Every year, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) award recognition program celebrates the breadth of contributions professionals bring to occupational therapy research. This includes honoring our fantastic volunteers who have given their time and expertise to support the Foundation and our mission.

Congratulations to our 2025 Awards and Honors for Leadership and Service recipients:

FRED SAMMONS VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARD
Mary Lawlor, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Chair of Research & Professor, Joint Appointment with The Keck School of Medicine of USC Department of Pediatrics, Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA     

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS, CEO, Therapist, Consultant, Advocate, Technology Entrepreneur, Global Interventions for Therapy Services Institute, LLC
Kathleen Lyons, ScD, OTR/L, Professor, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
Antoinette Shaw, OTR, Program Director, OTA Program, Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Pamela Talero Cabrejo, OTD, BSOT (Col), OTR/L, CPAM, COT, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA   

LEADERSHIP SERVICE COMMENDATION 
Donald Fogelberg, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Clare Guiffrida, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rush University Medical Center, Evanston, IL
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS, CEO, Therapist, Consultant, Advocate, Technology Entrepreneur, Global Interventions for Therapy Services Institute, LLC      

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
Ana Allegretti, PhD, OTR, ATP, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Foundation, Captstone Coordinator, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
Kristen Bacon, OTD, OTR/L, Chair, Applied Health and Wellness, Assistant Professor, Program Director, Keuka College, Keuka Park, NY
Renee Causey - Upton, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, CLA, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY
Felicia Chew, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Mount Royal, NJ
Winifred Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, Distinguished Professor, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri Health, Columbia, MO
Catherine Hoyt, Assistant Professor, Program Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS, CEO, Therapist, Consultant, Advocate, Technology Entrepreneur, Global Interventions for Therapy Services Institute, LLC
Bonita Kraft, Retired Clinical OT, Mental Health, Camarillo, CA
Trudy Mallinson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Dean, Health Sciences Research, Professor, Clinical Research and Leadership Professor, Health, Human Function and Rehabilitation Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
Denise Nepveux, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Duke University, Durham, NC 
Forrest Pendleton, Palo Alto, CA
Timothy Reistetter, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, Associate Dean of Research, School of Health Professions, Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cristina Reyes Smith, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Natasha Smet, OTD, OTR/L, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Adjunct Clinical Professor, National American University, Assistant Clinical Professor, Hybrid Program, Site Coordinator, Phoenix Bioscience Core, Phoenix, AZ                                                                                       
Pamela Talero Cabrejo, OTD, BSOT (Col), OTR/L, CPAM, COT, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA

The 2025 AOTF Leadership and Service recipients will be honored at the AOTF VIP Reception in conjunction with the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in Philadelphia, PA, on April 3, 2025.
See the complete archive of award recipients, including our 2025 AOTF OT Research Awardees.

How to Become Involved:

• Become a volunteer for AOTF and partner in our mission to build evidence to improve practice and health. 
• Donate and/or fundraise to support evidence-based research.
• Sponsor a grant, award, scholarship, or event.
• Become an AOTF Ambassador.

Together, we can continue to advance occupational therapy research and practice through meaningful support and recognition.

#AOTFAwards #OTResearch #SupportOTResearch #Volunteer

Dr. Pfeiffer is an associate professor in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University College of Public Health and the director of the Research, Engagement, and Advocacy for Community Participation and Health (REACH) Lab. Her research focuses on the development of interventions and outcome measures to support engagement in meaningful activities in the community for transitional-age youth and young adults with ASD and/or IDD.

In all aspects of her work in the REACH lab, she is committed to engaging stakeholders/community partners in research planning and decision-making. Dr. Pfeiffer teaches research in the post-professional and entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program and mentors PhD students. She continues her clinical practice in the area of pediatrics.

Dr. Mallinson is an esteemed researcher in the field of occupational therapy, known for her innovative contributions to measuring and improving outcomes for individuals with multiple chronic disabilities. She has developed a highly productive research program focused on designing and implementing person-centered measures that address the needs of diverse rehabilitation populations. Her work emphasizes the psychometric assessment and standardization of functional status measures, applying advanced measurement theory to enhance the reliability and validity of these tools across various rehabilitation settings, including inpatient and community environments.

Throughout her career, Dr. Mallinson has investigated critical questions in rehabilitation, such as the impact of standardized measures on therapy outcomes and the relationship between therapy interventions and patient progress. Her pioneering research has led to new methodologies that incorporate interdisciplinary perspectives, significantly advancing the field.

Susan Magasi, PhD, FACRM, MS, BScOT, BSc, is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy and Disability Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her work addresses two primary areas: improving health and participation equity for disabled individuals, particularly those in under-resourced communities, and understanding the intersection of cancer and disability. 

Dr. Magasi utilizes innovative Community Engaged Research (CEnR) to develop mHealth interventions supporting cancer survivors and individuals with new-onset disabilities.  Her research, funded by NIH and NIDILRR, has resulted in numerous publications and presentations impacting occupational therapy, rehabilitation science, medical and cancer care, and disability policy.

Dr. Magasi also serves in leadership roles at AOTF, including Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council and former Board of Trustee, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing research in the field.