2025 AOTF Research Awards: Honoring Achievements and Commitment in OT

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is dedicated to advancing the science of occupational therapy through research, innovation, and service. Every year, AOTF recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the profession through various prestigious awards. These honors highlight occupational therapy researchers' and practitioners' dedication, leadership, and impact worldwide.

Diverse Honors for Outstanding Contributions

The Academy of Research in Occupational Therapy, established in 1983, remains one of the highest recognitions in the field. Inductees are selected based on their exemplary, distinguished, and sustained contributions to occupational therapy research. The 2025 inductees include:

• Batya Engel-Yeger, PhD, OT,  Professor, Dean of Students, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
• Susan R. 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's award recognition program celebrates the breadth of contributions professionals bring to occupational therapy research. These awards are unique in recognizing contributions across the entire career span, from early-career promise to lifetime achievement. Beyond general research excellence, AOTF also honors specialized expertise in sensory processing (A. Jean Ayres Award) and acknowledges the vital role of service and financial support in advancing the field.

We proudly introduce the 2025 recipients of these prestigious awards:

NEW! Lifetime Achievement Award – Honoring individuals who have significantly impacted OT research and made major service-based and financial contributions to AOTF.

• Wendy Coster, PhD, OT, OTR, FAOTA, Professor Emerita, Occupational Therapy, Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation, Boston, MA 

AOTF Early Career Research Excellence Award – Recognizing emerging researchers making significant strides in advancing knowledge.

• Jennifer Weaver, PhD, OTR/L, CBIS, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

AOTF Mid-Career Research Excellence Award – Honoring researchers who have demonstrated sustained contributions to the field. 

• Janet Njelesani, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy New York University, New York, NY

AOTF A. Jean Ayres Award – Supporting individuals committed to research development in sensory processing and theory testing.

• Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Owner/Director of Clinical Operations, Piller Child Development, LLC, Phoenix, AZ

AOTF Virginia Scardina Award of Excellence – Recognizing clinicians engaged in research that advances brain-behavior relationships and sensory processing disorders. 

• Leah Stein Duker, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Los Angeles, CA

See the complete archive of award recipients, including our awards and honors for leadership and service.

Join Us in Celebrating Excellence
The 2025 AOTF awardees will be honored at the AOTF/AOTA Ceremony during the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in Philadelphia, PA, on April 5, 2025,
We invite you to celebrate these incredible individuals and their contributions to the field. Together, we can continue to advance occupational therapy research and practice through meaningful support and recognition.

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