Two King’s Health Science Leaders Honored by the National Academies of Practice

King’s College today announced that Dr. Jennifer Dessoye, chair of occupational therapy, and Dr. Christopher O’Brien, dean of health sciences, have received honors from the National Academies of Practice (NAP), a non-profit association that advocates the value of interprofessional practice and improved healthcare policy for all.

Dessoye has been elected as a distinguished fellow of the NAP Occupational Therapy Academy. O’Brien has been elected for a two-year term as treasurer-secretary for the NAP Athletic Training Academy. Both will be recognized at the NAP Annual Meeting and Forum in Washington, D.C., on March 15, 2025.

Dessoye and O’Brien are the first two NAP distinguished fellows from King's College.

Dessoye, Ed.D., O.T.D., OTR/L, CLA, FNAP, is the inaugural chair of the Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program at King's College. She has more than 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist with more than 10 years in higher education. Dessoye received both her clinical doctorate in occupational therapy and her doctorate in educational leadership. She has expertise in pediatrics, entrepreneurial endeavors, innovation, and clinical leadership.

O’Brien, Ph.D., LAT, ATC, FASAHP, FNAP, has been the inaugural dean of health sciences since 2017. He collaborates with more than 30 faculty in 12 health sciences programs across six disciplines. O’Brien was elected as a distinguished public policy fellow of the NAP Athletic Training Academy in 2023 and is a fellow of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP), where he also serves as chair of its Clinical Education Committee.

Founded in 1981, NAP advances interprofessional education, scholarship, research, practice and public policy. NAP educates and informs its members and others to facilitate collaborative scholarship and research opportunities, recruit, engage, retain and mentor members, advocate the value of interprofessional practice, and improve healthcare and policy for all. NAP fellowship is an honor extended to those who have excelled in their profession and are dedicated to furthering interprofessional practice, scholarship and policy in support of interprofessional care.