Emily J. Balog, PhD, OTR/L, ECHM, FNAP
Dr. Emily J. Balog is a distinguished occupational therapist, educator, and translational health scientist whose career spans nearly two decades. As an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program at Rutgers University, Dr. Balog brings a unique perspective as a woman veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where she specialized in emergency management and disaster preparedness. Her military experience informs her leadership and ability to work across diverse teams, a strength she continues to bring to interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative health initiatives.
Dr. Balog’s commitment to advancing IPE is reflected in her leadership roles on the Rutgers Health IPE Committee, the IPE Case Development Committee, and the SHP/RMS IPE Planning Committee. Her contributions have redefined the landscape of interprofessional collaboration at Rutgers. For example, as a woman veteran, she played a pivotal role in reshaping the “Joining Forces” initiative, creating inclusive programming to address the unique needs of veteran and military-affiliated populations. She also served as Master of Ceremonies for the Joining Forces event, demonstrating her ability to bring visibility to and advocate for underrepresented communities in healthcare.