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.

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Professor and Chair, Occupational Therapy
Sargent College
Boston University
Boston, MA