Wendy Wood, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

wendy wood duke otd
Consulting Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

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Dr. Wendy Wood is an internationally recognized scholar who was recognized as one of 100 influential people in the profession of occupational therapy in 2017, the Centennial Anniversary of the American Occupational Therapy Association. A recipient of the Jane Goodall Fellowship for her doctoral studies, Dr. Wood has extensively studied how principles of occupational therapy can be applied to improve not only the quality of life of institutionalized people with dementia but also the psychological well-being of captive chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates. As Research Director of the Temple Grandin Equine Center, Dr. Wood has led the development of three tracks of research: systematic review research related to therapies and services that incorporate horses to benefit people, research of occupational therapy in an equine environment for children with autism, and research of an equine-assisted learning program for older adults with dementia. Her work at the TGEC has brought together Dr. Wood’s love of horses with her dedication to developing evidence-based interventions that improve the everyday functioning and well-being of people with disabilities and other life challenges.