: The Role of Occupational Therapy Interprofessional Primary Care: The Value of Occupational Therapy Retrospective Analysis: Most Common Diagnoses Seen in Primary Care Clinic and Corresponding Occupational Therapy Interventions How Occupational Therapy Can Contribute to the Primary Care Team and Reduce Physician Burden Occupational Therapy in Primary Care: Determining Receptiveness of Occupational Therapists and Primary Care Providers Primary Care Occupational Therapy: Diagnoses, Outcomes, Reimbursement, and Team Satisfaction The Role of Primary Health Care in Achieving Global Healthcare Goals: Highlighting the Potential Contribution of Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapy in Primary Care- Barriers, Pivots, and Outcomes: A Pilot Study 2025 Frequently Used CPT and HCPCS Codes for Occupational Therapy Contact Hour Survey Link

In this powerful episode of the AOTA Podcast, we explore the True Grit Spinal Cord Program, a groundbreaking, community-based, post-acute rehabilitation experience designed for adolescents and young adults with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Occupational therapists Keara McNair, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP and Kassandra Boyd, OTD, OTR/L, share how this program, built in partnership with Rutgers University and Children's Specialized Hospital, empowers participants to develop independence, build community, and thrive as they transition to adulthood. Resources: True Grit Spinal Cord Program American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Issac L.- A Second Chance for Teens Spinal Cord Injury Patients Learn Life and Mobility Skills at True Grit Camp The QuadCast: S5 E13- The True Grit Spinal Cord Injury Program

In this episode of AOTA Podcasts, we explore the unique challenges and inspiring opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners serving rural and underserved communities. Our guests, Kalyn Briggs, PhD, OTR/L, CLA and Tim Dionne, PhD, OTR/L, share real-world experiences, highlight innovative models of care, and discuss how OTPs can bridge gaps in access to health services. Listeners will learn about key resources, advocacy efforts, and opportunities to build professional networks that support rural practice.

Resources:

APA Preparing for practice in rural communities

CMS Rural Health Strategy

Rural Health Information Hub: Education and Training of the Rural Healthcare Workforce

Rural Health Information Hub: Your First Stop for Rural Health Information

University of Washington School of Medicine Rural Programs

If you'd like to join AOTA's Rural Therapy Community of Practice: please be sure to complete this survey to be added to our roster:

https://surveys.aota.org/s3/Rural-Therapists-CoP-Membership-Enrollment-Survey

The Journal of Rural Health

Rural and Remote Health Journal

The Australian Journal of Rural Health

How can occupational therapy practitioners expand their role in assistive technology development, and what does 3D printing have to do with it? In this episode of Everyday Evidence, we're joined by Bill Janes, OTD, MSCI, OTR/L, whose work as an occupational therapist, researcher, and assistive tech advocate explores the intersection of 3D printing, client-centered care, and the PEOP framework. Together, we explore the potential of 3D printing to transform how occupational therapy practitioners approach problem-solving in assistive technology, offering customizable, affordable, and innovative solutions that can meet unique client needs in real-time. We discuss practical case examples, lessons from an ALS clinic collaboration, and recent research that demystifies the design process and challenges assumptions about cost and feasibility. Resources: Makers Making Change Thingiverse TinkerCAD ATIA – Assistive Technology Industry Association RESNA – Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America OT & 3D Printing Facebook Group AT-AT Lab, University of Missouri Research Articles Referenced: Feasibility of Customized 3D-Printed Assistive Technology Within an Existing Multidisciplinary Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Clinic Assessing the Use of Co-design to Produce Bespoke Assistive Technology Solutions Within a Current Healthcare Service: A Service Evaluation From Makerspaces to Practice: 3D Printing Expansion to Improve Assistive Technology Access Contact Hour Survey Link

In this episode, we're joined by Jennifer Johnson and Amanda Fonner to explore the dynamic collaboration between occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs). Jennifer and Amanda share their insights into what makes OT/OTA partnerships successful, how understanding each other's roles enhances patient outcomes, and why teaching this collaboration is crucial for the next generation of practitioners. Whether you're an experienced practitioner, a student, or just curious about how intraprofessional collaboration can elevate occupational therapy, this episode is packed with practical advice and thoughtful reflections. Note: The speakers in this podcast have chosen to use the terms OT, OTR, OTA, and COTA during their discussion. AOTA recognizes that practitioners across the United States may use different terms and/or credentials, depending on their personal preference and the state practice act under which they are licensed. Resources

• OT and OTA Intraprofessional Collaboration Webpage
• AOTA Official Document: Guidelines for Supervision, Roles, and Responsibilities During the Delivery of Occupational Therapy Services

• Intraprofessional Collaboration: Bridging the Gap Between OT and OTA
• AOTA Ethics Advisory Opinion: Supervision and Collaboration Between Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants

(Please note that some resources may require AOTA membership to access)