MGH Institute faculty, students, and alumni presented more than 45 posters, short courses, and workshops at the Inspire annual conference of the American Occupational Therapy Association, held March 21-24 in Orlando, FL.

“I take immense pride in the scholarly impact that faculty, alumni, and students from the MGH Institute are having on the field of occupational therapy,” said Dr. Regina Doherty, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy. “The presence and contributions showcased at this year’s annual conference underscore the remarkable outcomes of our entry-level OTD and post-professional OTD programs and  reflects the unwavering commitment of the Institute’s OT community towards academic excellence, evidence-based practice, advocacy, and fostering innovation within the OT profession.”

Highlights of the conference included associate professor Dr. Kimberly Erler, who was inducted into the AOTA Roster of Fellows. The Roster of Fellows Award recognizes OTs who have made a significant contribution over time to the profession with a measured impact on consumers of occupational therapy services and/or members of the AOTA. 

Dr. Erler was recognized for her leadership in ethics and translational neuroscience.  She is the co-investigator on two grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, and one from the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.

In addition, several second-year OTD students were recognized with AOTF scholarships.  Alison Xi received the Charles Christiansen & Beth Jones Endowed Scholarship; Alice Lee received the Lela Llorens Endowed Scholarship, and Jillian Salis received the Massachusetts OT Association Endowed Scholarship. These highly selective scholarship awards recognize students who will contribute to greater ethnic diversity in the occupational therapy profession and demonstrate leadership in their studies and community service.