News · MIT Technology Review
Brenda Schafer Kennedy, SM ’93, knows that sometimes the best medicine comes with four legs and fur
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 outlet. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
“The need is enormous: One in four people in the US has a disability.
Key facts
- Brenda Schafer Kennedy, SM ’93, knows that sometimes the best medicine comes with four legs and fur
- To date, it’s paired more than 7,000 dogs with people in need
- An animal lover since childhood, Kennedy earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University before coming to MIT for her master’s in biology
- Kennedy also takes the lead in developing tech to support Canine Companions’ work
Summary
Brenda Schafer Kennedy, SM ’93, knows that sometimes the best medicine comes with four legs and fur. While service dogs might be best known for guiding the blind, Canine Companions trains dogs to do such things as open doors for wheelchair users or alert deaf people to doorbells, fire alarms, and other key sounds. It’s critical to ensure that every service dog placed is healthy, and Kennedy—a veterinarian—spearheads the organization’s efforts to breed dogs with that in mind. Kennedy also takes the lead in developing tech to support Canine Companions’ work.