OT Award of Merit

Description and purpose

To award the highest Association honor recognizing an occupational therapist (OT) who has demonstrated extensive leadership through sustained and significant contributions to the profession.
To increase awareness of occupational therapy as a profession.
To instill in members a desire to contribute to the development and growth of the profession and the Association in clinical practice, public relations, education, recruitment, research, and/or administration.
To focus public attention on the scope of occupational therapy to the end that many may be influenced to consider occupational therapy as a career and profession.

The nominee shall have demonstrated an outstanding and extensive contribution to the profession of occupational therapy.
The nominee shall have served as a leader within occupational therapy and society, fostering growth and development of the profession and the Association. Both scholarly contribution and volunteer organizational leadership will be considered.

One award may be given per year.
If the recipient of this award is not a Fellow, they shall be designated as a Fellow of AOTA and will be presented with the Certificate for Roster of Fellows at the time the Award of Merit is announced.

OT AWARD OF MERIT