You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.
Jessica Smith, pOTD, OTRL
About me
Jessica Smith, pOTD, OTRL is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy program at Wayne State University and a practicing occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience in outpatient neurological rehabilitation. She continues to work in a community-based setting, supporting individuals with brain injuries and neurological conditions in returning to meaningful daily activities and roles. Dr. Smith’s work focuses on integrating innovative, occupation-based approaches into real-world practice, with a growing emphasis on animal-assisted interventions and therapy dog programming. She has been actively involved in developing and implementing therapy dog initiatives across school systems, higher education, and rehabilitation settings, working closely with interdisciplinary teams to design programs that are both impactful and sustainable. Her experience includes building partnerships, navigating organizational barriers, and addressing key considerations such as safety, role clarity, and program logistics. Through this work, she has supported the use of therapy dogs to enhance participation, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote overall well-being for a wide range of populations. Dr. Smith is passionate about helping practitioners translate ideas into actionable programs. She enjoys mentoring students and collaborating with colleagues to create meaningful, feasible approaches to integrating therapy dog programming into diverse occupational therapy practice settings.
