Karen Jacobs, OT, EdD, OTR, CPE, FAOTA & Alyson D. Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP: OT & Artificial Intelligence

In this post, we will all learn from Karen Jacobs, OT, EdD, OTR, CPE, FAOTA & Alyson D. Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP. Dr. Jacobs & Dr. Stover will teach us about how they are adopting Artificial Intelligence into their current occupational therapy practice.

Dr. Karen Jacobs is a distinguished occupational therapist with a career spanning over four decades. She is the Associate Dean of Digital Learning and Innovation, the Program Director of the post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy program, and a Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She has worked at Boston University for 41 years. She holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from the University of Massachusetts, a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University, and a Bachelor’s degree from Washington University. She has expertise in various areas, including ergonomics, artificial intelligence, marketing, entrepreneurship, and advocacy. Her passion for enhancing occupational performance has led to extensive research, publications, and presentations worldwide. She is the founding editor-in-chief of the journal WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation since 1990. Dr. Jacobs has played a pivotal role in advancing backpack safety through AOTA’s National Backpack Awareness Day and promoting the recognition of occupational therapy through the creation of Occupational Therapy Global Day of Service. Both are held on World Occupational Therapy Day on October 27. As a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA), the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), and the International Ergonomics Association (IEA), Dr. Jacobs has been recognized for her outstanding contributions as a scholar, professor, advocate, and mentor, who has inspired countless students and practitioners. Throughout her career, Dr. Jacobs has held leadership positions such as the president and vice president of the American Occupational Therapy Association contributing to the growth and development of occupational therapy at both national and international levels. Some of her awards include the 2005 recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in Iceland, the 2011 AOTA Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award, the 2020 AOTA Outstanding Mentor Award, and the 2024 AOTA/AOTF Presidents' Commendation in Honor of Wilma L. West.

Dr. Alyson Stover is an owner and Occupational Therapist at Capable Kids.  She completed her undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation Science and her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh.  In 2008 she returned to school and completed her Juris Doctorate, with a Post-Graduate Certificate in Health Law, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.  Alyson has practiced in various settings, including schools, early intervention, outpatient pediatrics and acute care, and long-term rehabilitation care at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and the Children's Home of Pittsburgh, and Lemieux Family Center.  She is an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh's Doctor of Occupational Therapy and affiliated health law faculty for the Center for Bioethics and Health Law University of Pittsburgh.  Alyson serves as the President of occupational therapy's national board, AOTA.  Alyson's expertise includes the holistic approach to pediatric and family evaluation and intervention, trauma-informed occupational therapy, and occupation-based approaches to substance use disorder.  She is trained and certified in Therapeutic Listening, Interactive Metronome, and Mental Health First Aid, as well as splinting and taping protocols.  Along with working with children, Alyson provides non-lawyer advocacy for children and families who need assistance accessing resources.  As a published author, nationally grant-funded research investigator, and subject-matter expert, Alyson provides continuing education for healthcare practitioners, educators, first responders, and the community.  

Q & A with Karen:

Please tell us a little about yourself and a few of your favorite occupations.

I’ve been an occupational therapist for 45 years, working at Boston U for 41 years; I’m a mom and Amma which means grandmother in Icelandic. A few favorite occupations besides spending time with family and friends are going to theater performances, travel especially internationally, cross-country skiing in the winter, and kayaking in the summer.

What motivated you to contribute to this podcast series?

I am interested in encouraging all occupational therapy practitioners and students to develop a foundational literacy in artificial intelligence (AI) and to understand the contributions they can make in the design and use of AI tools.

Please describe the UncommonOT work that you do and the setting in which you work, the population you serve, and the needs that you address.

I was motivated to share another role that occupational therapy practitioner can assume that uses their occupational therapy lens—helping to create AI tools that can enrich the work we do. This is what motivated me to be an advisor to Korro AI and to conduct research to investigate the feasibility of using the Korro platform in pediatric occupational therapy. The research was conducted in two pediatric clinics-Alyson's Capable Kids in PA and Ryan Gallant's clinic, Gallant Therapy Services in Maine.

What inspired you or drew you to this type of OT work?

As an occupational therapy professor, there are several compelling reasons to collaborate with Korro. Firstly, I have always been an early adopter of innovative tools. My role with Korro allows me to be at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology into OT practice, potentially revolutionizing how OTPs work with children. Korro provided opportunities to conduct studies on the effectiveness of these AI-enhanced interventions, contributing valuable data to OT and advancing the body of knowledge in this area. Korro lets me work with AI experts and has exposed me to new perspectives and methodologies, broadening my own knowledge base and potentially leading to innovative approaches in OT. Korro improves client outcomes—it can significantly enhance the quality and efficiency of pediatric OT interventions, ultimately leading to better outcomes. Korro helps extend the reach of OT services, particularly in underserved areas or for families with limited access to in-person therapy. Korro offers more personalized care; improving the precision of OT interventions. Data-driven decision-making Korro provides OTPS with more comprehensive data analysis, enabling more informed clinical decisions. Korro is engaging for children, potentially improving their participation and outcomes. Future grant opportunities may open to support research.

How did you get there? Can you describe your path?

Over a year ago, a colleague shared their work with Korro AI and how they were helping this company design gaming experiences that would enrich pediatric occupational therapy. She asked if I would like to meet the owner of the company to learn more. Mati, the visionary of Korro came to Boston and by the time we finished lunch, I was inspired to be an advisor for the company and to conduct independent research on the feasibility of using Korro as an enrichment tool in pediatric occupational therapy.

Please describe a typical day or OT session in your uncommon setting. What OT skills do you utilize?

A typical day conducting a study is reviewing data, being in communication with the OTPs participating. As an occupational therapy professor engaged in research, I employ a diverse set of skills that combine scientific rigor with the practical insights of your field. Here are key skills you likely use in your role as a researcher: Critical thinking to analyze complex problems, evaluate evidence, and draw logical conclusions to advance OT knowledge and practice. Working with colleagues, we develop appropriate methodologies for studies, including selecting suitable designs (e.g., randomized controlled trials, qualitative studies, mixed methods) based on research questions. We utilize various methods to gather data, such as standardized assessments, interviews, observations, and surveys relevant to OT practice. Working with a statistician, we analyze quantitative and qualitative data and interpret results to draw meaningful conclusions. We conduct comprehensive reviews of existing research to identify gaps in knowledge and contextualize your work within the field. Write grant proposals to secure funding for research projects; ensure all research adheres to ethical standards, particularly important when working with vulnerable populations like children or individuals with disabilities. work effectively in interprofessional teams and often partnering with colleagues from related fields or other institutions. Providing professional writing for papers/presentations. Mentoring which fosters other researchers. Clinical reasoning; knowledge translation to bridge the gap between research and practice, developing strategies to implement research findings in clinical settings. Finally, conducting research requires project management, such as managing timelines work with OTPs participating in the study along with the participants.

Can you talk about some recent highs (successes) and lows (challenges) of your current role?

The highs are with the analysis of data. For example, in our pilot study investigating the feasibility of using Korro as an enrichment tool in pediatric OT, results suggest that home practice was 4 times higher by the Korro users (experimental group) as compared to the control group and with an OTP sharing, “I've been trying to send homework for years and never ever once did homework get returned or did, they report that they completed it until they were in the experimental group, and they were pretty regular with logging into the app and doing their homework on the app so that was a huge success for me just seeing that there was more carry over at home with this app”. The OTPs observed improvement in all the skills practiced with Korro. The skills were bilateral coordination, midline crossing, endurance, visual discrimination, working memory, attention, inhibition, and finger isolation. This was not the case for the control group which did not improve in all skills. Substantial improvements were in finger isolation and bilateral coordination skills. The participants improved in all skills measured in the Korro “evaluation levels” after practicing these skills with Korro for 6 weeks Challenges are conducting a study remotely; I wish I could have observed the participants using Korro. Small sample size; recruitment challenges as parents wanted their child in the experimental group; homework information from the control group may not be reliable as it was self-reported by the child or parents/care partners/ guardians.

How do you continue to learn in order to stay on top of things within your role?

As an occupational therapy practitioner, I've always valued the importance of lifelong learning. In order to do this, I participate in national and international OT conferences to learn about the latest research, techniques, and technologies; engage in ongoing research; read academic journals; actively engage in professional organizations such as AOTA, WFOT & HFES; collaborate with colleagues in occupational therapy and other professions such as social work; mentor and be mentored; staying dated on technology. In the example of technology, I have advance my knowledge in AI by working with Korro.

Can you share a little bit about salary and compensation in this setting?  How do OT or the services you provide get funded?

Apply for grants

Any career advice for our followers and listeners on how to get started on this path?

Be brave to share your creative ideas with others; develop your pitch that includes your definition of occupational therapy; engage in research; network with others; join a service club to amplify what you are doing.

What’s a common myth or misconception about your job/role you’d like to call out or demystify?

Common myth is that occupational therapy professors are out of touch with clinical practice and only focus on theoretical research that has little practical application. This misconception often stems from the perceived divide between academia and clinical practice. The reality is that occupational therapy professors strive to balance theoretical knowledge with practical application, aiming to advance the field in ways that directly benefit clients and practitioners. Their research and teaching are typically designed to have real-world impact and improve the quality of OT services.

Please list your contact information and any resources you would like to include with your Show Notes (courses, articles, assessments, tools, etc.)

Alyson D. Stover:

Email: adstover@pitt.edu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyson-stover-8a446159/

Capable Kids: https://capablekidsrehab.com/team

Karen Jacobs:

Email: kjacobs@bu.edu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenjacobsot/

Here is the link to the BU Sargent College podcast, HealthMatters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healthmatters/id1495983952

I encourage listeners to please sign up for a Korro demo so they can learn more about this enrichment tool for your pediatric practice and choose a time that works best for you for a free demo https://outlook.office365.com/book/KorroDemo@korro.ai/

Korro AI:

Enhance your pediatric occupational therapy practice by joining the Korro professional community (ot.korro.ai). Korro innovates occupational therapy through immersive, play-based experiences, combining engagement with efficacy. Our platform leverages personalized data analytics to drive improved outcomes.

To learn more about Korro's capabilities, we invite you to:

• View Korro’s informational video: https://vimeo.com/930246779?share=copy

• Schedule a complimentary demonstration: https://outlook.office365.com/book/KorroDemo@korro.ai/ 

As always, I welcome any feedback & ideas from all of you or if you are interested in being a guest on future episodes, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Motus at transitionsot@gmail.com or DM via Instagram @transitionsot

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