Valerie Hill, PhD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor - Tenure Track
Director - Healthy Goals Laboratory
Division of Occupation Therapy
Mentor Status: P
406E
453 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Professional Areas of Interest
- Clinical and Translational Research
- Efficacy and Hybrid Effectiveness Trials
- Stroke Rehabilitation and Community Participation
- Life Management and Lifestyle Redesign® Intervention Approaches
- Health Disparities and Health Equity
Overview
I’m an Occupational Therapist and Rehabilitation Scientist with two decades of experience rooted in a deep-seated commitment to clinical practice, teaching, and client-centered research. As the Director of the Healthy GOALS Laboratory, I lead a compassionate, mission-driven program dedicated to creating innovative ways for individuals, communities, and populations who are underrepresented in rehabilitation research to get equitable health opportunities and live healthfully in their homes and communities.
I specialize in clinical trial efficacy and effectiveness; program development and evaluation; and clinical translation. I’m best known for developing Healthy GOALS (Healthy Goal Achievement through Action Planning and Lifestyle Management after Stroke), an occupational therapist-led, community-based, manualized life management intervention tailored to the unique needs of community dwelling stroke survivors. My team continues to systematically evaluate methods to support:
- stroke survivors to manage their health
- providers to translate research into evidence-based practices
- partners by evaluating community-based interventions across service settings and systems
Using a community-based participatory research model, she ensures these strategies are scientifically sound and practically implementable across diverse settings, from inpatient rehabilitation to community-based care.
With experience investigating technologies that supplement traditional rehabilitation, I view innovation as a vital bridge to human care rather than a replacement for it. My extensive background with diverse tools—including telerehabilitation, wearable health monitors, functional electrical stimulation, robotics, and kinematics—provides me with a sophisticated understanding of the real-world challenges involved in implementing technology into practice. By pioneering virtual delivery methods like Tele-Healthy GOALS, I aim to expand access for those in underrepresented populations. My work ensures that geographical and socioeconomic barriers do not prevent stroke survivors from receiving high-quality, evidence-based care, effectively addressing social determinants of health through digital innovation.
At Ohio State, I teach research and doctoral capstone courses, mentoring the next generation of practitioners to understand that true evidence-based practice is rooted in empathy, advocacy, and a holistic view of every individual.
Major Awards
- 2025—Faculty Liaison of the Year Award, Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity
- 2024—The Linda M. Cummins Simpson Research Endowment Award in Rehabilitation Therapies for Mobility and ADLs, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University
- 2016/2018—K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (R00MD010471-05; PI: Hill, V), National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities
- 2014—Stroke Prevention Intervention Research Fellowship (U54NS081765; PI: Vickery, B), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), University of California, Los Angeles
- 2013—T32 Training in Rehabilitation Efficacy and Effectiveness Trials Postdoctoral Fellowship (T32HD064578; PI: Clark, F), National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, University of Southern California
Education
- PhD, Health and Human Sciences, Indiana University—Indianapolis (Formerly IUPUI)
Dissertation: The relationship between touch sensation of the hand and occupational performance in individuals with chronic stroke.
Emphasis: Gerontology - MS, Health Sciences Education, Indiana University—Indianapolis
Practicum: Interdisciplinary dementia course: Effective non-pharmacological interventions for healthcare professionals. - BS, Occupational Therapy, Indiana University—Indianapolis
Minor: Psychology