What is OT in 2026?

Earn 1 hour of continuing education by joining OT Potential after taking this course.

Course Description

Through OT Potential, we’ve released more than 124 podcast episodes exploring the research, ideas, and conversations shaping occupational therapy. Each year, we pause to step back and ask a foundational question:

What is occupational therapy—and how is it evolving?

In this special episode to kick off 2026, we expand the conversation beyond research alone to include advocacy, technology, and the forces shaping OT practice and public perception.

Joining us for this milestone conversation are two of the profession’s most influential leaders:

• Katie Jordan, CEO of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
• Angela Macauley, PMP, CEO of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Together, we explore:

• How occupational therapy practitioners can collaborate on advocacy efforts, particularly around reimbursement and sustainability of practice
• How the profession can more effectively communicate and market the value of OT to the public, referral partners, and policymakers
  How emerging technologies—especially AI—are impacting the profession. 

This episode is an invitation to zoom out, reconnect with OT’s core identity, and consider how we collectively shape the future of the profession.

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OT Potential courses are presented as live webinars, then released on-demand video and audio via the OT Potential Podcast. Attendance in the live webinar will be indicated on your certificate. Learn more about how our courses help meet live webinar requirements, and OT CEU requirements overall.

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Learning Objectives

1. You will recognize key contemporary trends influencing the occupational therapy profession, including advocacy priorities and how OT is positioned within the broader healthcare system.

2. You will be able to identify ways emerging technologies, such as AI, may influence occupational therapy practice and patient expectations.

Agenda

Intro (5 minutes)

Discussion (40 minutes)

1. Sarah (OT Potential): Looking back on 2025, what stood out to you most from hosting 125 episodes—and what do you see as the biggest shifts happening in occupational therapy right now?
2. Katie (AOTA): Tell us the story of your year! What is standing out to you as the biggest shifts for the profession in 2025?
3. Angela (NBCOT): Tell us the story of your year! From your perspective, what stood out to you most this past year?
4. Katie and Angela: Where do you see the greatest opportunities for occupational therapists to collaborate—to strengthen advocacy efforts related to reimbursement and long-term sustainability?
5. Angela and Katie: What have you learned about how the profession more effectively marketing the value of occupational therapy to the public, referral sources, and policymakers?
6. Sarah, Angela and Katie: How are new technologies—especially AI—already influencing occupational therapy practice, and where do you see on the horizon in 2026?
7. Angela and Katie: As healthcare consumers become more tech-savvy and outcome-focused, how do you see patient expectations changing?
8. Katie and Angela: If practitioners could only focus on one or two priorities in the coming year—advocacy, technology, communication, or something else—what should rise to the top?
9. Angela and Katie: Looking ahead to 2026, what are your predictions for occupational therapy?

Live Q&A (10 min)

Closing (5 min)

Supporting Research and Journal Articles

• Artificial Intelligence and Occupational Therapy: From Emerging Occupation to Educational, Practice, and Policy Imperative
• Exploring Reimbursement Pathways for Lifestyle Medicine and Health Promotion Services in Occupational Therapy
• Patient Consumerism and Its Influence on the Future of Occupational Therapy

Target Audience/Educational Level

Our target audience is occupational therapy practitioners who are looking to learn about what is occupational therapy in 2026. The educational level is introductory.

Financial and Non-financial Disclosures

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

We here at OT Potential have no financial stake in this topic.

Speakers

Katie Jordan, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dr. Jordan is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Prior to joining AOTA, she served as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for USC University Clinical Services, the USC Chan Associate Chair of Clinical Occupational Therapy Services, and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Advisor on the American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Value Update Committee (RUC) Health Care Professional Advisory Committee (HCPAC) and the Practice Expense (PE) Committee.

In addition, Dr. Jordan served as a Director for the AOTA Board of Directors, an AOTA advisor to the National Quality Forum, and the Chair of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) Practice, Ethics, and Reimbursement Committee. Dr. Jordan has worked in non-profit sectors for over 20 years as a practitioner, educator, administrator, compliance liaison, and executive leader.

Angela Macauley, PMP

As President & CEO of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), Angela is honored to lead an organization dedicated to protecting the public and advancing excellence in occupational therapy practice.

For nearly two decades, she has had the privilege of serving NBCOT in multiple leadership roles, helping shape its strategic direction, strengthen organizational culture, and expand national visibility. Angela’s approach to leadership is grounded in collaboration — bringing together practitioners, educators, regulators, and professional organizations to advance shared priorities and uphold the highest standards in certification and public trust.

Angela is passionate about building strong teams, driving innovation with purpose, and creating connections that elevate the occupational therapy profession. At NBCOT, she is proud to lead a mission-focused organization committed to ensuring competence, integrity, and impact in every aspect of our work.

Sarah Lyon, OTR/L

Sarah’s passion is helping fellow OT practitioners translate evidence into daily practice. Sarah earned her BA in religion from St. Olaf College, then earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University in 2011.

Since then, she’s worked in numerous facilities, including a critical access hospital, an acute trauma hospital, and a state inpatient psychiatric hospital. Sarah is the founder/owner of OT Potential. Read more about OT Potential here.

This course was designed to meet your continuing education requirements

We designed the courses in the Club to meet the requirements for “online” and “independent/self-study” courses. To verify the requirements from your specific state (within the US), check out our post, OT Continuing Education Requirements. If you are outside of the United States and have questions, please contact us.

We are proud to be an AOTA Approved Provider and to meet the requirements for your NBCOT renewal.

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