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.

#AOTFAwards #OTResearch #AOTAInspire25 #AcademyofResearch #SupportOTResearch

Every year, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) award recognition program celebrates the breadth of contributions professionals bring to occupational therapy research. This includes honoring our fantastic volunteers who have given their time and expertise to support the Foundation and our mission.

Congratulations to our 2025 Awards and Honors for Leadership and Service recipients:

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, 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, FAOTA, Mount Royal, NJ
Winifred Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, Distinguished Professor, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri Health, Columbia, MO
Catherine Hoyt, 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

The 2025 AOTF Leadership and Service recipients will be honored at the AOTF VIP Reception in conjunction with the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in Philadelphia, PA, on April 3, 2025.
See the complete archive of award recipients, including our 2025 AOTF OT Research Awardees.

How to Become Involved:

• Become a volunteer for AOTF and partner in our mission to build evidence to improve practice and health. 
• Donate and/or fundraise to support evidence-based research.
• Sponsor a grant, award, scholarship, or event.
• Become an AOTF Ambassador.

Together, we can continue to advance occupational therapy research and practice through meaningful support and recognition.

#AOTFAwards #OTResearch #SupportOTResearch #Volunteer