For the season four opener, OT JEDI looks at state-level advocacy in occupational therapy with special guest Beth Chiariello, President of the New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) and Chair of the OT Department at Touro University.

Beth shares her insights on how legislation and policy shape everyday OT practice, why staying informed at the state level is essential, and how NYSOTA supports practitioners and students through advocacy, education, and professional development. From recent legislative wins to common misconceptions about state laws, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration.

We also explore the value of NYSOTA membership, the importance of being involved in shaping policy, and what the future holds for OT in New York. Plus, hear about NYSOTA’s annual conference and educational offerings that help keep the profession thriving.

For more information on and to join the New York State Occupational Therapy Association, go to https://www.nysota.org/

In this episode of OT JEDI, we explore a critical but often overlooked topic—sexual health literacy among older adults living with HIV. Joined by occupational therapists Riley David and Dr. Kathryn Burke, we dive into their pilot study evaluating occupation-based sexual health education programs. We discuss how knowledge, stigma, fear, and pleasure intersect in the lives of older adults, and how occupational therapy can play a key role in fostering safe, empowered, and fulfilling intimate experiences.

Resources

The Network for LGBTQIA+ Concerns in Occupational Therapy | Queer Health

The Capstone Collective

Follow Dr. Burke on Instagram @otkate or find her at Johnson & Wales University

References

David, R. & Burke, K. (2025, April 5). Evaluating the effectiveness of
occupation-based programming on the sexual health literacy of older adults living with HIV [Poster session]. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Inspire, Philadelphia, PA. https://tinyurl.com/y96srmd4

In this episode, our guest, Karen Jacobs, explores the role of AI in occupational therapy—from streamlining documentation and facilitating communication through translation to addressing health disparities while considering ethical implications. She discusses AI’s potential in assessment, intervention, client engagement, and its ability to make OT education more equitable.

Referenes

Alowais, S. A., Alghamdi, S. S., Alsuhebany, N., & et al. (2023). Revolutionizing healthcare: The role of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. BMC Medical Education, 23, 689. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04698-z

Çela, E., Fonkam, M. M., & Potluri, R. M. (2024). Risks of AI-Assisted Learning on Student Critical Thinking: A Case Study of Albania. International Journal of Risk and Contingency Management (IJRCM), 12(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJRCM.350185

Gandhi, T. K., Classen, D., Sinsky, C. A., Rhew, D. C., Vande Garde, N., Roberts, A., & Federico, F. (2023). How can artificial intelligence decrease cognitive and work burden for frontline practitioners? JAMIA Open, 6(3), ooad079. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamiaopen/ooad079

Mansour, T., & Wong, J. (2024). Enhancing fieldwork readiness in occupational therapy students with generative AI. Frontiers in medicine, 11, 1485325. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1485325

Montenegro-Rueda, M., Fernández-Cerero, J., Fernández-Batanero, J. M., & López-Meneses, E. (2023). Impact of the Implementation of ChatGPT in Education: A Systematic Review. Computers, 12(8), 153. https://doi.org/10.3390/computers12080153

Nilsen, P., Sundemo, D., Heintz, F., Neher, M., Nygren, J., Svedberg, P., & Petersson, L. (2024). Towards evidence-based practice 2.0: Leveraging artificial intelligence in healthcare. Frontiers in Health Services, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2024.1368030

Vahedifard, F., Sadeghniiat Haghighi, A., Dave, T., Tolouei, M., & Hoshyar Zare, F. (2023). Practical use of ChatGPT in psychiatry for treatment plan and psychoeducation. arXiv preprint arXiv:2311.09131. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2311.09131

Zhai, C., Wibowo, S., & Li, L. D. (2024). The effects of over-reliance on AI dialogue systems on students' cognitive abilities: A systematic review. Smart Learning Environments, 11, 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00316-7