Using Virtual Reality Technology to Increase Acceptance of Home Modifications for People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study
Mentor: Brett Fling, PhD

Community Driven Methods for Screening for Developmental Delay Among Infants and Toddlers with Sickle Cell Disease
Mentor: Allison King, MD, PhD, MPH

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is thrilled to announce the recipients of its 2025 Research Grants. This funding supports OT faculty and early career researchers in pursuing their OT research. 

2025 Implementation Research Grant Recipients

Jessica Edelstein, PhD, OTR/L
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago dba Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Complementary Implementation and De-Implementation Strategies to Close the Evidence-Practice Gap in Stroke Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Mentor: Miriam Rafferty, DPT, PhD, PT

Janell Pisegna, PhD, OTR/L, CSRS
Colorado State University
Multifaceted Implementation Program for Occupational Therapy Practitioners Addressing Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Home and Community Care
Mentor: Lisa Juckett, PhD, OTR/L, CHT

Brocha Stern, PhD, OTR
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Characterizing and Refining Implementation of a Personalized Patient-Reported Outcome Measure in Outpatient Care
Mentor: Natalie E. Leland, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA, FGSA

The Implementation Research Grant program is made possible through a generous donation from NBCOT.

2025 Intervention Research Grant Recipients

Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Community Driven Methods for Screening for Developmental Delay Among Infants and Toddlers with Sickle Cell Disease
Mentor: Allison King, MD, PhD, MPH

Vanessa Jewell, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Feasibility of the REAL-Fam to Support Diabetes Self-Management, Family Participation, and Child Health
Mentor: Beth Pyatak, PhD, OTR/L, CDCES, LRC, FAOTA

Jaewon Kang, PhD, MSOT
Colorado State University
Using Virtual Reality Technology to Increase Acceptance of Home Modifications for People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study
Mentor: Brett Fling, PhD

The Intervention Research Grant program receives donations from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the AOTF St. Catherine Challenge.  

These innovative research projects demonstrate the critical role of occupational therapy in addressing complex health challenges across the lifespan. By supporting the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions, AOTF continues to invest in the future of OT science and practice. Congratulations to the 2025 recipients for their commitment to advancing the profession and improving health outcomes in the communities we serve.

On Sunday, July 9^th, 2023, the Occupational Therapy profession lost a genuinely wonderful person and significant member of our community, Lands Banks. Lands served as the Manager of Administration and Facilities for AOTA for over 25 years. Lands was an integral part of AOTA, a man with a magnetic and uplifting personality who was always there to help friends, colleagues, and family members. His passing leaves a large hole in the hearts of all those who knew him and those impacted by his work.

AOTF, AOTA, and its donors have created the Lands Banks Memorial Scholarship in Occupational Therapy to honor his memory and further his legacy. Thanks to the generosity of friends, family, colleagues, and dozens of occupational therapists, the Lands Banks Memorial Scholarship is now endowed! AOTF is highly grateful to all the donors who have helped secure this scholarship forever and keep Lands’ spirit alive by helping future generations of occupational therapy students. 

Congratulations to our inaugural recipient, Katerina Garbis, University of Illinois-Chicago!

"I was introduced to the OT field by one of my childhood friends. I was feeling stuck and unsure of what I wanted to do during college, confused about how to incorporate all of my interests into my future career. She recommended I shadow some OTs, and I ended up loving it! I was drawn by the community care aspect of OT and how we encourage working with empathy at the forefront and by considering all aspects of a person. I also saw that as occupational therapists, we help people who may feel like they are at the lowest point in their life, where being unable to complete a part of a routine may feel dehumanizing and frustrating. I realized I would be a comforting figure in people's lives as an occupational therapist, and someone my patients found approachable in such a vulnerable time."

• Read more from AOTA

The Lands Banks Memorial Scholarship in Occupational Therapy will provide financial aid to support a student in pursuing their degree. Eligible candidates must be pursuing an entry-level degree, i.e., OTA, MOT, MSOT, or OTD, at an AOTA-accredited US institution, enrolled as a full-time student, and have completed at least one year of coursework.

In addition, candidates for this scholarship must demonstrate their involvement in community service and/or service leadership.

Preference for this scholarship will be given to students from historically underrepresented minorities in occupational therapy.

The annual scholarship award will be $2,000.

Support the Lands Banks Memorial Scholarship and the memory of Lands Banks with AOTA's I GOT YOU shirts, tumblers, and bags.

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is dedicated to advancing the science of occupational therapy through research, innovation, and service. Every year, AOTF recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the profession through various prestigious awards. These honors highlight occupational therapy researchers' and practitioners' dedication, leadership, and impact worldwide.

Diverse Honors for Outstanding Contributions

The Academy of Research in Occupational Therapy, established in 1983, remains one of the highest recognitions in the field. Inductees are selected based on their exemplary, distinguished, and sustained contributions to occupational therapy research. The 2025 inductees include:

• Batya Engel-Yeger, PhD, OT,  Professor, Dean of Students, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
• Susan R. Magasi, PhD, MS, BScO, BSc, FACRM, Head and Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
• Trudy Mallinson, PhD, OTR/L, FACRM, FAOTA, NZROT, Associate Dean for Health Sciences Research, Professor of Clinical Research and Leadership, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
• Elizabeth A. Pfeiffer, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Professor, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

AOTF's award recognition program celebrates the breadth of contributions professionals bring to occupational therapy research. These awards are unique in recognizing contributions across the entire career span, from early-career promise to lifetime achievement. Beyond general research excellence, AOTF also honors specialized expertise in sensory processing (A. Jean Ayres Award) and acknowledges the vital role of service and financial support in advancing the field.

We proudly introduce the 2025 recipients of these prestigious awards:

NEW! Lifetime Achievement Award – Honoring individuals who have significantly impacted OT research and made major service-based and financial contributions to AOTF.

• Wendy Coster, PhD, OT, OTR, FAOTA, Professor Emerita, Occupational Therapy, Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation, Boston, MA 

AOTF Early Career Research Excellence Award – Recognizing emerging researchers making significant strides in advancing knowledge.

• Jennifer Weaver, PhD, OTR/L, CBIS, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

AOTF Mid-Career Research Excellence Award – Honoring researchers who have demonstrated sustained contributions to the field. 

• Janet Njelesani, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy New York University, New York, NY

AOTF A. Jean Ayres Award – Supporting individuals committed to research development in sensory processing and theory testing.

• Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Owner/Director of Clinical Operations, Piller Child Development, LLC, Phoenix, AZ

AOTF Virginia Scardina Award of Excellence – Recognizing clinicians engaged in research that advances brain-behavior relationships and sensory processing disorders. 

• Leah Stein Duker, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Los Angeles, CA

See the complete archive of award recipients, including our awards and honors for leadership and service.

Join Us in Celebrating Excellence
The 2025 AOTF awardees will be honored at the AOTF/AOTA Ceremony during the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in Philadelphia, PA, on April 5, 2025,
We invite you to celebrate these incredible individuals and their contributions to the field. Together, we can continue to advance occupational therapy research and practice through meaningful support and recognition.

#AOTFAwards #OTResearch #AOTAInspire25 #AcademyofResearch #SupportOTResearch