Boston University Presents at the 2025 AOTA Conference
Boston University presented at the 2025 AOTA Conference in Philadelphia from April 3-5th, 2025. Below is a list of the presentations, talks, courses, etc. we led over the course of the expo. If you have questions about our work, feel free to reach out to us at ot@bu.edu for more details. We’d love to share it with you.
Pre-Conference Institutes
Title: Doctoral Capstone Coordinator Training
Presenter(s): Jennifer Kaldenberg
Workshops
Title: Addressing the Needs of Adults With Sensory Differences: All You Need in a Comprehensive Intervention Program
Presenter(s): Carrie Schmitt
Short Courses
Title: A New Lease on Life: Cultivating Wellness and Self-Determination Among Autistic Children and Teens
Presenter(s): Lisa Marnell
Title: Artificial Intelligence Technology Advancing OT Clinical Practice: Evaluation, Planning, and Notes? Oh My!
Presenter(s): Cynthia Abbott-Gaffney, Ross Young, & Karen Jacobs
Title: Building Momentum: Leveraging Opportunities to Shape State-Level Policy
Presenter(s): Danielle Amero & Lisa Owen
Title: Charting Pathways: Unveiling the OT Doctoral Capstone Research Agenda
Presenter(s): Jennifer Kaldenberg
Title: Generative Artificial Intelligence for Rehabilitation: Enhancing Practice & Addressing Ethical Concerns
Presenter(s): Adi Segal, Nadya Dunay Goldman, & Nancy Doyle
Title: Holistic Admissions Strategies in a Post-Affirmative Action Landscape
Presenter(s): Kristen Humphrey, Kristin Nxumalo, Bailey Johnson, Zasarae Bodie, Jacob Greenfield, Alexia Rebne, & DeAndre Nunn
Title: If We Were to Begin Again: Trauma-Informed Anti-Oppressive Clinical Practice
Presenter(s): Lorraine Mischuk
Title: Let’s Lead the Way: Guiding Administration and Teachers to Adopt Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice to Support Autistic Students
Presenter(s): Lisa Marnell
Title: Nourishing New Families: Perinatal Mental Health Education
Presenter(s): Kimberly Day
Title: Planning for Success: Application of Learning Theories to Instructional Design
Presenter(s): Melissa Fernandez Mora & Nancy Doyle
Title: Promoting Occupational Therapy Through Media: Leveraging Your Distinct Value to Educate, Advocate and Inspire
Presenter(s): Nicole Villegas
Title: Revolutionizing Healthcare with Artificial Intelligence: Empowering OTs for the Future
Presenter(s): Liat Gafni-Lachter, Amy Lamb, Karen Duddy, Nancy Doyle, & Karen Jacobs
Title: The Critical Role of OTs in Emergency & Disaster Management
Presenter(s): Liat Gafni Lachter, Sivan Regev, Ronit Dorot, & Shimona Lev-On
Title: The Occupational Justice Action Tool: Practical Strategies to Support Marginalized Clients
Presenter(s): Bryden Carlson-Giving
Title: Unlocking opportunities: OT’s role in addressing the needs of older adults in the criminal justice system
Presenter(s): Emily Briggs & Anne Escher
Poster Presentations
Title: Addressing Aging in Place Needs in Under Resourced Communities through Housing & Urban Development–Funded Home Modification Programming
Presenter(s): Ryan Durkin
Title: Applying Experiential Learning Theory to Develop a Comprehensive Training Program for Acute Care OT
Presenter(s): Kara Langton & Liat Gafni Lachter
Title: Assessment of Adults: Links Among Sensory Processing, Interoception, & Occupational Performance
Presenter(s): Carrie Schmitt
Title: “Caring for the Care Partner”: A Program Proposal for an Interdisciplinary Training Program
Presenter(s): Lindsay Fitzpatrick & Nancy Doyle
Title: Communication Preferences & Culturally Safe Spaces for Indigenous Peoples in Health Care: Let’s Learn some Basics
Presenter(s): Lorraine Mischuk
Title: Cracking the Code: Theory-Driven Insights Into Sensory Integration Interventions
Presenter(s): Melissa Fernandez Mora & Liat Gafni Lachter
Title: Desplazados Pero No Olvidados: Reviewing the Cultural Fairness of Performance-Based Cognitive Assessments for Hispanic/Latino Adults
Presenter(s): Andreina Chinea, Kate Stewart, & Wendy Coster
Title: Developing Educational Podcasts: Challenges, Opportunities, & Best Practices
Presenter(s): Abbigail Kubiak & Karen Jacobs
Title: Enhancing Clinical Competence: The Influence of Acute Care & Hand Therapy Electives
Presenter(s): Lisa Owen & Gabby Petrucelli
Title: Enhancing Emotional Regulation & Self-Awareness in Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: A Mindfulness-Based Intervention
Presenter(s): Adi Segal & Liat Gafni Lachter
Title: Enhancing Social Participation for Dementia Care Dyads: A Student-Led Collaborative Approach to Volunteer Engagement & Funding in Community
Presenter(s): Glenda Hux
Title: Home-Based Assessment Training: An Interprofessional Approach & Its Impact
Presenter(s): Karen Jacobs, Craig Slater, Jordana Muroff, & Bronwyn Keefe
Title: Impact of a Nature-Based Group Program for Adults With Neurodiversity & Down Syndrome
Presenter(s): Shannon Kara & Karen Jacobs
Title: Impact of Classroom Behaviors on Teacher Stress & the Role of Interprofessional Education: Insights From an Elementary School in a Rural State
Presenter(s): Glenda Hux
Title: Impacts of Gardening-Based Interventions on Occupational Engagement of Youth With a History of Adverse Childhood Events
Presenter(s): Sydney Rice & Glenda Hux
Title: Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Settings: A Collaborative and Educational Program for OTPs
Presenter(s): Caitlin Brosnan & Lisa Marnell
Title: Inclusive From Day One: Strategies for Conducting Neurodiversity-Affirming Evaluations with Neurodivergent Children and Youth
Presenter(s): Bryden Carlson-Giving
Title: Overcoming Unconscious Biases to Promote Occupational Justice for Individuals With Chronic Health Conditions
Presenter(s): Carolyn Ferrer
Title: Plant the Seed for Your School Garden
Presenter(s): Emily Barglind
Title: PromOTing Executive Functioning Skills
Presenter(s): Kimberly Day & Karen Jacobs
Title: Psychosocial and Physical Impacts of Upper Limb Difference Across the Lifespan
Presenter(s): Laura Faye Clubok, Sarah Tuberty, Amber Jenkins, & Jerelyne Idica
Title: Scoping the Learning Theories in OT Education
Presenter(s): Nancy Doyle & Melissa Fernandez Mora
Title: See Something Do Something Project: Empowering Teachers for Early Identification of & Support Strategies for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Presenter(s): Elizabeth Oti & Liat Gafni Lachter
Title: SPARK: Social Participation and Reintegration for Kids with Acquired Brain Injury
Presenter(s): Anat Petruschka & Karen Jacobs
Title: The Story Initiative: Building Community by Listening, Sharing & Adapting
Presenter(s): Kimberly Day
Title: The Time Is Now for Artificial Intelligence in OT
Presenter(s): Karen Jacobs
Title: Transformative Connections: Enhancing Participation in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities while Inspiring an Entrepreneurial Mindset in OT Students
Presenter(s): Lauren Telesmanic
Title: Utilization of NMES Combined with Mirror Neuron Approach to Strengthen Upper Extremity in Adolescent Brachial Plexus Birth Injury
Presenter(s): Christopher Goodman
Title: Weight Bias & Weight Stigma in Health Care: How OTPs Can Promote Change
Presenter(s): Jennifer Phillips
Title: Where Is the “O” in Evidence-Based Practice? There’s an Artificial Intelligence for That
Presenter(s): Tami Atkins, Karen Jacobs, & Daniel Rortvedt
Title: You, AFFIRMED: An OT Program for Gender-Affirming Top Surgery
Presenter(s): Sarah Vines
Thank you to our presenters for sharing such important scholarship, and for helping Sargent College maintain its reputation as a leader in healthcare and rehabilitation sciences research. We can’t wait for next year’s conference in Anaheim!