Si-Yi (Jessica) Chao, Ph.D., CRC is an assistant professor in Counselor Education program at University of Kentucky. She has worked for 10 years as a licensed physical therapist and has provided physical therapy, rehabilitation counseling, and case management for people with neurological impairments, people with acute and chronic pain conditions, people with cancer, people living with HIV/ AIDS, and people with working injuries. She was also a leader who supervised new employees and conducted internship training programs. She received her bachelor’s degree of physical therapy at China Medical University, the master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at Changhua University of Education in Taiwan, and the doctoral degree in the Rehabilitation Counseling and Administration program in the Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC).
Dr. Chao has served and integrated the resources for those requiring intensive care, inpatient services, and outpatient services in the hospital using a “holistic person” model related to medical, psychological, vocational, academic, and social aspects. She constructed a community-based rehabilitation program funded by Taiwan’s government. Program services included evaluation, treatment plan development, education and health promotion, psychological adaptation, coping strategies, advocacy, and resource integration for the customers and the community. Additionally, she provided outreach to nursing houses, community organizations, and schools for physical and mental health promotion.
Dr. Chao’s research interests include career development for school-age students, community-based rehabilitation application, quality of life and wellness promotion, supervisor education training, multicultural competences of human service professionals, and intersectional identity development. She has published eight peer-reviewed articles, three edited books, one translated book, and seven book chapters. Dr. Chao has been honored Dorothy Dykema Endowed Scholarship and National Association of Rehabilitation Leadership Award presented by Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.