Gary Kielhofner*, DrPH, OTR, FAOTA

1984

At the time of his death in 2010, Dr. Kielhofner was Professor and Wade-Meyer Chair,  Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago.  Dr. Kielhofner is, of course, almost synonymous with his theoretical model -- the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO). In their tribute to Dr. Kielhofner, Drs. Braveman, Fisher, Suarez-Balcazar wrote the following (Braveman, Fisher, Suarez-Balcazar, 2010. p. 829):

In 1980, Gary and Janice Burke introduced a theoretical model under the mentorship of Mary Reilly to fill a gap in understanding and addressing clients with disabilities' psychosocial challenges in the rehabilitation process (Kielhofner & Burke, 1980). This groundbreaking theory, the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), is currently the most widely used theory in occupational therapy research and practice. This model presented practitioners with a conceptual framework and practical tools to guide their assessment and reasoning process, effect change, and measure the impact of their intervention. It guides occupational therapy practitioners to consider the personal values and interests, roles and responsibilities, and environmental contexts of each client. The model also provided a foundation for program development and research initiatives. Gary's book, Model of Human Occupation: Theory and Application, now in its fourth edition, has served to educate generations of occupational therapy students (Kielhofner, 2008). More than 500 articles, books, and chapters have reported research, case studies, intervention approaches, and programs based on MOHO.

In 2011, Dr. Kielhofner, received the American Occupational Therapy Association's Award of Merit (posthumously). AOTA created the The Gary Kielhofner Emerging Leader Award and awarded it for the first time in 2014 to Rachel Dargatz. AOTF created The Gary W. Kielhofner Graduate Fellowship in Occupational Therapy to also further his impact. Dr. Kielhofner was named one of the 100 Influential People in Occupational Therapy by AOTA.

REFERENCES

Braveman, B., Fisher, G., & Suarez-Balcazar, Y. (2010). IN MEMORIAM-- "Achieving the ordinary things": a tribute to Gary Kielhofner. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64, 828-831.  

Kielhofner, G.  (2008). Model of Human Occupation: Theory and application.  (4th Ed.)  Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Kielhofner, G. (1980). A Model of Human Occupation, Part 2. Ontogenesis from the perspective of temporal adaptation. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34, 657-663.

Kielhofner, G. (1980). A Model of Human Occupation, Part 3, Benign and vicious cycles. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34, 731-737.  

Kielhofner, G & Burke, JP. (1980). A Model of Human Occupation, Part 1. Conceptual framework and content. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34, (9), 572-581.  

Kielhofner, G, Burke, JP & Igi, CH. (1980). A Model of Human Occupation, Part 4. Assessment and intervention. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34, 777-788.  

Lee, SW, Kielhofner, G, Morley, M, Heasman, D, Garnham, M, Willis, S & Taylor, RR. (2012). Impact of using the Model of Human Occupation: a survey of occupational therapy mental health practitioners' perceptions. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 19, (5), 450-456.  

Lee, SW, Morley, M, Taylor, RR, Kielhofner, G, Garnham, M, Heasman, D & Forsyth, K. (2011). The development of care pathways and packages in mental health based on the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74, (6), 284-294.

Taylor, R. R., O'Brien, J., Kielhofner, G., Lee, S. W., Katz, B., & Mears, C. (2010). The occupational and quality of life consequences of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in young people. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73, 524-530.