Hazel L. Breland, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, distinguished herself as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA, 2016) through her commitment to excellence in OT service and innovations in interprofessional leadership, advocacy, and diversity.

The focus of Dr. Breland’s scholarship during her 16-year academic career included interprofessional education and practice, health disparities, community engagement, health promotion, and secondary prevention for persons aging with chronic conditions and underserved populations. Further, she dedicates her time to professional service that prioritizes health equity, mentoring diverse leaders, and addressing societal needs to positively impact and promote independence, equity, justice, and wellness for unrepresented and underserved groups.

Dr. Breland’s professional engagement and service include membership in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA; 1998 – present), the Association of Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR; 2015 – present), the Association of Rheumatology Professions (ARP; 2004 – present; 2019 APR President), the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus (NBOTC; 1998 – present; 2014-2019 NBOTC Vice President), and the South Carolina Association (SCOTA; 2006 – present).

Dr. Persch is an Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Colorado State University and is Director of the Transition, Employment, and Technology (TET) Lab. The TET Lab is focused on improving the transition to adulthood and employment among those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This work has been funded by NIH, NIDILRR, SSA, and various state and local organizations. He worked with Dr. Dennis Cleary, MS, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA and partners in special education and vocational rehabilitation to create the Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA), providing an accurate, person-centered measure of work-related adaptive behavior that informs job placement and customized employment decision-making. Launched in 2016, VocFit.com is a knowledge translation tool designed to implement the VFA using a custom-developed web-app. Over 7 years, the registered userbase of VocFit.com has grown to more than 12,000 employment support professionals across North America and Europe. Dr. Persch teaches pediatrics and program development at CSU. He served as Chairperson for the AOTA Special Interest Sections Council, a nationally-elected leadership position, from 2016-2020. He is an Associate Editor for AOTF's publication, OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research.

Dr. Pfeiffer is an associate professor in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University College of Public Health and the director of the Research, Engagement, and Advocacy for Community Participation and Health (REACH) Lab. Her research focuses on the development of interventions and outcome measures to support engagement in meaningful activities in the community for transitional-age youth and young adults with ASD and/or IDD.

In all aspects of her work in the REACH lab, she is committed to engaging stakeholders/community partners in research planning and decision-making. Dr. Pfeiffer teaches research in the post-professional and entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program and mentors PhD students. She continues her clinical practice in the area of pediatrics.

As an army occupational therapist for more than ten years, Major Erik Johnson was instrumental in the care for service members who had sustained devastating physical, cognitive and mental health injuries during combat operations. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his work with brain injuries while deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2011. Leaving the Army after 20 years, Erik now serves as an assistant professor at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas. He also serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Warfighter Engaged. As an occupational therapist, Erik specializes in the use of technology as a therapeutic medium for rehabilitation. He has used video games as a treatment tool for over 14 years and looks for opportunities to advance practice by incorporating them into the mix of traditional approaches. Erik also serves as a consultant to the video game industry as it relates to creating hardware and content that is more accessible for all gamers regardless of physical, mental, or cognitive deficits. He was on the team that worked with Microsoft to develop the Xbox adaptive controller and more recently worked with 343 Industries on their latest instalment of the Halo franchise to ensure proper representation of amputees in the game.

2022 Black History Month Theme: Black Health and Wellness

Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®) list of Books, Websites, and other Historical Materials and Guides on Black Health and Wellness.

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation would like to acknowledge those contributing to the research and evidence of OT. While our field continues to strive for more diversity, equity and inclusion, those of the African American community have and continue to influence the profession specifically in the area of research. 

The following is not comprehensive, but highlights some of the work by our fellow African American OTs acknowledged during the OT Centennial. 

Lela Llorens, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, played a vital role in establishing OT research as she chaired AOTA's Research Advisory Council in the mid-1980s. Dr. Lela Llorens guided AOTF grant funding for over 10 years and continues to contribute as a member of the Volunteer Development and Nomination Committee. She's received numerous honors in recognition of her accomplishments and leadership: the AOTA-AOTF Presidents Commendation in Honor of Wilma L. West, the A. Jean Ayres Award, the Meritous Service Award and the Certificate of Appreciation from AOTF among many others. Her efforts in the field are vast and were acknowledged during the AOTA Centennial. In tribute, the Lela Llorens Endowed Scholarship established in 2017 by AOTF, supports future minority leaders in the field of occupational therapy.

Jerry Bentley, MS, OTR, FAOTA, has been an advocate and activist for social justice for decades. She is a supporter of the Foundation and volunteer. Shirley Jackson-Jackson, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, scholarly activity extends from 1986 as an academic and researcher. She has a focus on diversity and health disparities research.
Panelpha (Penny) L. Kyler, ScD, OT, FAOTA, has impacted our field by being the first occupational therapist in the area of translational genetics and OT's role in treatment and intervention.
Joyce Lane, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, influenced the profession's focus on social justice. Dr. Lane's research is in the area of policy decision making and on professional development.
Letha J. Mosley, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA (1957-2017), focused her research on health disparities. She implemented community-based participatory research establishing community programs for health and wellness.
Shirley A. Wells, DrPH, OTR, FAOTA, scholarship relates to culture and health. She is an advocate and driver for the use of gender neutral language in AOTA official documents. 
Retrieved (February 24, 2020) from 100 Influential People in Occupational Therapy's 100 Year
History.