Every year, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) bestows awards and honors to individuals that contribute time, energy, and support to the fulfillment of the AOTF mission- advancing the science of occupational therapy. The awards are presented annually at the AOTA/AOTF Awards Ceremony during the AOTA Annual Conference. 

ACADEMY OF RESEARCH* 
Carolyn Unsworth, PhD, BAppSci (OT), GCTE, OTR, MRCOT, FOTARA, Professor, Discipline Lead Occupational Therapy Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Victoria, Austrailia
Sook-Lei Liew, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor; Director, Neural Plasticity and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory; Chair, ENIGMA Stroke Recovery Working Group; Co-Director, USC SMART-VR Center; Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Biomedical Engineering, and Neurology USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

AOTF EARLY CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD*
Lisa Juckett, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, Assistant Professor, Division of Occupational Therapy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

AOTF MID-CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD*
Elizabeth Pyatak, PhD, OTR/L, CDCES, FAOTA, Director of the Lifestyle Redesign® Knowledge Mobilization Initiative, and Associate Professor, Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

FRED SAMMONS VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD
Bonita Kraft, retired occupational therapist practicing in behavioral health focusing on schizophrenia, psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder and other personality disorders, Camarillo, California

AOTF A. JEAN AYRES AWARD*
Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Owner, President, TMB Occupational Therapy Resources, Inc. Norristown, Pennsylvania

AOTF VIRGINIA SCARDINA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE*
Erna Imperatore Blanche, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

AOTF MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD 
Felicia Chew, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, FNAP, President, Integrity Health Solutions, Mount Royal, New Jersey
Donald Fogelberg, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington Seattle, Washington
Susan Magasi PhD, MS, BScOT, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy; Associate Professor, Disability and Human Development; Associate Head, Occupational Therapy, Department of Occupational Therapy and Disability Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Kristie Patten, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor of Occupational Therapy Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, New York

AOTF LEADERSHIP SERVICE COMMENDATION
Tracey Ellis, OTR/L, MPH, CEO & Founder, International Diagnostic Solutions, Inc. and Ellis Therapeutic Consultant, Inc. Washington, District of Columbia
Elizabeth Pfeiffer, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; Director of the REACH Lab, Temple University

AOTF PI THETA EPSILON MARY J. BRIDLE FIRST RESEARCH
Sarah Synak, OTD, OTR/L, Creighton University, Occupational Therapist at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, Lincoln, Nebraska. Research Title: The Effectiveness of Upper Extremity Orthotic Interventions on Functional Participation for Adults with Stroke: A Systematic Review

* Select awards with be presented at the AOTF/AOTA Awards & Recognitions Ceremony at AOTA INSPIRE Conference, Saturday,  April 22, 4:30 pm–6:00 pm CT, Reception 6:00 pm–7:30 pm CT, others will be recognized at the AOTF VIP Reception.

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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!

Elizabeth Pyatak’s original and impactful research program focuses on the development, implementation, and assessment of innovative occupational therapy interventions that enhance the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, particularly among medically underserved and at-risk populations.  By grounding her pioneering lifestyle interventions on the findings of her qualitative inquiries on the day-to-day issues of underserved populations living with diabetes, Dr. Pyatak has transformed how the field of occupational therapy approaches the management of medically complex chronic conditions by addressing not only the therapeutic needs of clients, but also the broader social contexts that contribute to their conditions.  She currently serves as Principal Investigator on two NIH R01 awards totaling over $6.7 million, has published 39 peer-reviewed articles in high impact journals, and has provided over 70 invited and refereed presentations to international, national, and regional audiences.
 

Every year, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) bestows awards and honors to individuals that contribute time, energy, and support to the fulfillment of the AOTF mission- advancing the science of occupational therapy. The awards are presented annually at the AOTA/AOTF Awards Ceremony during the AOTA Annual Conference. 

ACADEMY OF RESEARCH 
Natalie Leland, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, FGSA, University of Pittsburgh
Elizabeth Pyatak, PhD, OTR/L, CDCES, FAOTA, University of Southern California
Timothy J. Wolf, OTD, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, OTJR Editor-in-Chief, University of Missouri

AOTF EARLY CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Beth Fields, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, University of Wisconsin-Madison

AOTF MID-CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Juleen Rodakowski, OTD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Pittsburgh

FRED SAMMONS VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD
Charles Christiansen, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA

AOTF A. JEAN AYRES AWARD
Sarah Schoen, PhD, OTR/L, STAR Institute

AOTF VIRGINIA SCARDINA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Anita Bundy, Sc.D., OT/L, FAOTA, FOTARA, Colorado State University

View Acceptance Speeches

AOTF MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD 
Nancy Baker, ScD, MPH, OTR/L, FAOTA, Tufts University
Simone Gill, PhD, OTR/L, Boston University
Forrest Pendleton, BA
Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Washington University School of Medicine
Cheryl Strickland, OTR/L, Choice Rehabilitation

AOTF LEADERSHIP SERVICE COMMENDATION
Pat Booth, MAT
Ellen Cohn, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Boston University

AOTF PI THETA EPSILON MARY J. BRIDLE FIRST RESEARCH
Clarissa R. Stanhope, OTD, Rush University

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
Pooja A. Patel, DrOT, OTR/L, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
 

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