2025
The 2025 awards were presented in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 5, during the AOTF/AOTA Awards Conference.
ACADEMY OF RESEARCH
Batya Engel-Yeger, PhD, Professor, Dean of Students, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Susan Rosalie Magasi, PhD, MS, BScO, BSc, FACRM, Head and Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Trudy Mallinson, PhD, OTR/L, FACRM, FAOTA, NZROT, Associate Dean for Health Sciences Research, Professor of Clinical Research and Leadership, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
Elizabeth A. Pfeiffer, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Professor, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
AOTF EARLY CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Jennifer Weaver, PhD, OTR/L, CBIS, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
AOTF MID-CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Janet Njelesani, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy New York University, New York, NY
AOTF A. JEAN AYRES AWARD
Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Owner/Director of Clinical Operations, Piller Child Development, LLC, Phoenix, AZ
AOTF VIRGINIA SCARDINA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Leah Stein Duker, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Los Angeles, CA
NEW! LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Wendy Coster, PhD, OT, OTR, FAOTA, Professor Emerita, Occupational Therapy, Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation, Boston, MA
FRED SAMMONS VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD
Mary Lawlor, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Chair of Research & Professor, Joint Appointment with The Keck School of Medicine of USC Department of Pediatrics, Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS, CEO, Therapist, Consultant, Advocate, Technology Entrepreneur, Global Interventions for Therapy Services Institute, LLC
Kathleen Lyons, ScD, OTR/L, Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
Antoinette Shaw, OTR, Program Director, OTA Program, Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Pamela Talero Cabrejo, OTD, BSOT (Col), OTR/L, CPAM, COT, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
LEADERSHIP SERVICE COMMENDATION
Donald Fogelberg, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Clare Guiffrida, PhD, MS, OTR/L, C/NDT, FAOTA, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rush University Medical Center, Evanston, IL
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS, CEO, Therapist, Consultant, Advocate, Technology Entrepreneur, Global Interventions for Therapy Services Institute, LLC
CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
Ana Allegretti, PhD, OTR, ATP, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Foundation, Captstone Coordinator, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
Kristen Bacon, OTD, OTR/L, Chair, Applied Health and Wellness, Assistant Professor, Program Director, Keuka College, Keuka Park, NY
Renee Causey - Upton, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, CLA, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY
Felicia Chew, MS, OTR/L, FNAP, Adjunct Professor, Occupation Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Kean University, Rutgers University Stockton University, Mount Royal, NJ
Winifred Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, Distinguished Professor, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri Health, Columbia, MO
Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Assistant Professor, Program Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS, CEO, Therapist, Consultant, Advocate, Technology Entrepreneur, Global Interventions for Therapy Services Institute, LLC
Bonita Kraft, Retired Clinical OT, Mental Health, Camarillo, CA
Trudy Mallinson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Dean, Health Sciences Research, Professor, Clinical Research and Leadership Professor, Health, Human Function and Rehabilitation Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
Denise Nepveux, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Duke University, Durham, NC
Forrest Pendleton, Palo Alto, CA
Timothy Reistetter, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, Associate Dean of Research, School of Health Professions, Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cristina Reyes Smith, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Natasha Smet, OTD, OTR/L, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Adjunct Clinical Professor, National American University, Assistant Clinical Professor, Hybrid Program, Site Coordinator, Phoenix Bioscience Core, Phoenix, AZ
Pamela Talero Cabrejo, OTD, BSOT (Col), OTR/L, CPAM, COT, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
2024
Awards & Recognitions Ceremony at AOTA INSPIRE Conference, Saturday, March 23, 2024.
ACADEMY OF RESEARCH
Ganesh M. Babulal, PhD, OTD, MSCI, MOT, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Lindy Clemson, PhD, MAppSc (Research), BAppSc (OT), Dip OT, FOTARA, Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sydney School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney Sydney, Australia
Roberta Gittens Pineda, PhD, OTR/L, CNT, Associate Professor, Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California Los Angeles, Calif.
AOTF/AOTA PRESIDENTS' COMMENDATION IN HONOR OF WILMA L. WEST
Karen Jacobs, OT, EdD, OTR, CPE, FAOTA, Associate Dean of Digital Learning & Innovation, Program Director of the post-professional doctorate in OT program & Clinical Professor at Boston University's Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts
AOTF EARLY CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Adam R. Kinney, PhD, OTR/L, Research Health Science Specialist, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, & Clinical Center (MIRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs
AOTF MID-CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Sook-Lei Liew, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
AOTF A. JEAN AYRES AWARD
Batya Engel-Yeger, PhD, OT, Professor, Social Welfare and Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
AOTF VIRGINIA SCARDINA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Shelly J. Lane, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Professor & Academic Program Director, Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
FRED SAMMONS VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD
Clare Giuffrida, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, C/NDT, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Rush University Medical Center, Evanston, IL
AOTF MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
Dagny Fidler, PhD, Assistant Academic Coordinator, Adjunct Professor, Morningside University, Des Moines, IA
Stephen M. Shore, EdD, Clinical Associate Professor, The School of Education Ruth S. Ammon College of Education & Health Sciences, Adelphia University, Garden City, NY
AOTF LEADERSHIP SERVICE COMMENDATION
Simone V. Gill, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD), Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University, Boston, MA
AOTF PI THETA EPSILON MARY J. BRIDLE FIRST RESEARCH
Cortney Leverentz, OTD, MS, OTR/L, CLT, Creighton University (Alpha Iota)
2023
Awards & Recognitions Ceremony at AOTA INSPIRE Conference, Saturday, April 22, 4:30 pm–6:00 pm CT, Reception 6:00 pm–7:30 pm CT.
ACADEMY OF RESEARCH
Carolyn Unsworth, PhD, BAppSci (OT), GCTE, OTR, MRCOT, FOTARA, Professor, Discipline Lead Occupational Therapy Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Victoria, Australia
Sook-Lei Liew, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor; Director, Neural Plasticity and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory; Chair, ENIGMA Stroke Recovery Working Group; Co-Director, USC SMART-VR Center; Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Biomedical Engineering, and Neurology USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
AOTF EARLY CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Lisa Juckett, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, Assistant Professor, Division of Occupational Therapy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
AOTF MID-CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Elizabeth Pyatak, PhD, OTR/L, CDCES, FAOTA, Director of the Lifestyle Redesign® Knowledge Mobilization Initiative, and Associate Professor, Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
FRED SAMMONS VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD
Bonita Kraft, retired occupational therapist practicing in behavioral health focusing on schizophrenia, psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, and other personality disorders, Camarillo, California
AOTF A. JEAN AYRES AWARD
Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Owner, President, TMB Occupational Therapy Resources, Inc. Norristown, Pennsylvania
AOTF VIRGINIA SCARDINA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Erna Imperatore Blanche, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
AOTF MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
Felicia Chew, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, FNAP, President, Integrity Health Solutions, Mount Royal, New Jersey
Donald Fogelberg, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington Seattle, Washington
Susan Magasi PhD, MS, BScOT, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy; Associate Professor, Disability and Human Development; Associate Head, Occupational Therapy, Department of Occupational Therapy and Disability Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Kristie Patten, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor of Occupational Therapy Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, New York
AOTF LEADERSHIP SERVICE COMMENDATION
Tracey Ellis, OTR/L, MPH, CEO & Founder, International Diagnostic Solutions, Inc. and Ellis Therapeutic Consultant, Inc. Washington, District of Columbia
Elizabeth Pfeiffer, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; Director of the REACH Lab, Temple University
AOTF PI THETA EPSILON MARY J. BRIDLE FIRST RESEARCH
Sarah Synek, OTD, OTR/L, Creighton University, Occupational Therapist at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, Lincoln, Nebraska. Research Title: The Effectiveness of Upper Extremity Orthotic Interventions on Functional Participation for Adults with Stroke: A Systematic Review