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

Calling for Volunteers!  The AOTF Scholarship Selection Committee has openings for Reviewers (especially Clinicians!) to read, review, and score applications submitted for AOTF Scholarships. The bulk of active committee work typically takes place between November - February annually.  Interested?  Contact Careen Carlton at CCarlton@aotf.org by Sept. 1, 2022.

2022 Black History Month Theme: Black Health and Wellness

Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®) list of Books, Websites, and other Historical Materials and Guides on Black Health and Wellness.

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation would like to acknowledge those contributing to the research and evidence of OT. While our field continues to strive for more diversity, equity and inclusion, those of the African American community have and continue to influence the profession specifically in the area of research. 

The following is not comprehensive, but highlights some of the work by our fellow African American OTs acknowledged during the OT Centennial. 

Lela Llorens, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, played a vital role in establishing OT research as she chaired AOTA's Research Advisory Council in the mid-1980s. Dr. Lela Llorens guided AOTF grant funding for over 10 years and continues to contribute as a member of the Volunteer Development and Nomination Committee. She's received numerous honors in recognition of her accomplishments and leadership: the AOTA-AOTF Presidents Commendation in Honor of Wilma L. West, the A. Jean Ayres Award, the Meritous Service Award and the Certificate of Appreciation from AOTF among many others. Her efforts in the field are vast and were acknowledged during the AOTA Centennial. In tribute, the Lela Llorens Endowed Scholarship established in 2017 by AOTF, supports future minority leaders in the field of occupational therapy.

Jerry Bentley, MS, OTR, FAOTA, has been an advocate and activist for social justice for decades. She is a supporter of the Foundation and volunteer. Shirley Jackson-Jackson, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, scholarly activity extends from 1986 as an academic and researcher. She has a focus on diversity and health disparities research.
Panelpha (Penny) L. Kyler, ScD, OT, FAOTA, has impacted our field by being the first occupational therapist in the area of translational genetics and OT's role in treatment and intervention.
Joyce Lane, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, influenced the profession's focus on social justice. Dr. Lane's research is in the area of policy decision making and on professional development.
Letha J. Mosley, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA (1957-2017), focused her research on health disparities. She implemented community-based participatory research establishing community programs for health and wellness.
Shirley A. Wells, DrPH, OTR, FAOTA, scholarship relates to culture and health. She is an advocate and driver for the use of gender neutral language in AOTA official documents. 
Retrieved (February 24, 2020) from 100 Influential People in Occupational Therapy's 100 Year
History.

AOTF leadership, Academy of Research members, committee members and funding recipients shared their expertise and knowledge at the 2021 OT Summit of Scholars June 23-25, hosted by Colorado State University. Here's a highlight list of the topics and speakers along with some of their AOTF roles and recognitions:

AOTA and AOTF Research & Publication Priorities:

Timothy J. Wolf, OTD, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Missouri, OTJR Editor-in-Chief
Mary Jane (MJ) Mulcahey, PhD, OTR/L, Jefferson University,  AOTF Board Chair
Stacey Reynolds, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015 Intervention Research Grant Recipient

Equity and Justice in Occupational Therapy:

Khalilah Robinson Johnson, PhD, OTR/L, University of NC- Chapel Hill, Standing for Research, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE) Committee Member
Mansha Mirza, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, University of Chicago Illinois, 2016 Intervention Research Grant Recipient
Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, Washington University in St. Louis, AOTF Board of Trustee

Community-Engaged Service and Scholarship:

Matt Malcolm, PhD, OTR, Colorado State University, 2019 Health Services Research Grant Recipient

Mentoring: Crafting a Culture of Scholarship 

Chih-Ying "Cynthia" Li, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2021 Early Career Research Excellence Awardee
Joy Hammel, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Chicago Illinois, Academy of Research Member, 2016 State of the Science Speaker
Emily Kringle, PhD, OTR/L, University of Illinois, 2016 Meritorious Service Awardee
Anita C. Bundy, ScD, OT/L, FAOTA, FOTARA, Colorado State University, 2021 OT Summit Program Chair, Academy of Research Member

Growing Scholarship: Early/Mid-Career Perspectives:

Carol Haywood, PhD, OTR/L, Northwestern University, 2019 Nedra Gillette Endowed Research Fellowship Recipient, 2019 State of the Science Speaker

Sustaining Scholarship: Senior-Career Perspectives:

Mary Lawlor, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Southern California, Past AOTF Board Chair, Academy of Research Member
Kristie K Patten, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, New York University, AOTF Vice Board Chair, 2013 Leadership Service Commendation Awardee
Roger O. Smith, Ph.D. OT, FAOTA, RESNA Fellow, R2D2 Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Academy of Research Member
Dorothy Edwards, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Academy of Research Member

Work in Progress Session- Perspectives on Multisite Collaboration:

Teal Benevides, PhD, MS, OTR/L, Augusta University, Standing for Research, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE) Committee Member, 2019 Health Services Research Grant Recipient

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation would like to acknowledge those contributing to the research and evidence of OT. While our field continues to strive for more diversity, equity and inclusion, those of the African American community have and continue to influence the profession specifically in the area of research. 

The following is not comprehensive, but highlights some of the work by our fellow African American OTs acknowledged during the OT Centennial. 

Lela Llorens, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, played a vital role in establishing OT research as she chaired AOTA's Research Advisory Council in the mid-1980s. Dr. Lela Llorens guided AOTF grant funding for over 10 years and continues to contribute as a member of the Volunteer Development and Nomination Committee. She's received numerous honors in recognition of her accomplishments and leadership: the AOTA-AOTF Presidents Commendation in Honor of Wilma L. West, the A. Jean Ayres Award, the Meritous Service Award and the Certificate of Appreciation from AOTF among many others. Her efforts in the field are vast and were acknowledged during the AOTA Centennial. In tribute, the Lela Llorens Endowed Scholarship established in 2017 by AOTF, supports future minority leaders in the field of occupational therapy.

Jerry Bentley, MS, OTR, FAOTA, has been an advocate and activist for social justice for decades. She is a supporter of the Foundation and volunteer. Shirley Jackson-Jackson, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, scholarly activity extends from 1986 as an academic and researcher. She has a focus on diversity and health disparities research.
Panelpha (Penny) L. Kyler, ScD, OT, FAOTA, has impacted our field by being the first occupational therapist in the area of translational genetics and OT's role in treatment and intervention.
Joyce Lane, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, influenced the profession's focus on social justice. Dr. Lane's research is in the area of policy decision making and on professional development.
Letha J. Mosley, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA (1957-2017), focused her research on health disparities. She implemented community-based participatory research establishing community programs for health and wellness.
Shirley A. Wells, DrPH, OTR, FAOTA, scholarship relates to culture and health. She is an advocate and driver for the use of gender neutral language in AOTA official documents. 
Retrieved (February 24, 2020) from 100 Influential People in Occupational Therapy's 100 Year
History.