Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD: Combining Vocational Rehabilitation with Clinical Care for SCI Survivors

Welcome to this 2024 Kessler Foundation Baird Visiting Educational Professorship Lecture podcast. Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD, a prominent researcher in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) and disabilities, was a featured speaker at the 2023 Kessler Foundation Baird Visiting Educational Professorship. Her work primarily revolves around implementing and assessing evidence-based strategies aimed at establishing employment opportunities and facilitating community reintegration for veterans with SCI and other disabilities. In this podcast, she discussed the effectiveness of standardized evidence-based approaches that combine vocational rehabilitation with clinical care, highlighting their potential to enhance quality of life and foster competitive employment. Dr. Ottomanelli shared findings from two studies conducted in collaboration with the VA examining vocational rehabilitation in SCI. She also detailed key strategies for enhancing outcomes and implementing the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model into clinical rehabilitation to help people with SCI find competitive employment in their communities. Currently, Dr. Ottomanelli is an associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at the University of South Florida and a clinical psychologist at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Clinics in Tampa, FL. The Baird Lecture Series educates the next generation of researchers on innovative medical rehabilitation research and treatment options. For more information on Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD, https://www.cindrr.research.va.gov/CINDRRRESEARCH/investigators_staff/lisa_ottomanelli.asp SCI research at Kessler Foundation https://kesslerfoundation.org/research/center-spinal-cord-injury-research ================================ Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure and subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast was recorded in October 2023 and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.