Valerie Keffala
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa
Papers
3
Total Citations
81
H-Index
2
About
Valerie Keffala is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of behavioral psychology, digital health, and orthopedic trauma recovery. Her work centers on leveraging mobile technology to deliver Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—a pragmatic approach that helps patients reduce avoidable pain and improve psychological flexibility. Keffala’s most impactful contribution is her landmark 2020 randomized controlled trial, cited 64 times, which demonstrated that ACT delivered via an automated mobile phone messaging robot significantly decreased postoperative opioid use in orthopedic trauma patients. This study not only offers a scalable, low-cost intervention for the opioid crisis but also redefines how psychological support can be integrated into surgical recovery. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she extended this approach to stabilize hip and knee function, showing that automated messaging can maintain patient outcomes when in-person care is disrupted. By proving that a simple text-based robot can deliver effective therapy, Keffala has opened new avenues for accessible mental health interventions in surgical settings, with profound implications for pain management and rehabilitation. Her work stands as a model for using technology to bridge gaps in traditional healthcare.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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