On September 27, 2023, AOTF sponsored the Consortium of HBCU Interdisciplinary Rehab Programs (CHIRP) Dinner at the White House HBCU Conference. CHIRP is a comprehensive interdisciplinary network of evidence-based research initiatives supported by academic rehab programs to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion that impact health and health outcomes among racial, cultural, and ethnic groups. AOTF and the leadership of occupational therapy programs at Howard University, Tuskegee University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tennessee State University, Winston-Sale State University, Alabama State University and Delaware State University discussed initiatives to promote diversity and belonging in occupational therapy research and the profession as a whole.

The Lands Banks Memorial Scholarship in Occupational Therapy will provide financial aid to support a student in pursuit of their degree.  Eligible candidates must be pursuing an entry-level degree, i.e., OTA, MOT, MSOT or OTD at an AOTA accredited US institution, must be enrolled as a full-time student, and must have completed at least one year of coursework. In addition, candidates for this scholarship must demonstrate their role in community service and/or a service leadership role. Preference for this scholarship will be given to students from historically under-represented minorities in the field of occupational therapy.

Tracey Recigno has been an OT for almost 20 years, working in acute care, inpatient rehab, and now in the academic setting. She is the program director for Hawai`i Pacific University’s developing hybrid Doctor of Occupational Therapy program in Honolulu. While the program is located in Oahu, her primary residence is in South New Jersey, outside of Philadelphia.

Her occupational roles include wife, mom, friend, daughter, animal lover, traveler, lifelong learner, and OT! Tracey earned her BS/MS in OT from Elizabethtown College in 2005, her OTD from Thomas Jefferson University in 2009, and most recently completed a PhD in Health Sciences at the University of South Dakota in 2022.  Her passion and the focus of her scholarly and service activities is leadership development in occupational therapy students and practitioners. She also has a strong interest in the scholarship of teaching and learning as it relates to critical thinking.

As vice president, Tracey hopes to help reimagine the membership eligibility criteria to increase access and best support the mission, purpose, and ideals of Pi Theta Epsilon.