At AOTF, our mission to support and advance occupational therapy research is a year-round commitment, reflected in every grant we award, every scholar we mentor, and every program we develop. But once a year, that work comes into focus in the most powerful way: at the AOTA INSPIRE Conference & Expo.

The 2025 conference in Philadelphia was more than just an event—it was a vivid mosaic of the people, research, and partnerships that define the future of OT. It’s where we saw the real-world impact of the grants and scholarships we champion all year and celebrated the awardees who are shaping what comes next.

Among the many highlights was our special VIP Reception, held to celebrate the Foundation's 60th Anniversary. It was a truly memorable occasion, bringing together dedicated donors, partners, and friends to commemorate six decades of unwavering commitment to advancing occupational therapy research.

Inspiration & Innovation

Our journey at the conference began with moments that reminded us why we do what we do. One of the most memorable was Breakfast with a Scholar, where David Anthony Rooney offered a powerful perspective on managing anxiety through community and resilience. His honest storytelling and practical strategies framed mental health as a challenge and a place for growth, compassion, and connection.

The State of the Science Symposium, The Impact of Long COVID on Occupational Performance: Opportunities for Occupational Therapy Intervention and Research, was a key AOTF offering. This session explored OT's vital role in Long COVID care and research. Feedback highlighted the importance of understanding "the role of OT in chronic conditions such as long-covid" and the power of personal narratives in illustrating the impact of this research.

We were also moved by the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture, delivered by Roseann Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, a Member of the AOTF Academy of Research, titled “Precision Occupational Therapy Through Data Driven Decision Making.” Her vision of combining clinical practice with analytics underscored the growing importance of data in improving outcomes and deepened our commitment to supporting research that leads to real change.

Research & Recognition

The Awards & Recognitions Ceremony brought this full circle as these awardees are more than honorees—they embody what our supporters make possible. Every accolade reflected the talent and perseverance that power occupational therapy forward, and the vibrant science community behind it.

We also gathered in sessions like the Academy of Research Symposium and the Research Excellence Symposium, where up-and-coming researchers, along with legendary researchers, shared their journeys, progress, and impact—a powerful reminder that AOTF’s mission doesn't end with funding; it starts there.

As champions of research, AOTF was especially proud to highlight the work of our STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship recipients. Their poster presentations showcased innovative ideas and commitment to health DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility).

Interactive Engagement: Our Booth & Beyond

Strategically placed in the Grand Hall, the AOTF Booth was a hub of energy, curiosity, and connection. As we celebrated 60 years of advancing OT research, we were thrilled to meet with hundreds of attendees, sharing our story, answering questions, and handing out Swag with a Purpose. Our “Wheel of Philanthropy” made mission-driven giving fun and engaging. Thanks to the generosity of our community and a matching gift from Korro AI, we raised nearly $20,000 to support OT research.

We also hosted STRIDE Committee Informal Meetups, offering a welcoming space for researchers to connect, exchange ideas, and explore mentorship opportunities.

And of course, the OT Student Scavenger Hunt, sponsored by OccupationalTherapy.com, was a huge hit. Students made meaningful connections and gained a stronger sense of belonging in the OT research community.

A Tapestry of Impact

AOTA INSPIRE 2025 offered a powerful glimpse into the heart of AOTF's mission. Whether through the rigor of research presentations, the spontaneous connections made at our booth, the knowledge shared in expert lectures, or the enthusiasm of new voices, the conference experience truly reflected our values and the strength of our collaborations.

We are especially grateful to everyone who made a gist onsite during the conference. Your generosity directly supports the next wave of research leaders and ensures that innovation, diversity, and evidence-based practice remain central to occupational therapy. To our dedicated volunteers and partners, your steadfast commitment inspires others and brings dreams to life. None of this would be possible without you, who have been a cornerstone of the Foundation since its inception.

Thank you for believing in our mission during OT Month and every day of the year. 

Check out the Facebook album dedicated to this event.

We’ll see you in Anaheim in 2026. Until then, the work continues.

University of Florida was the December winner for the school that raised the most money in the month of December. The St. Catherine’s Challenge has raised roughly $20,000.00 towards the goal of $55,000.00. With a month left of the Challenge, all participating schools should be sending funds raised by the February 17th deadline. Support the Challenge so we can fully fund one Intervention Research Grant (IRG). Donate today!
 

Congratulations to our first Kielhofner Research Scholarship Awardee, Dominque Como, PhD Student, University of Southern California, Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Exploring the Occupation of Oral Health in African American Families.

Grounded in occupational justice and utilizing a health disparity theoretical lens, the proposed project will address health disparities that exist in AA children with and without ASD by exploring the factors that keep this population from fully achieving quality oral health care through.  Together, these aims will help illuminate the barriers to oral care that AA children with and without ASD face, and how prospective dental interventions can be tailored to help address these issues. 

"This study is one of the first to examine oral care occupations in AA families, and will be pivotal to informing future research projects that help mitigate health disparities for AA children.”

Dr. Gary Kielhofner, DrPH, OTR, FAOTA, was one of the most influential and transformational figures in occupational therapy. Central to Gary's devotion to the science of OT was the development of new research talent. Please make a gift to help us support the future of OT, strengthen evidence-based practice and improve the quality of care. Your generosity will secure this scholarship for generations of OTs. 

Congratulations to our 2020 Nedra Gilette Endowed Research Fellowship Awardee, Anna Wallisch, PhD, OTR/L, University of Kansas and Juniper Gardens Children's Project.

“This study will provide preliminary data on potential biomarkers that may be used to assess intervention effectiveness and parent-child interactions during mealtime. We anticipate this project will increase child participation during mealtime and reduce the negative health consequences and strong parental anxiety associated with challenging eating behaviors.”

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have a fivefold increase in eating problems when compared to typically developing (TD) children. The extreme eating behaviors (EEBs) of children with ASD are associated with nutritional deficiencies and higher rates of obesity as well as significant parental anxiety and family burden, representing a clear health risk to the child. Given the deleterious consequences of these EEBs for both the child and caregiver, we need to uncover underlying mechanisms to identify potential biomarkers and eventually develop more robust interventions. Currently, there is no standard of care to treat EEBs in ASD, perhaps because we lack an understanding of why these behaviors exist. 

To honor its namesake Nedra Gillette, the Nedra Gillette Endowed Research Fellowship award is in support of a postdoctoral researcher's foundational occupational therapy study into the human condition.  Please make a gift to help us support the future of OT, strengthen evidence-based practice and improve the quality of care. Your generosity will secure this scholarship for generations of OTs. 

University of Southern California was the winner for the school that raised the most money in the month of January. With a week left of the Challenge, all participating schools should be sending funds raised by the February 17th deadline. Support the Challenge so we can fully fund one Intervention Research Grant (IRG). Donate today!

To launch 2020, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation and The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) for Parkinson's Research have partnered to offer a two-year $100,000 intervention research grant. This inaugural funding will support projects with a specific focus on the investigation of Parkinson's disease (PD) and OT intervention as well as provide a blueprint for future Foundation partnerships. We encourage qualified OT researchers to apply. More information regarding the AOTF&MJFF Occupational Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease Intervention Research Grant procedures are coming soon!

Over $54,000 was raised by our St. Catherine Challenge participating schools! This enables us to once again fund an Intervention Research Grant. Stay tuned for the #AOTFSCC grand winner announcement. 

Upper Extremity Function Assessment Using a Glove Orthosis and Virtual Reality System was the most downloaded OTJR article in 2019 (published in 2019). Authors: Richard J. Adams, Allison L. Ellington, Kate Armstead, Kristen Sheffield, James T. Patrie, Paul T. Diamond.

OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health journal is excited to announce a new Occupational Science Section! Papers submitted should focus on how occupational science knowledge informs, influences, and is furthered by empirical research. 

Submit your paper

Congratulations to our 2020 Health Services Research Grant Recipients:
Amber Angell, PhD, OTR/L
University of Florida
Health Services Utilization of Autistic Youth: Are Therapeutic Services Associated with Reduced Acute Psychiatric Care?
Mentor: Timothy Reistetter

Alison Cogan, MA, PhD, OTR/L
Washington DC VA Medical Center
Using EHR Data to Monitor Functional Recovery in Adults with Brain Injury During Inpatient Rehabilitation
Mentor: Trudy Mallinson

Mi Jung Lee, PhD, BSOT
University of Florida
Predicting Individuals’ Functional Difficulties at Home Using Statistical Machine Learning
Mentor: Craig Velozo

Chih-Ying Li, PhD, OTR/L
University of Texas Medical Branch
OT Service Intensity in Home Health and Impact on Health Outcomes
Mentor: Kenneth Ottenbacher

Health Services Research (HSR) examines how people get access to health care, how and what care is delivered, the cost of that care, and what happens to patients as a result of receiving or not receiving care.  Specifically, HSR is a multidisciplinary field that studies how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to health care, the quality and costs of health care, and ultimately, the health and well-being of health care consumers. 

The Health Services Research Grant program is made possible through a generous grant from NBCOT.

Learn more about the HSR Grant

Congratulations to the 2020 Implementation Research Grant Recipients:

Mary Khetani, Sc.D., OTR/L
University of Illinois at Chicago
Implementation of Electronic Shared Decision-Making Support for Families to Design and Monitor Participation-Focused Early Intervention
Mentor: Natalie Leland 

Chiung-ju Liu, PhD, OTR/L, FGSA
University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions
Implementing 3-Step Workout for Life to Improve ADL Outcomes in Home Health
Mentor: Michael Marsiske

Kelly Tanner, PhD, OTR/L, BCP
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Implementing Parent Coaching in Occupational Therapy for Young Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Multi-Site Project
Mentor: Nathalie Maitre 

The IR grant specifically supports research that is focused on helping occupational therapists take evidence-informed practice from theory to reality in their practice setting. This research grant develops and evaluates the processes used to implement, sustain, and or scale-up evidence-based practice into routine care with an end goal to improve the quality and effectiveness of care.

Learn more about the IR Grant.

Congratulations to our 2020 Intervention Research Grant Recipients:

Namrata Grampurohit, PhD, OTR/L
Thomas Jefferson University
Post-Discharge Support for Caregivers of Adults with Stroke Through Telehealth Coaching-in-Context
Mentor: Mary Jane Mulcahey

Danbi Lee, PhD, OTD, OTR/L
University of Washington
Return to Life After Stroke: Motivational Interviewing and Self-Management Support in Early Stroke Rehabilitation
Mentor: Chuck Bombardier 

Janet Njelesani, PhD, OTR/L
New York University
An Occupation-Based Intervention to Address Bullying Against Students with Disabilities
Mentor: Kristie Koenig 

Emily Somerville, OTD, OTR/L
Washington University- St. Louis
A Tailored Medication Management Intervention for Older Adults
Mentor: Susan Stark

Alex Wong, PhD, DPhil, BSOT
Washington University- St. Louis
Feasibility of Mobile Self-Management Intervention for Mild Stroke
Mentor: Carolyn Baum 

The purpose of this grant program is to lay the necessary groundwork for larger intervention studies and for larger implementation studies and support the profession’s Vision 2025 of occupational therapy as an evidence-based profession. The intent of the IRG program is to provide seed funding for the development of new and/or novel ideas in order to generate preliminary data as proof of concept. Most larger funders, including federal sources and most of the major nonprofit foundations, require this data in order to apply to them, yet sources to fund this preliminary work are limited at best. The AOTF IRG occupies a very important niche and fills a critical gap by investing in the development of ideas and data in the early state of the occupational therapy research enterprise. 

The Intervention Research Grant program receives major funding from The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the St. Catherine Challenge.  

AOTA and AOTF are pleased to announce the selected students to attend the fifth annual Summer Institute of Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy. The program will introduce students to a career in research, connect them with mentors in the occupational therapy scientific community, and immerse them in a research-focused professional experience.

Austin Cunningham, Winston-Salem State University
Chelsea Steffens, Drake University
Ashley Rigas, Pacific University
Kyra Barillier, Saint Louis University

Tara Hood, Eastern Kentucky University

Jessica Golding , Towson University
Taylor Wienkes, Creighton University
Molly Nadeau, Kean University
Brooke Ellis, Western New England University
Kelsey Hadsall, Misericordia University
William Librizzi, University of the Sciences
Grace Hellier, James Madison University
Ellery Lockwood, Stanbridge University
Lorelei Hoover, University of Findlay
Braxton Willoughby, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Mollyanne Tessler, Long Island UniversityBrooklyn
Taylor Keahilani Kenui/Fong, Rocky Mountain College

Kathleen Ann Melei, Huntington University
Elizabeth Stevens, The College of St. Scholastica
Allison Pfleghaar, Florida Gulf Coast University
Shannon Myers, Midwestern University Downers Grove
Samantha Holzschu, Western Michigan University
Natalie (NJ) Phillips, Eastern Michigan University
Emma Kinsey, University of Central Arkansas
Melissa Dale, East Carolina University
Tennille Lambert, Mercy College
Emily Yuen, Dominican University of California
Alleya James, Methodist University
Catherine Arora, Mercy College

Jared Southwick, Arkansas State University
Rowan Wallace, University of Southern Maine
Karla Morel, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus

In celebration of OT Month, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) announces a new iPad® raffle. Complete the AOTF Scavenger Hunt between April 24-29 and be entered to win one of three Apple iPads®, sponsored by OccupationalTherapy.com. 

On this hunt you will answer questions about the Foundation’s mission, activities and our impact on evidence-based practice. Completed hunts with all correct answers will be eligible for the prize drawing. 

The raffle drawing will take place on May 1st and winners announced later that day. 

• Open to all occupational therapists and occupational therapy students. Participants must have or be pursuing an OTA, OT, or OTD degree. Please read rules and disclaimer before proceeding.
• Participants can return to the form to pick up where they left off and/or edit previous responses until they click the "Done" button (if they use the same device and web browser) they used to start the hunt). 
• Good Luck!

Submit by April 29th! Winners will be announced May 1st. at 1p.m. ET on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank You to Our Sponsor:

With a robust library of affordable, evidence-based continuing education courses, OccupationalTherapy.com encourages lifelong learning and helps occupational therapists stay up-to-date on the latest research. 

When the notice of a personal protection equipment(PPE) shortage came out during the current epidemic, Sook-Lei Liew, PhD, OTR/L, started looking for ways to help. As Assistant Professor and Director of the Neural Plasticity and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory at USC, she and her team uses 3D printing to fabricate parts, such as those for their brain-computer interface project for stroke rehabilitation.

With her highly sought-after medical 3D printing experience, she joined over 150 faculty, students and alumni at USC, including fellow OTs, who are printing PPE designs approved for clinical use. They are part of a larger unified effort, along with several architecture firms and nonprofits, supplying parts to USC’s Keck Hospital who assembles, sterilizes, and distributes the finished PPEs.

“As an OT, I worked closely with our amazing heroic clinical OTs at USC Keck Hospital who would be using the PPE to see what they needed/preferred,” said Liew.

The PPE’s, such as N95 replacement masks and face shields, are utilized not only onsite at Keck, but also supplied throughout LA county, Cedars Sinai, local clinics, with an effort underway to ship to other places where they are needed such as New York.

“It is great to be a part of this massive effort,” said Liew, ”it is very exciting to see such a large community mobilize.”

Established in 1983, the AOTF Academy of Research in Occupational Therapy recognizes individuals who have made exemplary and distinguished contributions toward the science of occupational therapy. Our 2020 inductee is Jennifer Fleming, PhD, OTR/L, FOTARA, Professor and Head of Occupational Therapy at The University of Queensland. Her research aims to improve the lives of people with brain impairment by understanding psychosocial and cognitive limitations arising from neurological injury and discovering effective occupation-based rehabilitation methods. She is a Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy and Fellow of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI), and co-Editor of the journal, Brain Impairment.

Identify three words that others have used to describe you: Open-minded, supportive, capable

How do you hope to make a difference in the world through research? I hope that my research helps occupational therapists and other members of the multidisciplinary team to develop better ways to work with people with brain injury.

What is one piece of advice you have for individuals considering a career in science and research?  Never miss the conference dinner!

Beside your own areas of inquiry, what is one research priority that you believe is important for the future of occupational science and occupational therapy?  The relationship between mental health and occupation.

Describe the most important role that mentors played in your professional journey: Encouraging me to apply for things that I would not have dreamt of going for.

Identify a favorite occupation that renews you outside of your work: Walking on the beach.

What has been the most surprising or rewarding aspects of a career in science and research? Most rewarding is seeing the excellence that is developing in the next generation of occupational therapy researchers.

Selected references:

Ownsworth, T., Fleming, J., Tate, R., Beadle, E., Griffin, J., Kendall, E., Schmidt, J., Lane-Brown, A., Chevingnard, M., & Shum, D. (2017). Do people with severe traumatic brain injury benefit from making errors? A randomized controlled trial of error-based and errorless learning. Journal of Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 31 (12) 1072-1082.

Schmidt, J., Fleming, J., Ownsworth, T., & Lannin, N. (2013). Video-feedback on functional task performance improves self-awareness after traumatic brain injury: A randomised controlled trial. NeuroRehabilitation and Neural Repair, 27, 316-324. doi: 10.1177/1545968312469838

Fleming, J., Nalder, N., Alves-Stein, S., & Cornwell, P. (2014). The effect of environmental barriers on community integration for individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 29(2), 125-135.

Fleming, J., Sampson, J., Cornwell, P., Turner, B., & Griffin, J. (2012). Brain injury rehabilitation: The lived experience of inpatients and their family caregivers. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 19, 184-193.

Fleming, J.M., Strong, J. & Ashton, R. (1996). Self-awareness of deficits in adults with traumatic brain injury.  How best to measure? Brain Injury, 10, 1-15.

In celebration of OT Month, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) announced a new iPad® raffle. Completed AOTF Scavenger Hunts between April 24-29 were entered to win one of three Apple iPads®, sponsored by OccupationalTherapy.com.

And the winners are...

Thanks to everybody that participated!

Winners will be emailed for their address to send their iPads to.

We're proud of our 2020 Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) graduates! Please keep in touch as you contribute to the advancement of the field of occupational therapy.

Although your graduation celebrations may not be quite as you envisioned, we have some PTE gear to help make it special:

• PTE pin bearing the logo of Pi Theta Epsilon Honor Society
• Honor cord

Best Wishes!

AOTF