The AOTA Inspire 2025 Annual Conference & Expo has arrived in Philadelphia, and Temple University’s College of Public Health (CPH) is making its presence known.
As the nation’s largest gathering of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners and students, the conference is expected to draw more than 8,000 attendees to the Pennsylvania Convention Center from April 3–5. With the event taking place in Temple’s home city, CPH is seizing the opportunity to showcase its deep commitment to advancing occupational therapy through education, research, and innovation.
Temple’s Occupational Therapy program, established in 1967, is the oldest continuously operating OT program in Pennsylvania. For more than five decades, it has played a significant role in shaping the field, fostering the next generation of occupational therapists, and driving impactful research.
At this year’s event, more than 40 Temple students and faculty members are presenting their work through poster sessions, short courses, and workshops covering a wide range of critical topics. Highlights include trauma-informed leadership strategies for early-career occupational therapy practitioners, the impact of caring for a child with a disability on caregiver health, and the role of socially assisted robots in improving outcomes for individuals with dementia. Other sessions explore the integration of AI in clinical practice, the use of 3D printing to customize assistive devices, and innovative approaches to interprofessional learning.
Additionally, Temple presenters are leading discussions on community mobility interventions for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the application of multisource feedback in student fieldwork, and leadership principles for occupational therapy practitioners in rural areas. The breadth and depth of these presentations reflect the university’s active engagement in addressing contemporary challenges in occupational therapy practice and education.
The four-day event will conclude with an award ceremony and reception honoring key contributors to the profession. Temple OT enters the conference on the heels of a milestone year, having secured a $7.5 million grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and earning eOTD accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
With so many faculty, students, and alumni actively engaging in conversations and presenting innovative solutions, the conference is a powerful reminder of Temple’s impressive impact on the past, present, and future of occupational therapy.