Every year, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) bestows awards and honors to individuals that contribute time, energy, and support to the fulfillment of the AOTF mission- advancing the science of occupational therapy. The awards are presented annually at the AOTA/AOTF Awards Ceremony during the AOTA Annual Conference. 

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, Austrailia
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 Synak, 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

* Select awards with be presented at the AOTF/AOTA 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, others will be recognized at the AOTF VIP Reception.

Learn More

AOTF strategic planning workgroup seeks your assistance in the planning of the 2024 `Connecting OT Researchers & Practitioners AOTA Conference Workshop' to promote knowledge interaction between occupational therapy (OT) researchers and clinicians. 
 
Help us identify OT researchers and clinicians who would be interested in meeting at the 2023 AOTA Conference to discuss, set objectives and agenda for the 2024 workshop. An abstract will be submitted for the `Connecting OT Researchers & Practitioners AOTA Conference Workshop' to be held at the 2024 AOTA conference as a result of this planning meeting. Complete this brief survey by March 10, 2023 if you are interested in participating or would like to recommend another OT.

Eligibility for Participant: 

• Is an OT (researcher or clinician) 
• Is planning to attend the 2023 AOTA conference in-person
• Able to attend Planning Meeting at 2023 AOTA Conference: 9 a.m.-10:45 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2023. 

Nedra Gillette Endowed Research Fellowship
Cristin M. Holland, PhD, OTR/L, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Dominique Como, PhD, EdM, OTR/L, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Gary Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship
Amy McArthur, PhD Candidate, MS, OTR/L, University of Illinois 

Bonita Kraft Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Scholarship
Clarissa Mireau, PhD Candidate, MA, OTR/L, TPS, Nova Southeastern University 
Occupational Therapy

Stay tuned for the announcement of our remaining grant recipients! 

AOTF is sad to inform our community of the passing of Azela Gohl Giese of Roseville, Minnesota. Azela was an occupational therapy professor at St. Catherine University from 1962-1998. She received her BSOT from the school in 1959. During her 3 decades at St. Catherine, Azela served as the department chair and academic fieldwork coordinator as well secured an array of federal and foundation grants to provide stipends for disadvantaged students, advance new technologies in OT and support community-based fieldwork initiatives. She also served 2 terms as the President of the Minnesota OT Association. Upon her retirement in 1998, Azela was named a fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association and was awarded the title of Professor Emerita at St. Catherine’s.

Azela was a long-time supporter of AOTF, making gifts for over 30 years to support our work and especially her school through the St. Catherine Challenge.

A memorial service for Azela will be held at St. Rose of Lima in Roseville, MN on March 31, 2023 at 10am. She has included AOTF among the memorial gifts that can be made in her memory.