We are pleased to announce that Mary Jackson, OTR/L, OTD, MS, a 2026 graduate of the T32 Program on Integrative Medicine (PIM), has been selected to receive the Eastern North Carolina and Southern Virginia RegIonal Stroke trIal cONsortium (ENVISION) Fellowship.
The ENVISION Fellowship is a joint collaboration between Duke University and the University of North Carolina Department of Neurology and is funded through the NIH Regional Coordinating Center for NINDS StrokeNet, a national network dedicated to advancing stroke-related clinical trials. Jackson is the first fellow affiliated with UNC to be selected for this program.
As part of the fellowship, Jackson will lead a research project titled, “Feasibility of a Modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (mMBSR) Program Initiated in Inpatient Rehabilitation After Stroke.” The study will evaluate whether introducing mindfulness-based stress reduction during inpatient rehabilitation, and continuing the intervention after discharge, helps prevent post-stroke depression and improve recovery outcomes.
Jackson completed her postdoctoral training as a T32 research fellow in the Program on Integrative Medicine from 2023 to 2026. She also earned a Master of Science in Clinical Research through the Department of Epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in May 2026. In addition to her research training, Jackson brings several years of clinical experience in outpatient neurological rehabilitation and holds a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy.
“Post-stroke depression is a common challenge people may face after a stroke, and it can seriously affect their ability to do the things they need and want to do. Mindfulness has been shown to help reduce depression after a stroke, but it has never been introduced as early as inpatient rehab,” says Jackson. “I’m hopeful that bringing mindfulness into this setting can meet patients at a critical moment, helping them earlier on in their recovery while building skills they can carry with them for life.”
Congratulations to Mary Jackson on this outstanding achievement and on her continued contributions to improving the lives of individuals recovering from stroke.