OOTA Annual Conference Awards
By Kelly Neal, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, c/NDT, CBIS
We are so proud to celebrate this year’s OOTA award recipients and the extraordinary ways they represent the very best of occupational therapy in Ohio. This year’s honorees reflect the spirit of the profession through their service, innovation, mentorship, advocacy, scholarship, and unwavering dedication to the people and communities they serve.
What makes this year’s slate especially meaningful is how clearly each recipient brings this year’s theme to life. Their work shows that passion is more than enthusiasm. It is commitment in action. It is saying yes to leadership, creating opportunities for others, sharing knowledge generously, and pushing the profession forward with courage and care. We are honored to recognize these individuals and organizations for the lasting impact they are making across Ohio and beyond.
Learn more about the award winners here.
Service Award
Category: Recognizes OOTA members whose sustained service and leadership have strengthened the association and advanced occupational therapy across Ohio.
- Ann Bartman: Ann’s leadership as Conference Chair for two consecutive years has elevated OOTA’s flagship event and strengthened professional engagement across the state.
- Kara Brogan: Kara has strengthened OOTA through dedicated leadership, generous service, and a deep commitment to practitioners, children, and families across Ohio.
- Cheryl Boop: Cheryl’s many years of board service, leadership, mentorship, and professional expertise have made a lasting impact on OOTA and the OT community in Ohio.
- Danielle McClelland-Shrimpton: Danielle has advanced OOTA through district leadership, continuing education coordination, and strategic planning service.
- Danielle Griffin: Danielle has supported OOTA’s growth through pediatric leadership, continuing education initiatives, and strategic planning contributions.
- Nathan Grizenko: Nathan has quickly become a vital OOTA leader through his dynamic communication work, newsletter leadership, and welcoming presence on the board.
- Pam Turnwald: Pam’s 18 years of dedicated district leadership and advocacy have strengthened OOTA and promoted OT across Ohio.
- Barbara Elleman: Barbara has generously advanced OOTA through continuing education, ethical leadership, and mentorship of students and practitioners.
- Stacia Galey: Stacia’s dependable leadership, mentorship, and service at the state and national levels have strengthened both OOTA and the OT profession in Ohio.
Excellence in Fieldwork Education Award
Category: Recognizes fieldwork educators in Ohio who demonstrate exceptional mentorship, ethical practice, and commitment to preparing future occupational therapy practitioners.
- Heather Swartz: Heather is an inspiring fieldwork educator whose leadership, compassion, and evidence-based mentorship foster exceptional student and patient outcomes.
- Cheryl Albrechta: Cheryl is an outstanding fieldwork educator who skillfully adapts her mentorship to support student growth, confidence, and clinical excellence.
Outstanding Fieldwork Site Award
Category: Recognizes a fieldwork site in Ohio that provides an exceptional learning environment through high-quality practice, mentorship, and professional development.
- Miami Valley Hospital: Miami Valley Hospital offers a highly supportive and educational fieldwork experience that promotes clinical growth through diverse learning opportunities and collaborative mentorship.
- Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital: Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital exemplifies excellence in fieldwork education through individualized mentorship, ethical practice, and a strong commitment to student success.
Continuing Education Award
Category: Recognizes OOTA members whose expertise, leadership, and commitment to lifelong learning have significantly advanced continuing education for OT practitioners in Ohio.
- Alyssa DeCarlo: Alyssa is a dedicated clinician and educator whose innovative leadership and commitment to hands-on learning have enriched professional development for OT practitioners.
- Ali Williams: Ali has made an exceptional impact on continuing education by preparing and supporting fieldwork educators through timely, thoughtful, and far-reaching training.
- Tara Brock: Tara is a gifted educator and mentor whose leadership, scholarship, and advocacy have profoundly strengthened OT education and professional growth.
- Bonnie Boenig: Bonnie’s decades of teaching, presenting, mentorship, and leadership have advanced occupational therapy education and inspired generations of practitioners.
- Jill Tonneman: Jill has spent decades translating evidence into practice through education, mentorship, and research that have elevated clinicians across Ohio.
- Dr. Marnie Renda: Marnie has generously advanced continuing education through teaching, leadership, scholarship, and creation of new opportunities for knowledge-sharing in OT.
- Dr. Leah Dunn: Leah has strengthened OT education and scholarship through her mentorship, presentations, publications, and leadership in creating opportunities for emerging scholars.
- Toni Durban: Toni has demonstrated sustained commitment to continuing education through workshops, presentations, committee service, and advocacy for fieldwork and OTA practice.
Pioneer Award
Category: Recognizes an individual outside the OT profession whose leadership and partnership have significantly advanced occupational therapy in Ohio.
- Steven Habimana: Steven has played a transformative role in supporting culturally responsive OT services through interpretation, advocacy, and deep community partnership.
Certificate of Appreciation
Category: Recognizes individuals or groups whose extraordinary service has significantly supported and advanced occupational therapy in Ohio.
- Bekah Bourgeois: Bekah has made exceptional contributions to OOTA through leadership, committee service, and innovative support for aging individuals and caregivers.
- Miranda Walker: Miranda advanced oncology occupational therapy through impactful system-level advocacy that expanded awareness, access, and referrals for cancer patients.
- Brianna Gaietto: Brianna has turned her passion for inclusion into meaningful community impact through innovative, disability-affirming entrepreneurship and advocacy.
- Erika Eustaquio: Erika’s leadership and advocacy have helped grow OOTA’s legislative voice and make professional advocacy more accessible to members.
Virginia Scardina Lectureship Award
Category: Recognizes an OOTA member whose research, educational leadership, or clinical expertise has significantly advanced the profession’s body of knowledge.
- Alyssa DeCarlo: Alyssa has advanced occupational therapy knowledge through innovative presentations, national leadership, and a strong commitment to collaborative education.
Jane Case-Smith Outstanding OT Student Award
Category: Recognizes OT student members of OOTA who demonstrate outstanding leadership, service, advocacy, and commitment to advancing the profession.
- Alexandra Henry: Alexandra is an exceptional student leader whose advocacy, scholarship, and compassion are already making a meaningful impact on the future of OT.
- Maia Lynch: Maia exemplifies emerging leadership through service, research, advocacy, and a deep commitment to supporting others with humility and purpose.
Sharon K. Ashworth Outstanding OTA Student Award
Category: Recognizes OTA student members of OOTA who demonstrate exceptional leadership, service, professionalism, and commitment to advancing the profession.
- Anna Fox: Anna is an outstanding OTA student whose leadership, advocacy, and service reflect a deep commitment to inclusion, family support, and community engagement.
- Alessia Black: Alessia is a dedicated student leader whose professionalism, mentorship, service, and advocacy make her an exceptional representative of the OTA profession.
OT Entry Level Achievement Award
Category: Recognizes an occupational therapist in practice for three years or less who has already demonstrated exceptional promise, professionalism, and leadership potential.
- Nathan Grizenko: Nathan has shown exceptional early leadership through compassionate practice, professional engagement, and meaningful service to OOTA.
Model Practice Award
Category: Recognizes OOTA members whose innovative, evidence-based, and client-centered practice represents excellence in occupational therapy in Ohio.
- Erika Kemp: Erika has created an innovative, evidence-based aquatic OT program that improves water safety, independence, and outcomes for autistic children.
- Danielle Nelson: Danielle has built a progressive and science-based clinical practice that demonstrates excellence in innovation, education, and client care.
- Krystin Turner: Krystin has elevated pediatric feeding practice through exceptional clinical expertise, interdisciplinary leadership, and generous professional mentorship.
- Pam Dixon: Pam has transformed acute care OT practice through visionary leadership, system-wide mentorship, and innovation in cognitive assessment and delirium care.
- Bridget Farrell: Bridget has pioneered impactful LGBTQ+ OT practice through innovative programming, measurable outcomes, and compassionate, equitable care
Award of Merit
Category: Recognizes an OOTA member whose exceptional leadership and sustained contributions have significantly advanced occupational therapy in Ohio.
- Lisa Loveless: Lisa’s distinguished career in clinical practice, education, mentorship, and innovation has profoundly advanced occupational therapy in Ohio and beyond.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Category: Recognizes an OT or OTA whose decades of leadership, service, advocacy, and excellence have left a lasting legacy on the profession in Ohio.
- Dr. Beth Ann Hatkevich: Beth Ann’s 44-year career as a clinician, educator, leader, and mentor has left an extraordinary and lasting impact on occupational therapy in Ohio.
Passion Award
Category: Recognizes an occupational therapy practitioner whose passion, dedication, and impact inspire the profession and the Ohio OT community.
- Cheryl Boop: Cheryl’s unwavering enthusiasm, leadership, and long-standing service embody the passion and heart that strengthen occupational therapy in Ohio.
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