Professor
MGH Institute of Health Professions
Kathleen Lyons, ScD, OTR/L is a rehabilitation scientist and occupational therapist whose research is focused on developing the evidence base for cancer rehabilitation and psycho-oncology. Her primary area of interest is in developing and testing participant-directed interventions that are tailored to address individual priorities and needs. Dr. Lyons uses both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore and improve the functional recovery and quality of life of adult cancer survivors. Her research has been funded by the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. Dr. Lyons was inducted into the Academy of Research of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation in 2021 in recognition of sustained contributions to science of occupational therapy.
Dr. Lyons joined IHP in 2021 to establish the Cancer Rehabilitation (CaRe) Lab. The mission of the CaRe Lab is to advance knowledge and clinical practice related to reducing disability and improving the functional well-being and quality of life of individuals living with and beyond cancer. Our interprofessional team is interested in fostering evidence-based practice and utilizing practice-based evidence to stimulate productive collaborations between scientists and practitioners.
Dr. Lyons has mentored graduate students and junior faculty in the disciplines of occupational therapy, nursing, psychology, medicine, and physical therapy. She is passionate about teaching students to standardize, deliver, and evaluate rehabilitation interventions using mixed methods and designs that are informed by community-engaged methods and implementation science. She is committed to a team science model and has led multi-site research teams of over 20 people.
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