2022 AOTA & AOTF Awards & Recognitions

Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS
WPS & University of Miami
GIFTS Institute, Pembroke Pines, FL

Committed to Occupational Therapy Advancement and Excellence

Dr. Douglene Jackson PhD is an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience in the rehabilitation field, primarily in pediatrics and across the lifespan in schools, hospitals, clinics, and community-based settings. She holds a PhD in Special Education in Early Childhood, a Master’s in Occupational Therapy, Bachelor in Rehabilitation Services with a concentration in counseling, Diploma in Massage Therapy, and various professional certifications, including assistive technology; telehealth, sensory integration; diversity, equity, and inclusion; yoga; and others related to health and wellness. Dr. Jackson works as an assessment consultant with Western Psychological Services and is a part-time assistant professor at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development. She has her own company, GIFTS Institute, where she provides consultation and professional development, is a health care technology entrepreneur, and uses her talents to improve life for individuals and organizations internationally. Dr. Jackson has given a TEDx Talk and keynote addresses, is an author and advocate, and is a funded researcher with interests in health and education equity, autism, and early childhood. She is an American Occupational Therapy Foundation Board Member, Past President of the Florida Occupational Therapy Association, and volunteers with various professional associations and community organizations.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the AOTA Award of Merit page.

Mary C. Lawlor, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA
USC Chan Division of OS/OT
Los Angeles, CA

Advancing Cultural Responsiveness in Scholarship and Practice

Dr. Mary C. Lawlor is Professor and Associate Chair for Research at the University of Southern California Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Dr. Lawlor’s research program reflects her commitment to the development of effective and compassionate partnerships and interventions among children with developmental and special health care needs, their families, and communities; with particular attention given to populations who are chronically underserved. Her research interests include examining the meanings of illness and disability in family and community life, the social nature of therapeutic experiences, sociocultural influences on health care and health equity, developmental processes, narrative structuring of social action, and occupational science perspectives on living and learning in everyday life. Most recently, she has focused on community engagements for adolescents and young adults, their families, and clinicians with whom they “partner up.” She is currently Project Lead for a PCORI project titled: Transforming Research: Understanding Sensory Experiences in ASD, Stakeholders Working Together (TRUST). She has previously been funded by several agencies and foundations, including NICHD at NIH. She is a member of the AOTF Academy of Research and has recently served as Chair for the Board of Trustees for the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF).

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award page.

Yvonne M. Randall, EdD, MHA, OTR/L, FAOTA
Caballito, LLC
Las Vegas, NV

Amplifying Federal Advocacy Initiatives for OT Profession

As AOTPAC Chairperson (2016–2021), Dr. Yvonne Randall, EdD, MHA, OTR/L, FAOTA, oversaw the re-commitment of this organization toward fundraising to support Congressional members in support of occupational therapy and occupational therapy practitioners. As Chairperson, AOTPAC fundraising consistently met or exceeded $200,000 per year prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Her presentations to the AOTA leadership groups (e.g., Academic Leadership Council, Representative Assembly, Assembly of State Association Presidents, and Assembly of Student Delegates) brought in large contributions contributed at AOTA Conference toward annual fundraising goals.

Dr. Randall modeled positive influence with key Congressional members through her elevated level of political awareness across party lines. She represented AOTA at the National Democratic Convention in 2016, the Congressional Swearing-In Ceremonies in 2013 and 2017, and the Presidential Inauguration in 2017. Dr. Randall led the five Regional Directors toward greater grassroots commitment at the state level and active connection with university student groups. Dr. Randall has presented over 25 individual presentations to students within university classrooms, six Keynote presentations at state association conferences, and attended five AOTA Hill Days on Capitol Hill during her tenure as AOTPAC Chairperson.

V. Armineh Babikian, MS, OTR/L
PhD student at University of Toronto
Toronto, ON

Emerging Leaders With Dedicated Service to Others

V. Armineh Babikian is a first-year PhD student at the University of Toronto studying rehabilitation sciences and global health. She received her BS in psychology from Drexel University and MS in occupational therapy from Columbia University. For 5 years, Armineh worked as an occupational therapist in New York City supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the lifespan in outpatient and school settings. Armineh also spent 8 months volunteering in Armenia providing OT services in rural villages. Upon completion, she authored the Occupational Therapy Guidebook to Inclusion and was awarded the Birthright Armenia Next Step Grant to translate and publish 500 copies for newly inclusive schools in rural Armenia. Armineh is also the founder and Executive Director of Therapists for Armenia, a multidisciplinary organization aimed at enhancing rehabilitation and disability services in Armenia through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Therapists for Armenia has been selected as a member of the WHO Armenia Rehabilitation Task Force for their contributions in clinical education and training following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Most recently, Therapists for Armenia hosted the first ever Post-Conflict Rehabilitation Virtual Symposium, which welcomed over 430 participants representing eight nations. Armineh's research interests include inclusion, disability stigma, international development, and health equity.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Gary Kielhofner Emerging Leader Award page.

Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Leadership and Advocacy Transforming Equity and Inclusion

Dr. Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L (she/her/hers) is an Early Intervention Occupational Therapist and Research Instructor in St. Louis, MO. She graduated from Washington University School of Medicine with her OTD in 2010, and in 2019 with a PhD in Rehabilitation and Participation Science. She is an alum of the 2012 cohort of the Emerging Leaders Development Program with AOTA. Dr. Hoyt is a founding member of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), a national 501c-3, and served as the Founding Chair from 2014 to 2020. She focused on developing COTAD’s presence and developing strategies to increase efforts to promote inclusive environments for students, faculty, and practitioners. COTAD has impacted academic programs, policy, professional associations, research platforms, and clinical practice nationwide. In addition to her leadership with COTAD, Dr. Hoyt leads the Growth and Occupational Well-Being of Youth Laboratory (GROWTH Lab), which focuses on identifying methods to screen children with sickle cell disease for developmental delays and developing a referral program to early intervention. With improved methods for early identification, more children can be referred to, and take advantage of, beneficial therapeutic interventions during critical years of neural development.

Lisa Marshall, OTR/L, CLT, CLWT
Founder and CEO of Specialty Rehabilitation Inc.
Hockessin, DE

Exemplary Contribution to Oncology and Lymphedema Rehabilitation

Lisa has a passion for developing evidence-based clinical programs and is gifted in training clinicians and treating patients. In 2002, she founded Specialty Rehabilitation Inc. (SRI)—an outpatient therapy clinic providing distinctly specialized physical and occupational therapy services in oncology pre-habilitation through palliation programs, including but not limited to: breast, head and neck, gynecological, prostate, lung, central nervous system, and blood cancers. SRI also provided treatment programs for cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, cancer-related cognitive impairments (also known as chemo brain), and more. Lisa is a certified lymphedema and wound therapist, a certified lymphedema instructor, and now has an online oncology rehabilitation clinician continuing education platform. Lisa also provides consulting services for cancer centers and community hospitals; she focuses on clinician education and developing and maintaining cancer rehabilitation programs. Lisa is especially aware of the need to strike a balance between productivity and the provision of outstanding care, while retaining a staff of specialists with advanced training.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Recognition of Achievement Award page.

Melissa J. Tilton, OTA, MS, COTA, ROH
Genesis Rehab Services
Boston, MA

Sustained Mentorship Creating Support Systems and Leaders

Melissa J. Tilton has been an OTA for over 25 years and currently works as a Clinical Operations Area Director covering the Boston area and greater Boston suburbs. Melissa is also an adjunct faculty member in an OTA program, teaching the leadership and management course. As an OTA, Melissa has found volunteering as one of her greatest joys.

Melissa served as an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Board Director and is currently the Secretary for AOTA Board of Directors. Outside of her state and national mentoring work, Melissa enjoys mentoring new grad OTAs and establishing mentoring circles. She is a mentor within AOTA, and locally has served her state OT association as the OTA Rep, Reimbursement Rep, Conference Committee Member, Vice President and two-terms as President. Melissa served on the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), and served as ACOTE Treasurer for almost 10 years total. In addition to participating in other volunteer activities, she presents at various national and local OT activities. In 2013 Melissa received the Roster of Honor, and in 2017 received the OTA Award of Excellence.

Melissa went to OTA School in Maine. She has her Bachelor’s in Business Management, and Master’s in Organizational Leadership.

 Outstanding Mentor Award page.

V. Armineh Babikian, MS, OTR/L
PhD student at University of Toronto
Toronto, ON

Armenian Occupational Therapy Service, Development, and Advocacy

V. Armineh Babikian is a first-year PhD student at the University of Toronto, studying rehabilitation sciences and global health. She received her BS in psychology from Drexel University and MS in occupational therapy from Columbia University. For 5 years Armineh worked as an occupational therapist in New York City supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the lifespan in outpatient and school settings. Armineh also spent 8 months volunteering in Armenia providing OT services in rural villages. Upon completion, she authored the Occupational Therapy Guidebook to Inclusion and was awarded the Birthright Armenia Next Step Grant to translate and publish 500 copies for newly inclusive schools in rural Armenia. Armineh is also the founder and Executive Director of Therapists for Armenia, a multidisciplinary organization aimed at enhancing rehabilitation and disability services in Armenia through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Therapists for Armenia has been selected as a member of the WHO Armenia Rehabilitation Task Force for their contributions in clinical education and training following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Most recently, Therapists for Armenia hosted the first ever Post-Conflict Rehabilitation Virtual Symposium, which welcomed over 430 participants representing eight nations. Armineh's research interests include inclusion, disability stigma, international development, and health equity.

Kristin Brockmeyer-Stubbs, MS, OTR/L
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Baltimore, MD

Effervescent Servant and Advocate for Children Worldwide

Kristin Brockmeyer-Stubbs is the Senior Director of OT at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD. Community outreach and OT training, in China and Honduras has been a focus of her volunteer work starting in 2004. Over the last decade, she has volunteered with the Organization for Community Health Outreach (OCHO) to bring OT to the rural communities surrounding Atima, Honduras. She is working to eliminate barriers toward independence, to promote participation and engagement in childhood occupations and routines, and to advocate for the unique needs of children and families with special needs. This international work has led to initiating programs for eating, feeding and swallowing, mobility and play occupations and permitted partnering with medical and educational professionals in Honduras and in the US. She currently serves on OCHO’s Executive Board and helps to coordinate resources and trainings for OCHO’s Honduran team.

Jane Loscheider, OTD, OTR/L, ATP, CLT
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND

Medical Mission Service to Children in Ecuador

Jane Loscheider is a 1997 graduate of Occupational Therapy at the University of North Dakota (UND) and received her OTD through the University of South Dakota in 2021. Jane is an Assistant Professor at UND and is certified as an Assistive Technology Practitioner, working for a local outpatient clinic in seating and wheeled mobility. Jane feels blessed to have volunteered with the Medical Mission Ecuador multi-disciplinary team for 6 years, providing free medical care to children in and around Ambato, Ecuador. Jane’s role within the team has primarily focused on wheelchair evaluations, modifications, repairs, and education for children and families. Jane would like to accept this award in honor of all the Medical Mission Ecuador volunteers and service recipients.

Paula Rabaey, PhD, OTR/L
St. Catherine University
St. Paul, MN

Serving Families for Improved Quality of Life

Paula Rabaey, PhD, OTR/L, is an Associate Professor in the graduate occupational therapy program at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. She has almost 30 years of experience working as an occupational therapist with children with disabilities and their families across multiple settings. Her work has expanded globally in the last 10 years through SPOON Foundation; an NGO focusing on nutrition and feeding practices for children living without families in low- and middle-income countries. Through her service with SPOON, she co-developed a training-of-trainers curriculum for caregivers in orphanages focused on best practices for feeding children with severe disabilities and has helped implement this training in five countries. In Zambia, Dr. Rabaey collaborated with international partners to implement and test an intervention to mitigate the stigma of disability through family and community engagement, advocacy, skill building, and systems linkages. This work was accomplished through an interprofessional faculty team and Catholic Medical Mission Board Zambia. Dr. Rabaey’s passion for global justice is also demonstrated in her work with occupational therapy students. She has co-created courses and led groups of occupational therapy students to Ecuador and Zambia, teaching cultural awareness and highlighting the social determinants of health in underserved communities.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the International Service Award page.

Jennifer C. Thompson, MOT, OTR/L
Ohio Health
Columbus, OH

Greatly Impacting Ohio Therapist and Patient Lives

Jennie Thompson graduated from Duquesne University in 2003. She worked for OhioHealth’s Inpatient Rehabilitation units for 10 years, where she developed a love for interprofessional collaboration and leadership initiatives. She transitioned to outpatient neuro rehab in 2013, where she contributes to the care of patients with multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, ALS, and post-stroke in OhioHealth’s interdisciplinary neuro clinics. She has been active with the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association District Board since 2006, helping to coordinate two state conferences.

Jennie is passionate about her work in OhioHealth's multidisciplinary ALS Clinic. She helped to create and present OhioHealth's "Symposium on Multidisciplinary Care for Patients with ALS" in 2020 and 2021, coordinating a panel of multidisciplinary speakers to educate over 300 professionals between the two events. She serves as the fundraising chair for Team OhioHealth’s local ALS Association fundraising efforts and speaks to local support groups annually.

Lastly, Jennie is OhioHealth’s Outpatient Rehab Education Coordinator, collaborating with her Acute Care counterpart to identify and coordinate dozens of valuable continuing education courses for therapists within and outside the organization annually. She is dedicated to efforts to coordinate quality continuing education, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration to maximize the quality of life for her patients.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Interprofessional Collaboration Award page.

Tomeico Faison, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Duke University OTD/Therapeutic Solutions/Low Vision Rehab Solutions/Faison Consulting
Durham/Cary, North CA

Elevating Social Entrepreneurship and OTPs of Color

Dr. Tomeico Faison has been an occupational therapist for 20 years, serving as a leader in entrepreneurial endeavors for underserved populations. She is the CEO of Therapeutic Solutions providing services for persons with mental health conditions, Low Vision Rehab Solutions providing low vision rehab OT and counseling services in the community, and Faison Consulting where she provides business coaching, consulting, and information products. She is also a founding member and co-president of the North Carolina Black OT Collective.

Upon noting that most of her consulting clients were Black OTs who expressed concern about not knowing many Black OTs in leadership positions, she started a podcast, Therapy Entrepreneurs and Leaders of Color to showcase people of color who are leading in the profession.

She is a faculty member in the new Duke OTD program with a role that focuses on recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented groups, and specialty certificates (low vision rehab and Innovation and Entrepreneurship).

She earned her MS in OT from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and has a certificate in Low Vision Rehab from University of Alabama at Birmingham and in Business Coaching from North Carolina State. She recently obtained her OTD with an emphasis on social entrepreneurship from Boston University.

Nicole Scheiman, DrOT, MHS, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CES, CKPT, CEES-Advanced, CSST, CDCS
Huntington University
Huntington, IN

Exceptional Advancement and Commitment to Occupational Therapy

Dr. Scheiman’s passion for excellence in the advancement of occupational therapy has been demonstrated through her personal commitment to advanced academic degrees and practice certifications. She has held various leadership positions, from Clinical Coordinator, Manager, and Director of Rehabilitation. She has served as a subject matter expert for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Practice Analysis Panel and is active with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) on the Roster for Accreditation Evaluators (RAE). Dr. Scheiman provides continuing education courses in the areas of edema management and cancer rehabilitation. Dr. Scheiman has published in peer-reviewed publications and provides numerous students mentorship opportunities. Dr. Scheiman is an active member of the following organizations: National Lymphedema Network, American Occupational Therapy Association, Indiana Occupational Therapy Association, and the North American Lymphedema Education Association. Additionally, she serves on the Foundation Board at Parkview Huntington Hospital and on the board for the Lymphedema Association of North America. Lastly, she is the founding Program Director for the nation’s first occupational therapy assistant program provided at the baccalaureate level. These personal and professional endeavors contribute to the advancement of occupational therapy with students, practitioners, and the public.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Award for Excellence in the Advancement of OT page.

Grace J. Kim, PhD, OTR/L
New York University
New York, NY

Maximizing Stroke Recovery Through Innovation and Creativity

Dr. Kim’s work encapsulates the intersection of technology, neurorehabilitation, and client-centered care. Dr Kim’s expertise in upper extremity (UE) robotics devices has resulted in multiple studies to address multi-layered aspects of stroke recovery. In response to the limited treatment options to facilitate motor learning for individuals with moderate-to-severe impairment, she demonstrated that outpatients with notable hand impairment are motivated and able to participate in intensive hand training using an EMG-triggered robotic hand device, resulting in improved hand function and motor impairment. She also implemented a combined clinic/home approach demonstrating the feasibility of training clients to use an EMG-triggered elbow device in the clinic to complete functional UE training at home.

The current landscape of technology creates new opportunities to integrate affordable mobile and wearable devices, such as mobile phones and wearable motion sensors. Her current project, funded by AOTF, examines the use of motivational interviewing and ecological momentary assessment to maximize adherence and engagement of a self-initiated home training protocol. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the study is being conducted virtually using Zoom visits and phone apps. The results are anticipated to have direct implications to maximize client motivation and therapy engagement in home-based rehabilitation interventions.

Jennifer S. White, CScD, MOT, OTR/L
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA

Addressing Society's Needs Through Innovative Practices

Dr. Jennifer S. White is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. White uses her clinical and pedagogical expertise and a range of technologies to create innovative clinical and educational practices that minimize health disparities and are responsive to society’s needs. She has turned her vision of occupation-based health and wellness programs for underserved populations into action, optimizing outcomes for the most vulnerable populations in the Greater Pittsburgh Region through her work with several nonprofit organizations, including a free primary care clinic. Dr. White’s OT Practice article provides a roadmap for others to reproduce her innovative programs in their communities. Additionally, Dr. White engages and prepares students to be advocates for diverse, equitable, and inclusive care across practice settings. She combines her expertise in innovative teaching methods with open education and real-world resources to address racial and gender bias in medicine, develop person-centered engagement and communication skills, and build and advance cultural humility. Dr. White serves as faculty mentor for the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity, University of Pittsburgh Chapter; and TransformOTive Justice, a student founded and led organization established to discuss, challenge, and end racial injustices.

Emerging & Innovative Practice Award page. 

Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD, OTR/L
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA

Steadfastly Positive, Passionate, Skillful, Ingenuous Educator-Scholar

Dr. Marie-Christine Potvin is a devoted educator with 17 years of academic experience. She fosters knowledge and acquisition of skills in her students with great mastery and passion. She is described by her students as “ingenuous” and “steadfastly positive,” both traits that increase student enthusiasm for learning. In her current position as Associate Professor at Thomas Jefferson University and in prior teaching at the University of Vermont, she has re-designed and taught the evidence-based practice course sequence; turning the content that is often perceived by students as daunting into a meaningful, achievable, and useful experience. Dr. Potvin is committed to facilitating the development of evidence-based practitioners who are confident and practice oriented. A colleague captured Dr. Potvin’s impact on the occupational therapy curriculum by stating that she, “revolutionized our approach to teaching.” Her “secret ingredients” include designing learning opportunities at the “just-right challenge” and employing principles of universal design for learning. Her students have shared numerous examples of the application of the course content during fieldwork and in their clinical practice—a hallmark of a distinguished educator. She has published 18 peer-reviewed articles, of which 13 were student projects conducted under her mentorship.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Distinguished OT/OTA Educator Award page.

Stacey Morikawa, OTD, OTR/L, CLT
USC Chan Division of OS/OT
Los Angeles, CA

Innovative and Dedicated Fieldwork Educator and Coordinator

Dr. Stacey Morikawa serves as an Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy in the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. In addition, she serves as clinical faculty providing direct patient care at Keck Medical Center of USC. Dr. Morikawa has had extensive clinical teaching and mentoring experience, serving as a Level I and II fieldwork educator, OTD clinical preceptor, and site fieldwork coordinator to many students. Mentoring students and clinical education are career-long passions of Dr. Morikawa's, as she has exemplified dedication, innovation, and excellence with students of all levels and varying learning styles. One of her most recent endeavors in this area includes involvement in spearheading the development of a remote/virtual fieldwork experience in the acute care setting to provide meaningful learning experiences to students at Keck Medical Center of USC during the global pandemic.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Distinguished Fieldwork Educator Award page.

Stacey L. Schepens Niemiec, PhD, OTR/L
USC Chan Division of OS/OT
Los Angeles, CA

Cheryl L. P. Vigen, PhD USC Chan Division of OS/OT
Los Angeles, CA

Jenny Martínez, OTD, OTR/L, BCG
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA

Jeanine Blanchard, PhD, OTR/L
USC Chan Division of OS/OT
Los Angeles, CA

Mike Carlson, PhD
USC Chan Division of OS/OT
Los Angeles, CA

Schepens Niemiec, S. L., Vigen, C. L. P, Jenny Martínez, J., Blanchard, J., & Carlson, M. (2021). Long-term follow-up of a lifestyle intervention for late-midlife, rural-dwelling Latinos in primary care. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75, 7502205020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.042861

Rural-dwelling Latinos are an under-resourced population in need of accessible and effective wellness programs that can produce sustained effects on health outcomes. This study looked at the long-term effects of the Well Elderly Lifestyle Redesign® program, which is a culturally tailored, 4-month preventative occupational therapy intervention for community-living older adults. Although short-term effects of the program had already been demonstrated, this study evaluated health status 1 year after the conclusion of the intervention. Results demonstrated clinically significant benefits in areas of symptom severity and negative impact of symptoms on daily activity as well as improvements in overall well-being. Initial improvements in areas of systolic blood pressure, stress, and social role and activity satisfaction were also maintained at the 1-year follow up. The findings support the unique contribution of culturally tailored occupational therapy services in primary care settings.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Cordelia Myers AJOT Best Article Award page.

Kristin Hull, OTD, MOTR/L, CBIS
Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana
Indianapolis, IN

Hull, K. (2021). A transition to occupation-based care: Implementing AOTA’s Choosing Wisely recommendations in a medical model rehabilitation setting. OT Practice, 26(2), 21–24.

Implementing client-centered, occupation-based care in a medical model can be challenging. Yet non-purposeful, preparatory activities in an unnatural environment can hinder skill carryover and reduce positive outcomes. This article describes how occupational therapy practitioners used AOTA’s Choosing Wisely® recommendations to transition to a client-centered approach in a rehabilitation network. The process included creating occupation-based kits, emphasizing evidence-based care throughout the network, holding multidisciplinary in-services, and identifying and addressing program and client challenges as a group. This article also addresses the challenges encountered, including adjusting to not using preparatory materials, and having limited time to gather and discuss evidence. It also provides practitioners with a model to use in their own settings.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Jeanette Bair Writer’s Award page.

Laura Novak, OTD, OTR, BCG
University of Texas Health San Antonio
San Antonio, TX

Helen Russell, MOT, OTR/L, PTA
Maine Health at LincolnHealth Wellness & Rehabilitation
Boothbay Harbor, ME

Adair M. Sanchez, OTS
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA

Novak, L., Russell, H., & Sanchez, A. M. (2021). Firearms, dementia, and the role of occupational therapy. SIS Quarterly Practice Connections, 6(2), 14–17.

In the home health setting, firearms can pose a risk not only to the clients occupational therapy practitioners serve, but also to the clients’ families and all health professionals working with them. Occupational therapy practitioners are well suited to address the safety and activity demands needed for firearm safety for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and other cognitive deficits. Even for clients without an ADRD diagnosis, firearm safety should still be a routine part of a home safety checklist and the Occupational Profile. By routinely screening for possible concerns related to firearm ownership and use, occupational therapy practitioners may initiate interventions that provide optimal input from the client and caregivers and assist the client with modifying or ceasing firearm ownership and use when indicated, while still participating in valued activities.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Special Interest Section Quarterly Excellence in Writing Award page.

Wendy B. Stav, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO

Promoting Occupation-Based Practice Through Theory and Research

Wendy B. Stav received a BS in occupational therapy from Quinnipiac University, a PhD in occupational therapy from Nova Southeastern University, and serves as Professor and Department Chair for the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at Saint Louis University. For more than 20 years her work focused on driving and community mobility, but her appreciation of community mobility as an occupation enabler facilitated a transition to occupation and occupation-based practice. Her passion and belief in the health-promoting benefits of occupation and value for the evidence supporting the effectiveness of occupation as a therapeutic medium drive her scholarship today. Dr. Stav's scholarship transition to occupation has spawned clinic makeover studies to enhance occupation-based practice, the collaboration to develop the Dynamic Model of Occupation-Based Practice, creation of an assessment to measure occupation in practice, and mentorship of six dissertations focused on occupation.

Sarah M. Psillas, PhD, OTR/L, CEIS
University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT

Promoting Occupation-Based Practice Through Theory and Research

Sarah Psillas is the founding Program Director for the occupational therapy program at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings but specializes in the birth-to-3 population and assistive technology across the lifespan. Sarah completed her PhD at Nova Southeastern University in spring of 2019. Her dissertation research was on occupation-based practice and the development of the Dynamic Model of Occupation-Based Practice. From this research the development of a new assessment tool (Occupation-Based Practice Assessment) was completed. She and her colleagues are in the process of completing the development and testing of psychometric properties in order to publish the assessment.

Alison Herman, DHSc, MPH, OTR/L
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO

Promoting Occupation-Based Practice Through Theory and Research

Alison Herman has been an OT since 1999 primarily working in adult practice settings. She has served as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) since 2012, and in 2018 began working as AFWC at Colorado State University. She is a member of the Colorado Academic Fieldwork Coordinator's consortium and is an AOTA trainer for the Fieldwork Educator Certificate Workshop. She is involved in scholarship and service focused on occupation-based practice and improving fieldwork experiences for both the student and fieldwork educator.

To learn more about this award’s history and criteria, and to view a list of past recipients, visit the Choosing Wisely Champion Recognition Award page.

The following individuals are being acknowledged for their exceptional leadership and commitment to the advancement of occupational therapy education.

Grace Fisher, EdD, OTR/L

Tony Gentry, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Lynn Jaffe, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Victoria Kaskutas, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Diane Long, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Jeffrey Loveland, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Marsha Neville, PhD, OT

Colleen Schneck, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dianne Simons, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA 

Download a list of 2022 AOTA Service Commendations