Exemplary Occupational Therapist Champions Brain Injury Recovery

Championing Brain Injury Recovery

Dr. Kristen Keech, an OTR from Hawaii, has made significant strides in enhancing care and access to resources for survivors of brain injury and their families. Passionate about providing individualized and client centered care, Dr. Keech is committed to supporting her clients’ engagement in meaningful, personally rewarding occupations. Dr. Keech recognizes that families play a crucial role in the recovery process. She involves them as active members of the care team from the beginning, providing clear communication and support throughout the client’s journey. By explaining the complexities of brain injury recovery in simple terms, Dr. Keech empowers families to make informed decisions and advocate for their loved ones. This family-centered, compassionate approach has led to decreased stress levels, increased awareness of care options, and greater confidence in the recovery process.

“Kristen's dedication to empowering patients and their families is evident in her creation of a comprehensive TBI patient and caregiver booklet. This invaluable resource has provided many patients and their families with the knowledge and support needed to navigate the challenges associated with traumatic brain injuries. By ensuring consistent education and guidance, Kristen has positively impacted the lives of numerous patients and their families, offering them hope and guidance during difficult times.”

Jill Koko, DPT at The Queen's Medical Center

Dr. Keech's colleague

A New Standard in Brain Injury Care

In her pursuit of advancing care for individuals with moderate to severe brain injury, Dr. Keech founded Conscious Care Consulting, LLC. This business focuses on educating and empowering interprofessional clinicians nationwide to develop standards, practices, and procedures that align with the latest evidence and best practices for providing care to clients with a brain injury. Dr. Keech collaborates with health care teams to ensure that clients receive the quality care they deserve, including access to additional rehabilitation services outside of the hospital setting.

Through research and knowledge translation, Dr. Keech aims to address barriers to timely, safe, and equitable access to services known to enhance functional recovery and engagement in meaningful occupations. In her clinical work, she frequently brings attention to the intersectionality between homelessness and traumatic brain injury, ensuring that even the most vulnerable populations have access to post-acute services. Her work has resulted in improved functional outcomes, increased access to rehabilitation services, and enhanced engagement in meaningful occupations for clients with a brain injury.

“In her daily practice in Honolulu, Kristen is a fierce advocate for ensuring that her clients with [disorders of consciousness] DoC have access to rehabilitation services to optimize their occupational engagement and their chances for functional recovery. She goes the extra mile to ensure her individual clients access the best possible brain injury care. In many client cases she has been known to directly coordinate with brain injury centers on the U.S. mainland to advocate for transferring her clients out-of-state to specialized DoC programs and helping their families navigate resources for financial support.”

Jessica Asiello, OT, OTD, OTR

Award nominator

Mentorship, Research, and Advocacy

Dr. Keech's influence extends beyond direct client care; she is a mentor, an educator, and an advocate for the occupational therapy profession. She is dedicated to ensuring that occupational therapists have a place in leadership among the interprofessional team by demonstrating the vast scope of knowledge and skills that occupational therapy adds to a client’s recovery, particularly after a complex brain injury. As a lead investigator in research projects and a collaborator in studies aimed at improving education and resources for families and caregivers, Dr. Keech is at the forefront of advancing occupational therapy practice. She is committed to mentoring clinicians of all levels of experience to ensure clients receive quality care that is consistent and aligned with current evidence and best practices. Dr. Keech also plays a pivotal role in mentoring future occupational therapists as an adjunct instructor of the OTD program at Hawaii Pacific University. Her dedication to her community and to survivors of brain injury is evident through her service on the Hawaii State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board, where she is the only member representing occupational therapy. Dr. Keech's presentations to national and international groups further highlight her commitment to increasing clinician confidence and knowledge, ultimately benefiting survivors of brain injury and their families.