American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Announces Retirement of Executive Director

The AOTA Board of Directors Will Appoint an Interim Executive Director and Lead the Search for a New Executive Director

North Bethesda, MD (May 18, 2023)—The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) announced today that Sherry Keramidas, PhD, FASAE, CAE, CRP, will retire as executive director on June 30, 2023. Dr. Keramidas joined AOTA as executive director in May 2018. 

“We are grateful for Dr. Keramidas’ innovative and forward-thinking leadership during her five years as our executive director,” said Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP, AOTA President. “She has been a perpetual champion for occupational therapy and our profession’s ability to be a leader in reinvention amid an unpredictable landscape. I am particularly grateful for her vision throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, during which she illuminated the opportunities within the challenges and led us to see our greatest potential.”  

Dr. Keramidas previously served as the Executive Director of the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society and as the Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Dentists. She also served in leadership positions at the American Physical Therapy Association and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and she served as a Special Consultant to the National Institutes of Health. 

“It has been an honor to serve AOTA and the occupational therapy profession for the past five years,” said Dr. Keramidas. “I gained unique perspectives on the profession, its history, and the important roles it will pursue in the future. I look forward to seeing AOTA continue to grow and propel the profession toward the future." 

The AOTA Board of Directors will appoint an external interim executive director no later than July 1, 2023, and will lead the search for a new permanent executive director. The goal is to have the new executive director in place by December 31, 2023.  

“Our appointment of an experienced external interim executive director will ensure continuity of all of AOTA’s initiatives for our members and for the profession, while also allowing us the time we need to conduct a thorough search for a new permanent leader,” said Stover. 

The AOTA Board of Directors’ Interim Director Task Force is leading the selection of the external interim executive director, in partnership with a specialized search firm. The Task Force members are Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP, AOTA President; Arameh Anvarizadeh, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, AOTA Vice President; Victoria Garcia Wilburn, DHSc, OTR, FAOTA; Amy Mahle, MHA, COTA/L, ROH; and Timothy Pickering, Consumer Advisor.  

About AOTA
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 230,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. Occupational therapy practitioners facilitate participation in everyday living for people of all ages. 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 North 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, visit www.aota.org.