AI, Mental Health, and the Future of Care: How Technology Is Reshaping Mental Health Care

AI, Mental Health, and the Future of Care: How Technology Is Reshaping Mental Health Care

In this episode of Finding Strength: The Spaulding Rehabilitation Podcast, we explore one of the most pressing questions in modern medicine: how artificial intelligence is reshaping mental health care. Joining the conversation is Dr. Dan Barron, a pain physician and psychiatrist who discusses his work on a national steering committee bringing together voices on mental healthcare and AI. Also at the table are Jan Shapiro, a designer and patient advocate whose lived experience gives a personal dimension to the discussion, and Dr. Chris Carter, a psychologist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital who brings a grounded clinical perspective to AI's promise and risks. Together, they examine what AI tools are getting right, where caution is still warranted, and what it means to use technology not as a replacement for human connection, but as a complement to it. Episode Guests Chris Carter, PsyD has been a psychologist specializing in rehabilitation and brain injury for over 40 years. He has been at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital since 2002 working primarily as the primary psychologist on the inpatient brain injury unit. He is an instructor at the Harvard Medical School. He currently works with individuals and their families recovering from traumatic injury or living with a disability in the outpatient clinic at Spaulding Charlestown.  Dr. Daniel Barron, MD, PhD is Director of the Pain Intervention and Digital Research Program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital and is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is an interventional pain physician and psychiatrist whose research, funded by the National Institute on Aging, focuses on developing digital markers of clinically relevant outcomes. He is author of Reading Our Minds: The Rise of Big Data Psychiatry and has written for The Wall Street Journal, TIME, and Scientific American.  Jan Shapiro is a designer with decades of experience spanning publishing, fashion, healthcare, and rare disease, including UI work with the National Institutes of Health. She is also a former patient at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, where she recovered from spinal surgery and found support through her work with Dr. Chris Carter. A lifelong artist and advocate for emotional self-awareness, Jan has more recently become an engaged explorer of AI tools, using them for personal reflection, health accountability, and creative brainstorming.  Episode Article AI and Mental Health Care: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities [https://www.amacad.org/publication/artificial-intelligence-ai-mental-health-care-issues]   If you are interested in one of the articles highlighted on the show, but are having trouble accessing it, please reach out to us at SRNOutcomesCenter@partners.org [SRNOutcomesCenter@partners.org].  Subscribe to Finding Strength Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/19uf6qxbqoAZKoqguy9gQ9?si=itVSivxFQzCU2OAaojKe2Q] | iHeartRadio [https://iheart.com/podcast/109124377/] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-strength-the-spaulding-rehabilitation-podcast/id1672657817]   Credits Shonali Gaudino, OT, Host, Producer Ellyn Pier, MPH, Host, Producer Chuck Clough, Editor Mary Slavin, PhD, Executive Producer This production is a collaboration between, and partially funded by, the Rehabilitation Outcomes Center at Spaulding [https://spauldingrehab.org/research/programs-labs/rehabilitation-outcomes-center] and our Model Systems: the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System [https://www.bhbims.org/] (NIDILRR Award #90DPBU0008), the Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System [https://spauldingrehab.org/research/programs-labs/traumatic-brain-injury] (NIDILRR Award #90DPTB0027-01-01), and the Spaulding New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Model System Center [https://www.snerscic.org/] (NIDILRR Award #90SIM0017-01-00).

Heart Health After Brain Injury: The Cardiovascular Impacts of TBI

In this episode, we down with Dr. Shanti Pinto, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, and Ralph Good, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor, to discuss the long-term health implications of TBI. Dr. Pinto presents her systematic review and meta-analysis examining the elevated risks of cardiovascular conditions including heart disease, hypertension, and heart failure in people with TBI. Together, the conversation highlights both the current research landscape and the lived experience of TBI as a chronic health condition. Episode Guests Shanti Pinto, MD, MSCS is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and a physician-scientist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Her research, funded by NINDS and NIDILRR, investigates the long-term medical effects of traumatic brain injury, especially its connection to increased cardiovascular risk and mechanisms underlying these outcomes. Ralph Good is a retired clinical trials safety specialist based in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2012, he sustained a traumatic brain injury when he and his wife Sharon were rear-ended while stopped at a red light. Thirteen years later, Ralph actively advocates for traumatic brain injury survivors, sharing his recovery experiences and participating in rehabilitation research to advance the therapeutic approaches that contributed to his progress. Episode Article The Association Between Traumatic Brain Injury and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41851058/] If you are interested in one of the articles highlighted on the show, but are having trouble accessing it, please reach out to us at SRNOutcomesCenter@partners.org [SRNOutcomesCenter@partners.org].  Subscribe to Finding Strength Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/19uf6qxbqoAZKoqguy9gQ9?si=itVSivxFQzCU2OAaojKe2Q] | iHeartRadio [https://iheart.com/podcast/109124377/] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-strength-the-spaulding-rehabilitation-podcast/id1672657817]   Credits Shonali Gaudino, OT, Host, Producer Ellyn Pier, MPH, Host, Producer, Editor Mary Slavin, PhD, Executive Producer This production is a collaboration between, and partially funded by, the Rehabilitation Outcomes Center at Spaulding [https://spauldingrehab.org/research/programs-labs/rehabilitation-outcomes-center] and our Model Systems: the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System [https://www.bhbims.org/] (NIDILRR Award #90DPBU0008), the Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System [https://spauldingrehab.org/research/programs-labs/traumatic-brain-injury] (NIDILRR Award #90DPTB0027-01-01), and the Spaulding New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Model System Center [https://www.snerscic.org/] (NIDILRR Award #90SIM0017-01-00).

Aging, Osteoarthritis, and Pain: How Menopause Shapes Women’s Musculoskeletal Health

Featuring expert perspectives from Drs. Fabrisia Ambrosio and Gabrielle Gilmer, together with Elise Sargent’s first-hand account, this episode integrates current research on menopause biology and knee osteoarthritis with the tangible effects of joint pain in women. This episode examines the often-overlooked relationship between menopause and joint discomfort, highlighting the intersection of biological mechanisms, scientific inquiry, and lived experience in the context of women's osteoarthritis. Fabrisia Ambrosio, PhD is the Atlantic Charter Director of the Discovery Center for Musculoskeletal Recovery at the Schoen Adams Research Institute and an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. Her translational research focuses on developing innovative strategies to improve tissue healing and functional recovery by leveraging mechanical signals to enhance endogenous and donor stem cell function following injury or disease. An international leader in regenerative rehabilitation, she directs the NIH-funded Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research & Training (AR3T) and founded the International Consortium and Annual Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation. Gabrielle Gilmer, PhD is a trainee in the MD/PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with a research focus at the intersection of women’s health and orthopedic surgery. She completed her PhD in 2024 in Dr. Fabrisia Ambrosio’s lab at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, where her doctoral thesis focused on examining how menopause impacts knee osteoarthritis. Her work spans preclinical models to human clinical trials, with a particular emphasis on how sex and gender influence musculoskeletal pathology and outcomes. She has published in high-impact journals on aging, osteoarthritis, and musculoskeletal health and is planning to pursue orthopedic surgery residency this upcoming year.   Elise Sargent is a longtime advocate for osteoarthritis, having spent more than three decades navigating life with the condition while remaining highly active as a dancer, golfer, and fitness enthusiast. She brings a patient-centered perspective shaped by her journey of adaptation, self-advocacy, and engagement with the healthcare system, as well as her volunteer leadership with the Arthritis Foundation, including organizing and fundraising for the Boston Walk to Cure Arthritis. Professionally, Elise is a retired software developer and senior engineering leader who now mentors and teaches leadership skills and project management to graduate and PhD students at Northeastern University.   Episode Resources Episode Articles & Related Research Menopause-induced 17β-estradiol and progesterone loss increases senescence markers, matrix disassembly and degeneration in mouse cartilage⁠ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39820791/] Advocacy, Education, & Community Organizations * Arthritis Foundation [https://www.arthritis.org/] * Walk [https://events.arthritis.org/wtcabostonma] to Cure Arthritis 2026 – Boston, MA News & Services MGB News Release https://spauldingrehab.org/about/news/study-identifies-mechanism-underlying-increased-osteoarthritis-risk-in-postmenopausal-females [https://spauldingrehab.org/about/news/study-identifies-mechanism-underlying-increased-osteoarthritis-risk-in-postmenopausal-females] If you are interested in one of the articles highlighted on the show, but are having trouble accessing it, please reach out to us at SRNOutcomesCenter@partners.org [SRNOutcomesCenter@partners.org].   Subscribe to Finding Strength Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/19uf6qxbqoAZKoqguy9gQ9?si=itVSivxFQzCU2OAaojKe2Q] | iHeartRadio [https://iheart.com/podcast/109124377/] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-strength-the-spaulding-rehabilitation-podcast/id1672657817] | Google Podcasts [https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjc0ZmI2NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw]   Credits Shonali Gaudino, OT, Host, Producer, Co-Creator Ellyn Pier, MPH, Producer, Co-Host Chuck Clough, Editor Mary Slavin, Executive Producer This production is a collaboration between, and partially funded by, the Rehabilitation Outcomes Center at Spaulding [https://spauldingrehab.org/research/programs-labs/rehabilitation-outcomes-center] and our Model Systems: the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System [https://www.bhbims.org/] (NIDILRR Award #90DPBU0008), the Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System [https://spauldingrehab.org/research/programs-labs/traumatic-brain-injury] (NIDILRR Award #90DPTB0027-01-01), and the Spaulding New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Model System Center [https://www.snerscic.org/] (NIDILRR Award #90SIM0017-01-00).

Synapse National: Recruiting Physiatry’s Next Generation

Episode Description: This episode explores Synapse National, a nonprofit dedicated to helping college students broaden social support networks for individuals affected by brain injury. Episode Guests: Brett Bullington Brett is a tech executive and investor and a longtime Synapse community member at Stanford who sustained a severe brain injury in 2012. He has since been an active mentor and volunteer patient educator. He spends his time walking, connecting with others, and sharing candid insights to support fellow survivors and train future healthcare providers. Jessica Lo  Jessica Lo is a graduate of Boston University School of Medicine and is now a resident in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington. She founded the Synapse chapter at the University of Washington when she was an undergraduate and remains a mentor for newer chapter leads. She is passionate about advocacy and is planning to pursue training in physical medicine and rehabilitation to care for people with brain injuries. Alissa Totman, MD, MPH Alissa Totman, MD, MPH, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician specializing in brain injury medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. She received her medical degree from the Stanford School of Medicine, completed her residency in PM&R at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital / Harvard Medical School, and completed her fellowship in brain injury medicine at UPMC. She is board-certified in PM&R and brain injury medicine. Her clinical focus is on providing brain injury care across the continuum, beginning with early multidisciplinary rehabilitation in the acute care setting. She provides care as a consultant at UPMC Presbyterian and has an outpatient practice dedicated to brain injury and spasticity management. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Synapse National, an organization dedicated to expanding social support for individuals with brain injury and inspiring the next generation of leaders in the field. Episode Resources:  Episode Articles & Related Research Jumreornvong, O., Haque, A., Tabacof, L., Bolds, A., Sanchez, A., Martinez, C. I., Verduzco-Gutierrez, M., & Escalon, M. X. (2022). Awareness of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as a Specialty Among US Medical Students. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 101(7 Suppl 1), S45–S50. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001822 [https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001822]   Yang, A. J., Haring, R. S., Swenson, T. L., & Jain, N. B. (2021). Factors Influencing Fellowship Decision Making During Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 100(4), 396–401. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001608 [https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001608] Advocacy, Education, & Community Organizations ·       Home | Synapse National [https://synapsenational.wixsite.com/synapse] ·       Brett's Recovery (tumblr.com) [https://brettsrecovery.tumblr.com/] Synapse in the News  ·       Stanford Daily [https://stanforddaily.com/2018/06/07/synapse/] ·       New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/10/education/learning/bulletin-board.html]   If you are interested in one of the articles highlighted on the show, but are having trouble accessing it, please reach out to us at SRNOutcomesCenter@partners.org [SRNOutcomesCenter@partners.org]. Credits  Shonali Gaudino, OT, Host, Producer Chuck Clough, Editor Mary Slavin, PhD, Executive Producer This production is a collaboration between, and partially funded by, the Rehabilitation Outcomes Center at Spaulding [https://spauldingrehab.org/research/programs-labs/rehabilitation-outcomes-center] and our Model Systems: the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System [https://www.bhbims.org/] (NIDILRR Award #90DPBU0008), the Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System [https://spauldingrehab.org/research/programs-labs/traumatic-brain-injury] (NIDILRR Award #90DPTB0027-01-01), and the Spaulding New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Model System Center [https://www.snerscic.org/] (NIDILRR Award #90SIM0017-01-00).

Systems Science and the Complex Healthcare Journey of People with Aphasia

In this special episode honoring the close of National Aphasia Awareness Month, we share a powerful personal story of stroke and aphasia. Joined by Paul and Yasmèn Guidoboni, along with speech-language pathologist Olivia Gampel and systems science expert Dr. Carla Hendricks, we explore the complex journey faced by people with aphasia, their care partners, and the clinicians who support them.