3-8-12
Millis Resident Elected to National Leadership Post
Andrea Bilics to serve as Chairperson of the Commission on Education for the American Occupational Therapy Association
BETHESDA, MD — The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) announces that Andrea Bilics, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, has been elected by a vote of its membership as chairperson of the Commission on Education for the national professional organization.
Dr. Bilics is director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Worcester State University where she is also a professor in the Occupational Therapy department. She also currently serves as chair of the Steering Committee for the Worcester State University reaccreditation process.
“I am honored to have the chance to give back to occupational therapy, my profession for 40 plus years,” said Bilics. “Occupational therapy’s education programs need to not only prepare practitioners for current practice but for future, as yet to be identified practice areas. Education programs also need to respond to the evolving demands being placed on higher education. Educators will need to draw on effective and efficient practices that are evidence based. AOTA’s Commission on Education will need to be proactive in supporting academic and fieldwork educators to enhance their capacity to facilitate students’ learning for not only the current practice environment but also for the future practice environment.”
An AOTA member since 1971, Dr. Bilics earned a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College in 2000, an MEd in Intensive Special Needs for the multi-handicapped, deaf and blind from Boston College in 1995, and a BSOT in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970.
The Commission on Education chairperson is responsible for promoting the quality of education for occupational therapy practitioners relative to educator and student needs. The chairperson works to identify, review, prioritize, and take action on education-related issues, maintain and approve standards, regulate educational materials, and analyze trends in the academic setting. Dr. Bilics will officially take office on July 1.
To schedule an interview with Dr. Bilics, call AOTA Media Relations Manager Katie Riley, 301-652-6611, ext. 2963 or e-mail, kriley@aota.org.
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org.
