Jessie Franco

Jessie Franco serves as Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Boston University's Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, specializing in acute care rehabilitation across inpatient, skilled nursing, and intensive care settings. Her clinical expertise spans neurological rehabilitation, trauma, orthopedics, and splinting within high-acuity environments.

Her educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island (2009)
• Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Boston University (2012)
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Post-Professional), MGH Institute of Health Professions (2022)
• Graduate Certificate in Hands and Upper Extremities, Tufts University (2018)

Dr. Franco's scholarly work centers on transforming ICU occupational therapy practice through her evidence-based educational initiative In the ICU with Jessie Franco. This resource directly addresses systemic gaps where 40% of ICU patients receive no OT services and practitioners report critical confidence deficits. Her research synthesizes interdisciplinary best practices to combat siloed knowledge sharing and expand OT's role in early rehabilitation—proven to reduce hospital stays yet implemented in only 45% of U.S. hospitals.

As educator, she teaches OT538 (Assistive Technology) and OT565 (Skills for Occupation Based Practice 2), integrating simulation training to prepare students for acute care challenges. Her work bridges clinical realities with academic training, specifically targeting the 34% of ICUs lacking dedicated OT staff and the subsequent impact on patient recovery trajectories.

Leading the In the ICU with Jessie Franco project, she has created a practitioner-focused resource born from doctoral research at MGH Institute. This initiative translates complex ICU protocols into actionable guidance, featuring interviews with national colleagues and evidence-based frameworks to build therapist confidence in neurological critical care management.