Dr. Maggie O'Haire on Human-Animal Interaction Research

Dr. Marguerite (Maggie) O’Haire is an internationally recognized Fulbright Scholar and the Associate Dean for Research. She earned her BA in Psychology from Vassar College in New York and her PhD in Psychology from The University of Queensland in Australia. Her research program focuses on the unique and pervasive ways humans interact with animals. Her findings have been instrumental in evaluating the effects of human-animal interactions, from research with household pets to highly trained service animals. She has received funding from three NIH institutes (NICHD, NCCIH, NCATS) to fund her human-animal interaction research. Check out an interview with Dr. O’Haire and NIH Medline Plus for her advice on becoming a human-animal interaction researcher. 

Dr. O’Haire’s research topics have included classroom-based, animal-assisted intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder and the effects of service dogs on veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and their families. In addition to her peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, her work has also been highlighted in over 1,000 media stories around the globe, including NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. Dr. O’Haire has won the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) Early Career Award and the Young Alumnae Achievement Award from Vassar College for her exceptional professional achievements. 

The State of the Science in Human-Animal Interaction Research – Where we are now and a Vision for the Future

This presentation will provide a top-line overview of the evidence in the field of Human-Animal Interaction, providing a developmental perspective and some indication of the strength and quality of the evidence. It will further explore the gaps in our knowledge and highlight important directions for future research, including quality science of all varieties, innovative approaches, next-generation ideas, and suggestions for interdisciplinary and international collaborations. It will envision the future regarding proposals for translating the growing evidence base into the most effective and efficient practices, focusing on animals as partners in the process deserving of a good life while consistently adhering to overarching and well-established best practice standards.

PTSD service dogs for military veterans: What are they, what do they do, and are they effective?

PTSD service dogs are becoming increasingly popular for military veterans with PTSD. But what exactly do they do, and are they effective at treating PTSD? Dr. Rodriguez will discuss her research in this field, discussing current findings on how PTSD service dogs benefit military veterans and their families.

Assisting the Animal in Animal-Assisted Interventions

When animal-assisted intervention (AAI) aims to achieve positive effects for the human participant, it is easy to overlook the impact on the animal itself. Animal welfare research in AAI explores the benefits and consequences of these human-animal interactions.