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Athletic Training BS AT/DPT
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You are at: Academics » Faculty & Staff » Department of Occupational Therapy

Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE, FAOTA

11-3217-SARFACULTY-0209

Clinical Professor
Program Director, Online Post-professional Occupational Therapy Programs

Phone:617-353-7516
kjacobs@bu.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • EdD University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA 6/93 Major: Educational Leadership in Schooling
  • MS Boston University Boston, MA 9/79 Major: Occupational Therapy
  • BA Washington University St. Louis, MO 12/73 Major: Psychology Minor: Education

Courses Taught

  • OT 513 Analysis and Adaptation of Occupation
  • HP 650 Health Care Management
  • OT 911 Practicum in Social Policy and Disability (on-line)
  • OT 925 Capstone (on-line)
  • OT 930 Doctoral Project (online)
  • HP 720 Educational Theory and Practice (on-line)
  • OT 615 Practicum Educational Theory and Practice (on-line)
  • OT 905 Practice Leadership (on-line)
  • OT 616 Practicum in Health Care Management (on-line)
  • HP 650 OT Health Care Management (on-line)

Scholarly, Research, and/or Practice Interests

Dr. Jacobs’ research and scholarly pursuits examine the interface between the environment and human capabilities. In particular, she has examined the individual factors and environmental demands associated with increased risk of functional limitations among populations of university and middle school aged students, particularly in notebook computing, backpack use, and health games such as Nintendo’s Wii Fit.

Scholarship – Recent Presentations

  • Jacobs, K., Enabling notebook ergonomics at home, at school, and at work: Research informing practice. Invited speaker. University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada 6/10/09.
  • Hocking, C., Finlayson, M., Jacobs, K. Panel Discussion with Journal Editors. Invited panelist. Canadian Association for Occupational Therapists annual conference. Ottawa, Canada 6-4-09.
  • Jacobs, K., Live Discussion. Invited speaker. Online Learning at BU: Innovations, Outcomes, and Insights. Boston University 5/13/09.
  • Jacobs, K., University Students and their Use of Notebook Computers. Invited speaker University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 5/28/09
  • Jacobs, K. University Students and their Use of Notebook Computers. Invited presentation for the Occupational Injury Seminar. Harvard University School of Public Health. Boston, MA, 4/17/09.
  • Jacobs, K. Being an Occupation FANATIC. Invited keynote speaker. Evening with a Leader. University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio 2-13-09.
  • Jacobs, K. How Full Is Your Backpack? Invited keynote speaker. Evening with a Leader. University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio 2-12-09.
  • Jacobs, K. Using research in practice: how university students are affected by their notebook computer use. NHOTA annual conference. Concord, NH 10/10/08.
  • Jacobs, K. The evolution of distance education at Sargent College. Boston University School of Social Work. Invited speaker, Boston, MA, 10/7/08.
  • Jacobs, K. How Full is Your Backpack? Invited keynote speaker. Quinnipiac College Hamden, CT, 10/3/08.
  • Jacobs, K. University Students and their Use of Notebook Computers. Invited presentation. Boston University Academy. Boston, MA, 10/2/08.

Scholarship – Recent Publications

Peer reviewed articles:

  • Chiang, H., Jacobs, K. (at press). Effects of Computer Based Instruction on Students’ Self Perception and Functional Task Performance. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.
  • Jacobs, K., Hudak, S., McGiffert, J. (2009). Computer-related posture and musculoskeletal discomfort in middle school students. WORK. 32. pp. 275-283.
  • Jacobs, K., Johnson, P., Dennerlein, J., Peterson, D., Kaufman, J., Gold, J., Williams, S., Richmond, N., Karban, S., Firn, E., Ansong, E., Hudak, S., Tung, K., Hall, V., Pencina, K., Pencina, M., (2009). University students’ notebook computer use. Applied Ergonomics, 40, p. 404-409.
  • Legg, S., Jacobs, K. (2008). Ergonomics for Schools. WORK (31), p. 489-493.
  • Jacobs, K., Runge, K. (2007). Middle school students’ notebook computer use. Proceedings Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Conference. Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Jacobs, K., Runge, K. (2007). Next generation workers: Identifying and preventing self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort with notebook computer use. Congress proceedings 2007 PREMUS Conference. Boston, Massachusetts.

Books:

  • McCormack, G., Jacobs, K. (Eds.) (in process). The Occupational Therapy Manager (5th Edition). Bethesda: American Occupational Therapy Association.
  • Slaydk, K., Jacobs, K., MacRae, N. (Eds.) (at press). Occupational therapy essentials for clinical competency. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, Inc.
  • Jacobs, K. and Jacobs, L. (Eds.). (2009). Quick Reference Dictionary. (5th Edition). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, Inc.
  • PUBLICATIONS – Books (continued)
  • Jacobs, K. (Ed.) (2008). Ergonomics for Therapists. (3rd Edition). St. Louis: Mosby, Inc.

Professional Activities

  • Ongoing-National Spokesperson for the American Occupational Therapy Association for their National Backpack Awareness Day
  • 2007-ongoing Chairperson, Ergonomics for Children and Educational Environments
  • (ECEE) Technical Committee of the International Ergonomics Association
  • (IEA)
  • 2008-2009 Program Chair, Environmental Design Technical Group, Human
  • Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
  • Service Organizations
  • Brookline Rotary Club, member; Brookline, MA ongoing
  • Boston University Sargent College Rotaract Club, advisor ongoing
  • Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) Omicron Chapter, advisor ongoing

Recent Grant Activity

  • University students’ notebook computer use Harvard-NIOSH Education and Research Center (ERC) 7/09, Amount – $10,000
  • Middle Schools Students and their Notebook Computer Use. Microsoft. 9/12/08 Amount – $10,000
  • University Students and their Computer Use: An Inquiry-Based Learning Experience. Boston University Sargent College Matching Funds. 3/08 Amount – $2800
  • University Students and their Computer Use: An Inquiry-Based Learning Experience. GUTS program (Grants for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarship; Boston University). 2/08 Amount – $2250
  • University Students and their Notebook Computer Use: Phase II. The Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC). 9/07 Amount – $25,500.
  • University Students’ Notebook Computer Use.The Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC). 1/07 Amount – $30,000.

Awards and Honors

  • Honorary Scarlet Key Award 2012, awarded by Boston University to honor an outstanding faculty or staff member who has had a positive influence on student life at the University
  • OT Alumni Award 2012, given by Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College in recognition of her numerous contributions to the BU OT Department and students, and her continued leadership in the profession.
  • Eleanor Clarke Slagle Award 2011, the highest academic honor given by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
  • Award of Merit 2009 Canadian Association for Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
  • Twiness Award 2009 Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College Alumni Board
  • AOTA Service Commendation 2008 American Occupational Therapy Association
  • Keeper of the Flame Award 2007 National Women’s Hall of Fame
  • Yu Wing Distinguished Scholar 2006 Awarded by the Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Excellence in Advising 2006 & 2007 Boston University Student Activities
  • The J. William Fulbright Foreign 2005 Grant awarded in the binational program Scholarship of educational exchanges between the United States and Iceland.
  • Herbert J. Hall Award 2004 Awarded by the Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy in recognition of professional contribution to occupational therapy.
  • Award of Merit 2003 Awarded by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in recognition of extraordinary leadership in marketing, ergonomics, work, and management.
  • Board of Directors Award 2003 Awarded by the American Occupational Therapy Association in recognition of extraordinary service and outstanding advocacy in advancing the interests of occupational therapy among various publics.
  • Honorary Doctorate of 2001 Awarded by Bay Path College Humane Letters Longmeadow, Massachusetts for exemplary leadership skills.
  • Doctor of Science 2000 Awarded by the University of (honorary degree) Indianapolis in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of occupational therapy and for the development and promotion of the field to multiple external audiences.
  • Golden Key National Honor 1996 Society, honorary member
  • Service Award, AOTA 1993, 1994, 1997, & 2001
  • Certificate of Appreciation, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 & 2005 Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy
  • Fellow, American 1988 Awarded this recognition for Occupational Therapy outstanding contributions to the profession.

Licenses and Certifications

  • Registered Occupational Therapist by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
  • Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) by the Board for Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE)
  • Licensed Occupational Therapist, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Licensed Occupational Therapist, State of New Hampshire