Evolved Living Podcast with Dr. Josie Jarvis OT
Global Conversations: Cross-Discipline Collaboration in Epidemiology, Occupational Science, Disability, and AIwith Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi
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Episode Overview
In this episode of the Evolved Living Podcast, Dr. Josie Jarvis welcomes Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi, a Ghana-based researcher working at the intersection of occupational science, epidemiology, biostatistics, rehabilitation, and disability studies. Their thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation explores how participation in daily life is shaped by social, structural, and systemic forces far beyond individual clinical encounters.
Dr. Josie Jarvis opens the episode by reflecting on her diverse clinical background, spanning home health, schools, memory care, and acute and orthopedic rehabilitation. Her journey—deepened by doctoral work amid the COVID-19 pandemic—led her to occupational science as a discipline uniquely equipped to investigate barriers to participation at the population (not just individual) level.
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Key Topics Discussed
- What is Epidemiology?
Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi grounds the discussion by defining epidemiology: the study of how health, disease, and disability are distributed across populations, and the factors influencing those outcomes. He emphasizes that "it is the backbone of public health," using stories from Ghana and references to public health icons like John Snow and John Graunt to illustrate epidemiology’s roots in mapping, measurement, and understanding the interplay between environment and human behavior.
- Bridging Disability Studies and Occupational Science
Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi describes how his academic journey—spanning disability/rehabilitation studies and biostatistics—inspired him to explore the overlap between occupational science and population health. He highlights the importance of looking not only at medical conditions but also at social and environmental context, power imbalances, and race—reminding us that “everybody has some form of disability” and that “there is nothing like normal.”
- The Role of Data and AI
The conversation explores the need to “quantify” our observations to strengthen advocacy. Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi sees artificial intelligence as an assistive technology—valuable, but ultimately limited. He urges clinicians and researchers to retain the clarity and accountability of human interpretation, using AI as a support rather than a replacement for nuanced judgment.
- Ethics, Equity, and Systemic Barriers
The episode doesn’t shy away from difficult truths. They discuss well-known ethical breaches in research history (Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Nuremberg Code violations) and highlight how, without active attention to equity and ethics, scientific progress can deepen injustice. Dr. Josie Jarvis and Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi both reflect on their lived experiences of systemic inequity—from global vaccine access to the design of research and public health interventions.
- Cultural Humility and Community Engagement
Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi shares a poignant research anecdote from Ghana: an infrastructure project failed because outsiders did not consult the community, ultimately building a water borehole atop a sacred space. The lesson: knowledge translation is only possible with true cultural humility and partnership, not top-down assumptions.
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Concepts Explained
Occupational Science:
A discipline that examines human participation (“occupation”) in everyday life, considering both individual and system-level factors—policy, environment, economics, and history—that enable or restrict engagement.
Epidemiology & Biostatistics in Rehab:
Not just tools for infectious disease, epidemiology provides frameworks for understanding disability, health disparities, and the structural determinants of participation. Biostatistics helps quantify these patterns and decipher root causes, moving advocacy from anecdote to evidence.
Occupational Apartheid & Social Models of Disability:
The episode contextualizes “occupational apartheid”—a situation where social, economic, or policy barriers systematically exclude groups from meaningful participation in everyday life. Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi distinguishes between the medical, social, and biopsychosocial (ICF) models of disability, urging listeners to see how “systemic barriers” create or intensify disability.
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Practical Wisdom for Listeners
- Integration is Key: Solutions come from teamwork—integrating medical science, social science, community wisdom, and policy. “You need to involve the community—what you believe to be the best solution may not fit their real needs.”
- You Belong in Science: Dr. Josie Jarvis and Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi both stress that occupational science and health advocacy are not reserved for those with doctorates or prestigious affiliations. Efforts—however imperfect—matter.
- Share and Connect: The conversation encourages clinicians, students, and community members to participate, share ideas, question systems, and “be on LinkedIn” or join organizations like CSOS (Canadian Society for Occupational Scientists), which prioritize international access and virtual participation.
- Respect, Humility, and Effort: Growth and social change depend on respecting all perspectives, continuous effort, and humility when things don’t go as planned.
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Why This Matters
Occupational therapy and science are poised to lead in bridging the gap between STEM and social science, between evidence and ethics, between theory and grassroots reality. Episodes like this demonstrate—in clear, accessible language—why the work of linking occupation, policy, data, and advocacy is both urgent and hopeful.
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How to Engage Further
- Resources Mentioned:
- Occupational Science 101 Guide
- OS Alphabet Series (on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn)
- CSOS membership and virtual events
- LinkedIn and Substack for new episodes and reflections
- Get Involved:
Bring occupational science ideas into your practice, classroom, or community—even if you’re new to the concepts. Connect for further conversations, share your efforts, and don’t wait for perfect conditions.
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Final Thought
As Emmanuel Ampomah Boadi shares: "Don’t be afraid that you’ll get it wrong. If you don’t get it wrong, you never know what to do to make it right." Occupational science—and a just health system—needs all voices, including yours.
Connect with Emmanuel on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-ampomah-boadi-08b4241a4/
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For more episodes, resources, and to keep the conversation going, follow the Evolved Living Podcast on Substack and connect on social media platforms. Let’s keep collaborating across borders, backgrounds, and disciplines—the future of well-being depends on it.
Get full access to Dr. Josie Jarvis OT at josiejarvisot.substack.com/subscribe
