Baum recognized by AOTA and AOTF for her lifetime contributions to profession

We are proud to announce that M. Carolyn Baum, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Elias Michael Executive Director of the Program in Occupational Therapy and professor of occupational therapy, of neurology and of social work, was selected to receive two distinguished honors from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) in recognition of her many contributions to the occupational therapy profession and for her dedication to improving people’s lives through meaningful participation.

Baum was named as one of AOTA’s 100 Most Influential People who have shaped the profession’s 100-year history in celebration of occupational therapy’s Centennial. She has also been selected by the AOTF Board of Trustees to receive the 2017 Meritorious Service Award in acknowledgement of the extraordinary leadership and service she has provided to the Foundation in developing and implementing its mission to train scientists and funding pilot research grants.

Baum has dedicated the past fifty years of her life to focusing on the power of occupation to promote health and wellness. Her leadership; contributions to research, literature and theory; globally-used assessment tools and teachings; commitment to developing occupational science; and advocacy for policy reform have profoundly impacted the profession.

Baum has held key leadership roles in AOTA including president from 1982 to 1983 and again from 2003 to 2007. She served as AOTA vice-president from 1979 to 1982. Baum was a recipient of the Eleanor Clark Slagle Lectureship in 1980. She has received several major awards from AOTA including the Roster of Fellows award in 1975, the Award of Merit in 1984, the Jean Bair Writer’s Award in 2001 and AOTA/AOTF’s President’s Commendation Award in 2009. Baum was inducted into AOTF's Academy of Research in 2006.