Congratulations to Department of Occupational Therapy Professor Debra Lindstrom, Ph.D., who has been chosen to receive the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Roster of Fellows Award at that organization’s 2015 Annual Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, April 18.
The Roster of Fellows recognizes members of of the association, who with their knowledge and expertise, have made a significant contribution to the continuing education and professional development of members of the Association. In particular, Lindstrom will be recognized for her contributions as a clinical reasoning champion, educator, researcher, mentor and advocate.
In announcing her honor, Department of Occupational Therapy Chair Dr. Ben Atchison said, “Dr. Lindstrom has a consistent pattern of creating innovative teaching and learning opportunities for her students. She is deeply committed to the professional development of her students as well as her colleagues. This is clear by her willingness to take time and effort to mentor and consult in many different venues.”
Nominators noted that Lindstrom has successfully moved from problem-based learning, to case-based learning, to team-based learning into her classes. She works to keep students actively engaged and striving for excellence as they complete unique and relevant assignments and activities. Lindstrom’s research topics span from work/ergonomics and clinical reasoning to psychometric properties of commonly used assessment instruments, and she has mentored more than 25 students, faculty and alumni in research.
Many of her considerable contributions in the area of advocacy have been with and through AARP, including co-creating and developing a program based on the AARP Home Fit Guide. The program helps older adults understand what they need to do to stay safely in their homes as long as they can and wish to do so. Due in great part to Lindstrom's work, Michigan is now seen as one of the leaders in AARP in Livable Communities, and the programs have spread to other states. In addition, Home Fit has become the foundation for many new ventures, such as CarFit, a program sponsored by AAA, AARP, and AOTA that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles fit them.
Through these and other efforts, Lindstrom has not only advocated for recipients of OT services, but has served also as an advocate for the OT profession. Says a nominator, “Every participant in a Home Fit event… has a better understanding of what occupational therapy is, and what an OT can do…because the program is presented by an OT.”