Vanessa Jewell, PhD, is an associate professor in the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the UNC School of Medicine. Her research focuses on improving health care access for rural communities, particularly families with children who have type 1 diabetes. Jewell uses telehealth and community‑engaged research to develop programs that better support patients and their families.
Jewell discovered occupational therapy in 10th grade when a school project led her to shadow an occupational therapist at a facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Drawn to the field’s focus on helping people live more independently and engage in meaningful activities, she continued shadowing therapists through high school and college. By her second year of college, she knew occupational therapy was the career she wanted to pursue.
Before coming to UNC, Jewell spent about 10 years working at Creighton University. During that time, she held an administrative role and continued developing her research. As her research expanded, she sought a position at UNC to leverage the university’s renowned expertise in diabetes and community-engaged research. She was drawn to UNC’s collaborative environment, aiming to partner with leading experts (both academic and community) to further the impact of her work.
Much of Jewell’s research centers on families of children with type 1 diabetes, especially those living in rural communities where access to health care is often limited. She notes that these families frequently face significant barriers to receiving timely, consistent support. Her commitment to addressing these gaps is also personal—having grown up in rural Iowa; Jewell is driven to find creative, practical solutions for underserved populations.
Jewell is a co-principal investigator in a newly funded project that combines occupational therapy and music therapy through telehealth. The study, “Telehealth music therapy for adults with endocrine system based autoimmune disease and a depressive disorder: An intervention development study,” will develop and test an eight-week telehealth music therapy intervention for adults living with autoimmune or endocrine disorders, including diabetes, who also experience depression or anxiety. The project is funded through the Music Man Foundation’s Meredith Wilson Pilot Research Program.
Jewell is collaborating on the project with Melody Schwantes, a music therapist at Appalachian State University. The two researchers bring different areas of expertise to the project. Jewell contributes experience in community-engaged research, telehealth, and study design, while Schwantes leads the music therapy component and has adapted the therapeutic intervention used in the study.
The study will take place in North Carolina and will be delivered entirely through telehealth. Jewell said the project will explore how creative therapies like music therapy can improve behavioral and psychosocial outcomes for people managing chronic conditions.
Jewell is also leading the REAL-Fam study, which stands for “Resilient, Empowered, Active Living with Diabetes.” The framework was originally developed for young adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes living in urban areas. Jewell and her team have since adapted the program to support families in rural communities who have young children, ages 2 to 11, living with type 1 diabetes.
The study plans to recruit 16 families, with half participating in the telehealth occupational therapy intervention and half placed in a comparison group. Families in the intervention group take part in occupational therapy sessions delivered over telehealth during a 12-week period, while the comparison group receives periodic check-ins.
Jewell said one unique aspect of the program is that it focuses on the entire family rather than only the child living with the diagnosis. Previous research has shown that when a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it can lead to major lifestyle changes for the entire household. Because of this, the intervention aims to support family routines, diabetes management, and caregiver well-being.
Across her research projects, community partnerships remain central to Jewell’s work. She collaborates with families, caregivers, and community organizations to ensure her research reflects the real needs of rural communities. Through telehealth and family-centered interventions, Jewell hopes to expand access to care and improve the daily lives of families managing type 1 diabetes.