Congratulations to our 2025 Grant Recipients!

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is thrilled to announce the recipients of its 2025 Research Grants. This funding supports OT faculty and early career researchers in pursuing their OT research. 

2025 Implementation Research Grant Recipients

Jessica Edelstein, PhD, OTR/L
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago dba Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Complementary Implementation and De-Implementation Strategies to Close the Evidence-Practice Gap in Stroke Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Mentor: Miriam Rafferty, DPT, PhD, PT

Janell Pisegna, PhD, OTR/L, CSRS
Colorado State University
Multifaceted Implementation Program for Occupational Therapy Practitioners Addressing Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Home and Community Care
Mentor: Lisa Juckett, PhD, OTR/L, CHT

Brocha Stern, PhD, OTR
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Characterizing and Refining Implementation of a Personalized Patient-Reported Outcome Measure in Outpatient Care
Mentor: Natalie E. Leland, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA, FGSA

The Implementation Research Grant program is made possible through a generous donation from NBCOT.

2025 Intervention Research Grant Recipients

Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Community Driven Methods for Screening for Developmental Delay Among Infants and Toddlers with Sickle Cell Disease
Mentor: Allison King, MD, PhD, MPH

Vanessa Jewell, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Feasibility of the REAL-Fam to Support Diabetes Self-Management, Family Participation, and Child Health
Mentor: Beth Pyatak, PhD, OTR/L, CDCES, LRC, FAOTA

Jaewon Kang, PhD, MSOT
Colorado State University
Using Virtual Reality Technology to Increase Acceptance of Home Modifications for People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study
Mentor: Brett Fling, PhD

The Intervention Research Grant program receives donations from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the AOTF St. Catherine Challenge.  

These innovative research projects demonstrate the critical role of occupational therapy in addressing complex health challenges across the lifespan. By supporting the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions, AOTF continues to invest in the future of OT science and practice. Congratulations to the 2025 recipients for their commitment to advancing the profession and improving health outcomes in the communities we serve.