Jolly good fellows: four CHP faculty named AOTA fellows, one receives national award

By Patty Halberg on May 4, 2017

Towson University's occupational therapy and occupational science faculty adjunct professor Roxanne Castaneda; Lisa Crabtree, Ph.D.; Barbara Demchick, Ph.D.; Sonia Lawson, Ph.D.; and Marlene Riley were all honored at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) National Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 1.

Castaneda, Crabtree, Demchick and Lawson were all recognized as fellows of the AOTA (FAOTA).  

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This distinction recognizes “occupational therapists who through their knowledge, expertise, leadership, advocacy, and/or guidance 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 Association.” 

Additionally, Riley was one of only six occupational therapists nationally to receive the association's first Emerging and Innovative Practice Award.

This award “recognizes occupational therapy practitioners (clinician, educator, or researcher) who have developed innovative and/or non-traditional occupational therapy practices for under-served populations or utilized the expertise of occupational therapy in new/visionary ways to achieve significant client outcomes to keep the profession relevant and responsive to the changes occurring in health care.”

Riley has been a part of TU's faculty since 1987 and is currently a full-time clinical associate professor. Among her efforts that were recognized by this award were collaborating with colleagues to develop and offer two service-learning courses in the occupational therapy curriculum that prioritize emerging and innovative practice. She has also directed students in outreach opportunities, including working with athletes in adapted skiing programs, working with special needs at-risk children and adults in hippotherapy programs, and implementing Girl Scout programs in the criminal justice system.