HealthMatters

How does design impact health? Join us as we welcome Dr. Jack Dennerlein, Sargent College's new Dean as of August 1st, 2023. From working at Harvard University, Northeastern University, and now at Boston University, Dr. Dennerlein has spent nearly three decades as an internationally respected scholar, researcher, and innovator in the field of occupational safety and health – primarily in ergonomics, where his federally-funded research investigates interventions to improve worker safety, health, and well-being.

Where can occupational therapists work? Join us as we talk with Abby Kubiak, an occupational therapist and post-professional OTD student at BU about uncommon and emerging practices within occupational therapy. Listen to hear about her doctoral project and the benefit of innovation.

How can we be more inclusive in the classroom? In our research? Join us as we talk with Dr. Jesse Moreira, whose educational and research focus is on LGBTQIA2S+ equity and inclusion in STEM and physiology education.

Join us as we talk with Arpita Edke, Sargent College's Class of 2023 valedictorian. She majored in Human Physiology and minored in English, and is taking a gap year in India while working on medical school applications. Follow her journey as she discusses her life as a college student at BU and her next steps as a cardiac surgical assistant and a remote research assistant at Boston Medical Center. Be sure to listen to Arpita share her Valedictorian address in today's podcast.

How can occupational therapists advocate for neurodiversity? Join us as we talk with Bryden Carlson-Giving, a neurodivergent, doctoral student at Boston University and pediatric occupational therapy practitioner based in Minnesota. He seeks to promote strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming practices, amplify the voices of the disabilities community, and challenge ableism within healthcare and research. From helping individuals discover and embrace their sensory processing differences to collaborating with their family and education team to improve their ability to be neurodiversity-affirming, Bryden aims to maximize his client's quality of life and well-being to support authentic, neurodivergent development.

Jessica Peterson, OTR, MSOT, PMH-C a PPOTD student at Sargent College, and Gayle Schwee, OTR, MOT, PMH-C met working as occupational therapists in acute care. Together, they started Matrescence Occupational Therapy, a private practice in Austin, TX, focused on helping mothers through their transitions to or within motherhood. Jessica and Gayle felt they could fill a gap in healthcare and support for mothers by viewing their transitions in occupations, role, and identity through an occupational therapy lens. You can learn more about them and the work they do at www.momsOT.com.

Join us as we talk to Lauren Tamburello about her journey in public health, challenges working through the height of the pandemic, learning about healthcare technology, and yoga! Lauren is a double Terrier and currently works at Artera as a Sr. Patient Experience Consulting Manager.

What is AI, and what is its power in healthcare? This episode features Wesley J. Wildman, a philosopher of religion and computational social scientist in Boston University's School of Theology and Faculty of Computing Data Sciences. He also is executive director of the Center for Mind and Culture, which applies computing and data-science techniques to address pressing social problems. An ethicist who studies emerging technologies, he recently published (with Kate J. Stockly) Spirit Tech: The Brave New World of Consciousness Hacking and Enlightenment Engineering (St. Martin's).

What is trauma informed care, and why is it important? Join us as we talk with Dr. Amy Lynch, an associate professor at the College of Public Health in the Occupational Therapy Department at Temple University. Find out more about the American Occupational Therapy Association’s first ever book on trauma: Trauma, Occupation, and Participation: Foundations and Population Considerations for Occupational Therapy, which Dr. Lynch is the lead editor for.

Dr. Lori Vaughn and Dr. Scott McNeil are Co-Chairs of the OT Department at Springfield College and fellow graduates of BU's Post-Professional OTD Program. In this episode, Lori and Scott share their story of what led them from Peer Partners to Co-Chairs and friends. Lori initially worked in school-based practice and has been in academia for over 17 years teaching pediatric related content, research and a variety of professional issues. She is now transitioning out of the chair role to a full time teaching position and passing the role to her colleague and Co-Chair, Scott. Scott has close to 20 years of experience in various adult/older adult settings, fieldwork education, academia, and his scholarship is focused on diversity in OT, sucessful aging, and inclusive teaching and learning.