Belmont undergraduate (2005) and School of Occupational Therapy (2007) alumna Jenny Owens was recently published in Disability and Neurorehabilitation. As a clinical occupational therapist, Owens worked for the Department of Defense treating active-duty soldiers with mild traumatic brain injuries. With cognitive rehabilitation as a focal point of her work, she observed that some soldiers were not able to translate traditional compensatory strategies to real-world situations.

Owens and a team of experts sought and received a federal grant to study the feasibility of teaching active-duty soldiers to use implementation intentions (a novel approach to treating executive dysfunction) to advance self-identified goals. Her role on the team was to administer the experimental and control interventions to Ft. Campbell soldiers over the course of six sessions.

Building off her clinical and research experience working with soldiers, Owens and her husband also founded REBOOT Recovery, a non-profit that helps veterans, first responders and their families heal from trauma through faith-based, peer-led courses.

Out of all her experiences, Owen shared that “working with the military has involved adapting to an entirely new culture, but I’ve met some of the most remarkable and inspiring people and I have seen the unique benefits of occupational therapy play out in helping soldiers reclaim purpose and meaning after injury.”