3-8-12
Milwaukee Resident Elected to National Leadership Post
Virginia “Ginny” Stoffel to serve as President of the American Occupational Therapy Association
BETHESDA, MD — The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) announces that Virginia “Ginny” Stoffel, PhD, OT, BCMH, FAOTA, has been elected by a vote of its membership as president-elect of the national professional organization.
“I am honored by the confidence that members of our profession have demonstrated in me to serve as AOTA’s president-elect, especially at a time when we continue to navigate the changing environment presented by health care reform and work to assure that our profession is prepared to meet the current and emerging needs of consumers of all ages,” said Stoffel. “As we move toward our profession’s Centennial Celebration in 2017, it is important that we reach out for the support and engagement of all members of our profession in our AOTA community. We need their voices and leadership to promote the important role that occupational therapy plays in delivering services that enable people to live independent and fulfilling lives.”
Dr. Stoffel, an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Technology at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, has served as the Association’s vice president for the past three years. In that role she was responsible for the organization’s strategic planning activities and chaired its Centennial Vision commission. An AOTA member since 1975, Stoffel earned a PhD in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University in 2007, an MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1983, and a BA in Occupational Therapy from St. Catherine’s in 1977.
Stoffel will be sworn in as president-elect at AOTA’s 92nd Annual Conference & Expo in April. She will serve as president-elect for a year and formally become president on July 1, 2013, for a three-year term. In her capacity as president, Stoffel will chair the Association’s Board of Directors, serve as an ambassador for occupational therapy in the United States and internationally, and work to foster the development of the profession and its members.
To schedule an interview with Dr. Stoffel, 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.
