2026 AOTA Inspire Annual Conference & Expo

The faculty, staff, students and alumni of USC Chan were well represented at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 2026 Inspire conference in Anaheim, CA. With more than 130 USC-affiliated speakers/presenters, 12 USC-affiliated award winners, and an Awards Ceremony and Trojan Family Reception, this year’s conference was one to remember!

2026 AOTA Award Recipients

Pam Roberts — OT Award of Merit
Lucy Hosoda — Innovative and Emerging Practice Award
Julie McLaughlin Gray — International Service Award
Beth Pyatak — Interprofessional Collaboration Award
Beccy Aldrich — Roster of Fellows
Amber Angell — Roster of Fellows
Lisa Deshaies — Roster of Fellows
Alix Sleight — Roster of Fellows
Joan Surfus — Roster of Fellows
Michele Berro MA ’88 — Roster of Fellows
Tom Mernar PhD ’08 — Roster of Fellows
Patricia Nagaishi MA ’80 — Roster of Fellows

Feature Presentations

“Our Defining Moment: Reimagining our Future, Together”
The 2026 Presidential Address by Arameh Anvarizadeh

Download the guide guide showcasing 40 presentations featuring our faculty, staff and students. (Credit: Joseph Wei-Ping Hsieh)

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

Every effort is made to accurately recognize the USC Trojan Family; if an error or omission has been made above, please notify .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) — Fight On!

2025 AOTA Inspire Annual Conference & Expo

The faculty, staff, students and alumni of USC Chan were well represented at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 2025 Inspire conference in Philadelphia. With two faculty feature presentations, more than 80 USC-affiliated speakers/presenters and nine USC-affiliated award winners, this year’s conference was one to remember!

USC Trojan Family Reception

Our annual social reception for USC alumni, faculty and staff, students, colleagues and friends
Friday, April 4, 2025
7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Salon A
1201 Market St. (guest entrance at 1200 Filbert St.)

Feature Presentations

“Shattering Glass Ceilings: Thriving in the Shadows of Underestimation and Collective Diversity,” the Incoming Presidential Address by Arameh Anvarizadeh

“The Impact of Long COVID on Occupational Performance: Opportunities for Occupational Therapy Intervention and Research,” the American Occupational Therapy Foundation’s State of the Science Symposium featuring Shawn Roll

2025 AOTA & AOTF Awardees

Jayson Davies ’11, MA ’12 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Assistant Professor Leah Stein Duker MA ’06, PhD ’13, Postdoc ’15 | AOTF Virginia Scardina Award of Excellence

Donald Fogelberg PhD ’08, Postdoc ’10 | AOTF Leadership Service Commendation

Professor Mary Lawlor | AOTF Fred Sammons Volunteer Recognition Award

Annie Baltazar Mori MA ’00, OTD ’03 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Chantelle Rice Collins ’07, MA ’08, OTD ’09, faculty member | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Krysti Teng OS Minor ’14 | AOTA Gary Kielhofner Emerging Leader Award

Heather Thomas MA ’98 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Jennifer Weaver MA ’11 | AOTF Early Career Research Excellence Award

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

2024 AOTA Inspire Annual Conference & Expo

The faculty, staff, students and alumni of USC Chan were well represented at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 2024 Inspire conference in Orlando. With more than 100 USC-affiliated speakers/presenters and seven USC-affiliated award winners, as well as two special events, this year’s conference was one to remember!

Festschrift Retirement Celebration for Professor Sharon Cermak

An honorary academic symposium celebrating Professor Sharon Cermak and her 55-year career in occupational therapy upon her upcoming retirement
Thursday, March 21
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Rosen Centre Hotel
Ballroom D (9840 International Drive, Orlando)

USC Trojan Family Reception

Our annual social reception for USC alumni, faculty and staff, students, colleagues and friends
Friday, March 22
7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Rosen Centre Hotel
Ballroom A
(9840 International Drive, Orlando)

2024 AOTA & AOTF Awardees

Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Sarah Bream MA ’96, OTD ’09 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Katie Jordan MA ’03, OTD ’04 | AOTA Award for Excellence in the Advancement of OT and AOTA Lindy Boggs Award

Associate Professor Sook-Lei Liew MA ’08, PhD ’12 | AOTF Mid-Career Research Excellence Award and AOTA Roster of Fellows

Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Daniel Park MA ’09, OTD ’10 | 2024 AOTA International Service Award

Associate Professor Bobbi Pineda | AOTF Academy of Research

Rachel Proffitt Postdoc ’14 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy Samia Rafeedie MA ’05, OTD ’06 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

2023 AOTA Inspire Annual Conference & Expo

The faculty, staff, students and alumni of USC Chan were strongly represented at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 2023 Inspire conference in Kansas City. With more than 100 USC-affiliated speakers/presenters and nine USC-affiliated award winners, including the 2023 Eleanor Clarke Slagle lecture by Professor Mary Lawlor, this conference was one to remember!

2023 AOTA Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture Award

Professor Mary Lawlor

Mary Lawlor | The Mattering of “Little Things”

Occupational therapy is a complex practice encompassing both mundane and extraordinary aspects of living and learning in daily life. Dr. Lawlor will draw upon ethnographic and narrative phenomenological research to discuss the processes involved in discovering and making explicit the evidence of mattering. The phrase “little things” often signals experiences that are significant; matter deeply; and promote healing, recovery, or engagement. Alternatively, “little things,” when examined, can reveal disruptions or obstacles to achieving meaningful outcomes. Reflections will highlight how interactional, social and relational practices shape experiences and can inform our therapeutic encounters.

2023 AOTA & AOTF Awardees

Karla Ausderau MA ’00, PhD ’09 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Erna Blanche MA ’88, PhD ’98 | AOTF Virginia Scardina Award of Excellence

Stefanie Bodison ’92, MA ’94, OTD ’10 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Don Fogelberg PhD ’08 | AOTF Meritorious Service Award

Mary Khetani MA ’02 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Sook-Lei Liew MA ’08, PhD ’12 | AOTF Academy of Research

Elizabeth Pyatak ’02, MA ’04, PhD ’10 | AOTF Mid-Career Research Excellence Award

Bill Wong MA ’11, OTD ’13 | AOTA Recognition of Achievement Award

Featured Speakers during INSPIRE General Sessions

Karla Ausderau MA ’00, PhD ’09 | AOTF State of the Science Symposium Speaker

Susan Lingelbach MA ’13 | What’s So Funny About Burnout? Improv Skills for Burnout Prevention in Occupational Therapy

Aviril Sepulveda OTD ’17 | The Hidden Occupations and Co-occupations of Women: The Perinatal Period

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

2022 AOTA Inspire Annual Conference & Expo

The faculty, staff, students and alumni of USC Chan were strongly represented at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 2022 conference in San Antonio. With nearly 80 USC-affiliated speakers/presenters, nine USC-affiliated award winners and a Friday night Trojan Family Reception, this conference was one to remember!

2022 Award Winners

Mary Lawlor | Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award

Elizabeth Pyatak ’02, MA ’04, PhD ’10 | American Occupational Therapy Foundation Academy of Research in Occupational Therapy

Stacey Schepens Niemiec Postdoc ’13, Cheryl Vigen, Jenny Martínez, Jeanine Blanchard ’99, PhD ’10 and Mike Carlson | Cordelia Myers AJOT Best Article Award

Stacey Morikawa MA ’11, OTD ’12 | Distinguished Fieldwork Educator Award

Bryant Edwards MA ’05, OTD ’06 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

Jenny Martínez ’09, MA ’10, OTD ’11 | AOTA Roster of Fellows

2022 AOTA Service Commendations

Arameh Anvarizadeh ’05, MA ’06, OTD ’07 | Member, Governance Enhancement Task Force, 2019–2021

Chantelle Rice Collins ’07, MA ’08, OTD ’09 | Representative, NQF Behavioral Health Standing Committee, 2021

Bryant Edwards MA ’05, OTD ’06 | Member, Affiliated State Association Presidents (ASAP), 2020–2022; Member, Affiliated State Association Presidents (ASAP) Ad Hoc Committee, 2021; Member, Pediatric Item Writing Committee, 2021

Mary Foto ’66, Board of Councilors | AOTA Advisor, Coding and Payment Policy, 2021

Katie Jordan MA ’03, OTD ’04 | AOTA Advisor, Coding & Payment Policy, 2021; AOTA Advisor, Telehealth Advocacy, 2021

Heather Kitching MA ’02, OTD ’10 | Chairperson, Affiliated State Association Presidents (ASAP), 2021–2022

Kimberly Lenington MA ’12, OTD ’13 | Advisor, MIPS Cost Measure, 2021–2022

Jenny Martínez ’09, MA ’10, OTD ’11 | Member, Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures Committee (BPPC), 2020–2022

Julie McLaughlin Gray MA ’95, PhD ’06 | Member, COE Framework for OT Curriculum Design Task Force, 2019–2022

Rachel Proffitt Postdoc ’14 | Member, Representative Assembly Agenda Committee, 2021–2022; Missouri Representative, Representative Assembly, 2019–2022

Pamela Roberts | AOTA Advisor, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Policy, 2021; AOTA Advisor, Quality Advisory Group, 2021; Representative, NQF Cost and Efficiency Committee, 2021; Representative, NQF MAP Post-Acute Care, 2021

Shelby Surfas MA ’04, OTD ’06 | Member, Pediatric Exam Review Committee, 2021; Member, Pediatric Item Writing Committee, 2021

Jamie Wilcox MA ’13, OTD ’14 | Advisor, MIPS Cost Measure, 2021–2022

Janis Yue ’16, MA ’20, OTD ’21 | ASD Liaison, Commission on Education, 2020–2022; Contributor, AOTA DEI Toolkit, 2021; Student Rep to the Commission on Education; Assembly of Student Delegates Steering Committee, 2020–2022

Highlight Sessions

Arameh Anvarizadeh led a live panel discussion, including Jesús Díaz and alumna Esther Suh Kwon, on “Leveraging the Power of Person-Focused Care”

Katie Jordan led a live panel titled “I’m the Boss: Building Your Entrepreneurial Identity”

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

2021 AOTA Inspire Annual Conference & Expo

2026 AOTA Inspire Annual Conference & Expo

2026 AOTA Award Recipients

Feature Presentations

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

USC Trojan Family Reception

Feature Presentations

2025 AOTA & AOTF Awardees

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

Festschrift Retirement Celebration for Professor Sharon Cermak

USC Trojan Family Reception

2024 AOTA & AOTF Awardees

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

2023 AOTA Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture Award

2023 AOTA & AOTF Awardees

Featured Speakers during INSPIRE General Sessions

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

2022 Award Winners

2022 AOTA Service Commendations

Highlight Sessions

USC Faculty, Staff Members, Current Students and Alumni Presenters/Speakers

Highlight Sessions led by Trojans during AOTA Inspire 2021

2021 Award Winners