We recently learned of the passing of Honorary Lifetime Member of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), Nancy Vesper (Snyder) Lieftinck.

Following completion of her undergraduate degree in occupational therapy at Ohio State University (OSU), Nancy Vesper Lieftinck immediately began her first job as a staff occupational therapist in 1954 at the Department of Physical Medicine, treating persons with polio. Reflecting on her career, she indicated that her most significant accomplishments occurred as chairperson of ACOTE, in which she developed a streamlined system for program evaluation during her 9 years of service on the council. As an acknowledged leader in occupational therapy, she served the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) generously, completing two terms as president of AOTF from 1969 to 1976 and 1985 to 1989. Under her direction, the AOTF Board of Directors established the AOTF state scholarship program and hired the Foundation's first full-time executive director. In 2003, she was honored with the distinct designation of Honorary Life Membership by the board of directors of the AOTF and was also recognized with the Leadership Commendation Award in 2012 for her many contributions and distinguished service. In addition, Nancy was inducted into the Roster of Fellows of AOTA in 1975 and received the Retired Educator’s Award in 2003. The Fred Sammons Volunteer Recognition Award was presented to her in 2020 by the AOTF, and she is listed in Who’s Who in Rehabilitation. 

To send condolences, you may visit Nancy Lieftinck Obituary - Columbus, OH (dignitymemorial.com)

Alyson Stover is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, at the University of Pittsburgh. Stover obtained her juris doctorate in law with a post-graduate certificate in health law from the University of Pittsburgh. Her areas of practice expertise include pediatrics, trauma-informed occupational therapy, and holistic approaches to substance use disorder, and she is AOTA Board Certified in Pediatrics.

She owns a private outpatient pediatric practice north of Pittsburgh and co-founded a non-profit organization that uses occupation to address community, societal, and population needs. Stover's interests include using occupational therapy as a powerful driving force for larger healthcare change, advancing occupational therapy’s national and global relevance, and occupational therapy’s role as a leader in policy development and implementation. Stover is also interested in access to care for underserved and underrepresented populations.  Stover serves as President of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) through June 2025.  

We would like to congratulate Dr. Krasniuk on her exceptional contributions to OTJR!

OTJR recently announced the recipient of the Top Reviewer Award for 2021: Sarah Krasniuk PhD, MSc. Dr. Krasniuk is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, SK, Canada. She joined the OTJR Review Board in 2020, and previously served as an Editorial Fellow from 2017-2020.

Dr. Krasniuk was selected out of a pool of 256 reviewers that completed one or more peer-reviews for OTJR from January to December 2021. The recipient is determined through evaluating several criteria, including the total number of reviews completed, combined with ratings for review quality and review timeliness as rated by our Associate Editors. 

Dr. Krasniuk joins fellow Top Reviewer award recipients, notably: the 2018 & 2019 recipient, Dr. Carolyn Hanson (University of Florida); and the 2020 co-recipients Dr. Markia Demers (University of Southern California), and Dr. Heather Fritz (Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences).

Thanks to all our OTJR peer-reviewers for sharing their time and expertise!

Reminder: Special Telehealth Issue:- Submit by Aug. 1, 2022.

Congratulations to all the 2022 AOTA Award Recipients! We certainly recognize a few that have supported us over the years... 

Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS, AOTF Board Secretary- Award of Merit (pictured)
Mary C. Lawlor, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Past-AOTF Board Chair- Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award (pictured with Kristie Patten, 2021 Slagle Lecturer and Wendy Hildenbrand, AOTA President)
Grace J. Kim, PhD, OTR/L, 2021 AOTF Intervention Grant Recipient- Emerging & Innovative Practice Award 
Jenny Martinez, OTD, OTR/L, BCG, AOTF STRIDE Committee Member- Cordelia Myers AJOT Best Article Award
Wendy B. Stav, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Former AOTF Volunteer Development and Nominations Committee Member- Choosing Wisely Champion Recognition Award

On the Roster of Fellows:
Teal Wisniewski Benevides, PhD, MS, OTR/L
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS
Amy Lynch PhD, TBRI® Educator, SCFES, OTR/L 
Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L, BCP
Jenny Martinez, OTD, OTR/L, BCG
Lynne Richard, PhD, OT/L 

As a stand-alone non-profit exclusively building OT evidence to improve practice and health, we rely on our volunteer partners and leaders from all areas of occupational therapy and the public to deliver the programs that make an impact.

Learn how to become a volunteer and more!