Karen Jacobs Receives AOTA/AOTF Presidents’ Commendation in Honor of Wilma L. West

Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy Karen Jacobs was honored with the AOTA/AOTF Presidents’ Commendation in Honor of Wilma L. West.

Established in 1990 as a memorial to Wilma L. West, this award honors a respected leader of the profession who has made sustained contributions to occupational therapy over a lifetime of service.

Sargent’s Associate Dean for Digital Learning & Innovation, Jacobs is focused on research and scholarly pursuits which examine the interface between the environment and human capabilities. In particular, she is investigating the individual factors and environmental demands associated with increased risk of functional limitations among populations of university and middle school aged students, particularly in notebook computing, the use of iPads, wearing backpacks, and using telehealth technologies to deliver occupational therapy services. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC), and the Harvard-NIOSH Education and Research Center as well as gifts from Hewlett Packard and Microsoft.

Recipients of the Presidents’ Commendation in Honor of Wilma L. West, are viewed as a respected leader of the profession who has demonstrated sustained, exceptional contributions and service to the profession of occupational therapy over a lifetime; have participated to a considerable extent in the leadership of the Association and AOTF^® and made significant contributions that have enhanced the development and growth of the profession of occupational therapy in major ways; and have demonstrated the vision and wisdom to advance excellence in the profession.

Jacobs was presented with the honor in March at a reception at the annual AOTA INSPIRE Conference in Orlando.