Emily J. Balog, PhD, OTR/L, ECHM, FNAP

Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program, Rutgers School of Health Professions

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 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.

Recognizing the challenges facilitators face when navigating dense IPE materials, Dr. Balog developed user-friendly guides that empower facilitators to confidently lead events, thereby improving the quality of interprofessional learning experiences. She is committed to driving innovative initiatives such as proposing student microcredentialing, awarding credentials to students who complete a series of IPE events, thus incentivizing engagement and showcasing competencies in interprofessional collaboration.

Dr. Balog’s work extends beyond academic and healthcare fields to include community members and organizations as key collaborators. She actively involves end-users of research outcomes and programs, ensuring that her work is rooted in real-world needs. This community-based approach has been central to her research and program development in areas such as aging in place, disaster preparedness, and social determinants of health executing IPE principles in real-world applications. Her ability to integrate the voices of community members, clinicians, and policymakers underscores her dedication to creating impactful, sustainable solutions across disciplines.

A 2025 Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (FNAP) and a recipient of the 2024 Make Your Mark Award from the Pat Tillman Foundation, Dr. Balog’s leadership and vision continue to shape the future of healthcare education, practice, and policy. She remains deeply committed to fostering interprofessional collaboration, mentoring students and colleagues, and driving meaningful change to improve health outcomes for diverse and vulnerable populations.