Awards

Gary Kielhofner Emerging Leader Award

Established in 2011, this award recognizes an occupational therapy practitioner (clinician, educator, or researcher) who has demonstrated emerging leadership and/or extraordinary service early in their occupational therapy career and whose efforts and leadership skills have contributed to moving the profession closer to achieving the goals set forth in the Association's Vision and beyond.

Description and purpose

  • To recognize an occupational therapist (OT) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA) (clinician, educator, or researcher) who has demonstrated emerging leadership and/or extraordinary service early in their occupational therapy career.
  • To acknowledge an occupational therapy practitioner who has developed the leadership capacity to serve the profession, professional associations, or the community; and whose efforts and leadership skills have contributed to moving the profession closer to achieving the goals set forth in the Association’s vision.
  • To provide incentive for occupational therapy practitioners to model, enable, and inspire leadership development of others within the profession.

Minimal requirements

  • The nominee(s) shall be an OT or OTA who has been an Association member in good standing for no fewer than three consecutive years upon nomination and presentation of the award and is not more than seven years beyond formal graduation.
  • The nominee(s) shall exemplify extraordinary leadership in one or more of the following categories:
    • Development of an emerging practice area (i.e., innovative models of community-based occupational therapy practice, embracing new technologies in treatment provision, health promotion and wellness, etc.).
    • Advocacy (i.e., regulatory, legislative, policy and reimbursement issues; advocacy for a client need within the community; promotion of occupational therapy; etc.).
    • Service to the professional Association on a state and/or national level.
    • Demonstrated contribution to the Association’s Vision.
    • Significant contribution to the body of occupational therapy knowledge.
    • Notable impact on the profession by building the leadership capacity of others (i.e., instilling the desire for leadership in others or growing leadership in their community).
    • Volunteerism that has met a significant need while inspiring others.

Specific information regarding award

  • One award may be given per year.