René Padilla, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, is an Associate Professor in Creighton University’s Department of Occupational Therapy, where he has taught since 1994 and served in multiple academic leadership roles, including Chair of the Department, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions,  and Vice Provost for Global Engagement. An internationally recognized scholar, his research bridges occupational therapy, humanitarian economics, and disability-inclusive recovery, with a focus on the economic futures of forcibly displaced persons with disabilities. Dr. Padilla has authored and edited numerous books and peer-reviewed articles, contributed to global health and sustainability initiatives, and served as a consultant to organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organization. His teaching and scholarship integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals, environmental sustainability, and social justice into occupational therapy education and practice.