Beth Pfeiffer, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Temple University’s College of Public Health, has been awarded the A. Jean Ayres Award by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF).

The award is given to one individual each year for their commitment to research-related development or testing of theory in occupational therapy.

Pfeiffer has also been elected as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), in recognition of her significant contributions to the profession of occupational therapy. Pfeiffer’s research focuses on treatment and measurement of personenvironmental interactions in individuals across the lifespan with autism spectrum and mental health disorders.

She maintains her clinical practice in the area of pediatrics. “It’s quite an honor,” says Pfeiffer of the Ayres Award. “What we do is important in the lives of many different people. For me, a lot of getting to where I am now has been because I’ve had such incredible mentorship—there are people who have come before me that I’m greatly indebted to.”

She will be recognized at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 2017 Annual Conference and Centennial Celebration, to be held in Philadelphia from March 30 to April 2