The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is a dedicated partner in advancing occupational therapy research, education, and leadership. We collaborate closely with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) on various initiatives throughout the year including the AOTA Conference and Expo. But our reach extends further as we partner with diverse organizations to develop impactful programs to champion our common goals. Stay tuned to learn more about all our partnerships and how they contribute to a stronger future for occupational therapy!
OT Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy
April 4-5, 2025 | Philadelphia, PA
A cohort of entry-level OT students will be selected to participate in the American Occupational Therapy Foundation/ American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTF/AOTA) Institute of Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy on April 4-5, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pa. The in-person sessions will match potential student scientists with doctoral and post-doctorate mentors. Program participants will meet with leading occupational therapy scientists to address topics such as possibilities within OT science, considerations when evaluating potential doctoral programs, and career opportunities as a scientist.
Eligibility:
- To apply, you must be a student currently enrolled in an OT program with an interest in science and research in the field of OT.
- As the program aims to train and mentor future occupational therapy scientific researchers who may have limited exposure to research opportunities at their current institution, students attending research intensive institutions and/or institutions with a heavy research mission are not eligible (e.g., DRU-VH Carnegie Classification). Students from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply supporting the Associations’ objective of developing a clinical and research workforce to meet society’s diverse occupational needs in underserved areas or communities.
- If you are unsure of your eligibility, email edleadership@aota.org.
Applications close on Oct. 18, 2024.
VIEW MORE AND APPLY
WISH Workshop
May 20-22, 2025 | Alexandria, VA
Applications due Jan. 6, 2025.
CoHSTAR, LeaRRn, and AOTF invite rehabilitation researchers with an interest in implementation science and/or health services research to submit an application to participate in WISH 2025, the third iteration of our intensive grant writing workshop. WISH is open to rehabilitation researchers from any profession.
Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research (TIGRR)
Jan. 6-10, 2025
(Applications closed on Aug. 14, 2024.)
OT Summit
June 26-28, 2025
University of Washington Campus, Seattle, WA
2024 Institute Students
Nora Anton, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Lydia Armand, Nova Southeastern University
Ellen Cahoon, East Carolina University
Riley Carraher, Augusta University
Marion Dela Pena, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Gabrielle DiTrani, Russell Sage College
Taytum Dunn, Faulkner University
Savanna Girouard, University of Puget Sound
Daiyajot Grewal, Concordia University Ann Arbor
Madison Griffin, Lincoln Memorial University
Jenna Hare, Presbyterian College
Justin J. Hugger Olavarrieta, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus
Kaitlyn Jensen, Touro University Nevada
Sonja Joshi, SUNY Downstate University of Health Sciences
Conner Kankelborg, University of Puget Sound
Carrissia Keeling, Pacific University
Luis Lares, Nova Southeastern University
Keely McCormick, Pacific University
Tessann Merkel, Chatham University
Joseph Napolitano, Monmouth University
Tracy Nguyen, California State University Dominguez HIlls
Cynthia Pacheco, A.T. Still University - Arizona School of Health Sciences
Andrea Perez, Moravian University
Catheline Phan, California State University Dominguez Hills
Natalie Pravinkumar, University of Texas at El Paso
Taylor Ross, Howard University
Kushal Shah, New York Institute of Technology
Sarah Thums, Huntington University
Samantha Trench, University of Indianapolis
Christina Wilson, Johnson & Wales University
Melanie Workman, Brenau University
2023 Institute Students
Anna Pethel, Augusta University |
Adam Regalado, Gannon University |
Amanda Chaires, Worcester State University |
André Johnson, Florida A&M University |
Andrea Dultra, Maryville University |
Brianna BellWinston, Salem State University |
Brianna Brewster, Drake University |
Brianna Milstrey, Moravian University |
Deborah Kofsky, Nova Southeastern University |
Emma Robinson, Ithaca College |
Francesca Gambino, New York Institute of Technology |
Gabriela Alejandra Torres Ferrer, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus |
Ivy Rivers, Western New England University |
Jane Sato, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
Jennifer Ocana, Salem State University |
Jodi Collins, Eastern Kentucky University |
Jose Gonzalez, Eastern Kentucky University |
Kelsey A. Gately, Johnson & Wales University |
Kiana Ladson-Wingate, Brenau University |
Kristen Springer, Shenandoah University |
Lanoris Parker, Nova Southeastern University |
Macarena del Corral Winder, Lincoln Memorial University |
Marissa Heirich, Dominican University of California |
Olivia Bowley, Towson University |
Rebekah Boning, California State University, Dominquez Hills |
Robert Motley, University of New England |
Sadie Schultes, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Profession |
Sam Greenspan, Pacific University |
Sheridan Cleave, Wingate University |
Sophia Bertrand, Marquette University |
Tajze Johnson, Methodist University |
Victoria Kite, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
Yasmien Hanania, Loma Linda University |
2022 Summer Institute Students
Briana Arellano, Texas Woman's University
Priscilla Ayala, Howard University
Cydnee Bacci, Belmont University
Luke Baker, Eastern Michigan University
Paige Barham, Methodist University
Emily Buckman, Long Island University-Brooklyn
Chrystyna Colon, Salus University
Tara Gebhardt, D'Youville College
Kelsey Girbino, Cleveland State University
Molly Graesser, University of South Dakota
Kirstin Gutierrez, Chatham University
Carla Hatfield, Shenandoah University
Marissa Heirich, Dominican University of California
Joanne Holler, Cedar Crest College
Ashley Layne, SUNY Downstate School of Health Professions
Katherine McGinley, Huntington University
Rose Mary Mulholland, Florida Gulf Coast University
Savanah Perrini, Wingate University
Mikayla Rai, Howard University
Heather Sanchez, Florida International University
Natalie Schur, Saint Louis University
Shreena Shah, Western Michigan University
Katie Shepard, Texas Woman's University
Ariona Smith, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Aiyana Tietze-Di Toro, Elizabethtown College
Tabitha Toral, Loma Linda University
Andrea Valdez, Creighton University (School of Pharmacy and Health Professions)
Michelle Vayas, Northern Arizona University
Ariel Wallace, Towson University
Anne Wepfer, Western New England University
Jacob Whitworth, University of Central Arkansas
Alisha Woodside, Wingate University
2021 Summer Institute Students
Janelle Barna, Elizabethtown College
Madeline Bazan, Drake University
Monica Buoni, Saint Louis University
Kate de Castro, Duquesne University
Bobbi Dynice, Quinnipiac University
Anna Fostik, Misericordia University
Maria Garcia Ruelas, Brenau University
Emily Hopf, Saint Louis University
Fitria Jong-Martinez, Loma Linda University
Sheherazad Kapadia, Brunel University
London Rachel Keen, Wingate University
Samah Khan, Governors State University
Hershila Lallu, University of Central Arkansas
Azjah Land, James Madison University
Ashley MacKinen, Texas Woman's University
Tanzia Mostari, New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury Campus)
Esperanza Munoz, College of Saint Mary
Gunnar Olson, University of South Dakota
Dhara Patel, Brenau University
Zoe Peters, Dominican University of California
Case Peters, Northern Arizona University
Shayna Quach, California State University-Dominguez Hills
Shasta Rice, Dominican University of California
Angela Shannahan, Wayne State University
Emily Shaw, The College of St. Scholastica
David Sherman, Western Michigan University
Michael Stamm, Huntington University
Katherine Van Gurp, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lauren Villa, Towson University
Kyla Villaroya, D'Youville College
2020 Summer Institute Students
Austin Cunningham, Winston-Salem State University
Chelsea Steffens, Drake University
Ashley Rigas, Pacific University
Kyra Barillier, Saint Louis University
Tara Hood, Eastern Kentucky University
Jessica Golding , Towson University
Taylor Wienkes, Creighton University
Molly Nadeau, Kean University
Brooke Ellis, Western New England University
Kelsey Hadsall, Misericordia University
William Librizzi, University of the Sciences
Grace Hellier, James Madison University
Ellery Lockwood, Stanbridge University
Lorelei Hoover, University of Findlay
Braxton Willoughby, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Mollyanne Tessler, Long Island UniversityBrooklyn
Taylor Keahilani Kenui/Fong, Rocky Mountain College
Kathleen Ann Melei, Huntington University
Elizabeth Stevens, The College of St. Scholastica
Allison Pfleghaar, Florida Gulf Coast University
Shannon Myers, Midwestern University Downers Grove
Samantha Holzschu, Western Michigan University
Natalie (NJ) Phillips, Eastern Michigan University
Emma Kinsey, University of Central Arkansas
Melissa Dale, East Carolina University
Tennille Lambert, Mercy College
Emily Yuen, Dominican University of California
Alleya James, Methodist University
Catherine Arora, Mercy College
Jared Southwick, Arkansas State University
Rowan Wallace, University of Southern Maine
Karla Morel, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus