Alabama Occupational Therapy Association

At our annual Fall Conference in Orange Beach, AL we recognize those colleagues among us who have demonstrated outstanding service to the profession and/or community. This year’s recipients are listed below. If you were unable to attend the awards banquet, be sure to congratulate them next time you see them!

Elsie McKibben Lectureship: Dr. Gwendolyn Gray Ph.D., MA, OTR/L

Gwendolyn Gray has worked on the faculty at Tuskegee University in the occupational therapy program since 1984.Currently serving as the Program Director of the occupational therapy program she has taught courses in research, mental health, pediatrics, administration, and ethics. She has also served as the academic fieldwork coordinator. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and her PhD from Auburn University. In her clinical practice she developed the first occupational therapy program at United Cerebral Palsy in Greater Birmingham. She also worked as the chief occupational therapist at a psychiatric hospital (Hillcrest Sunshine) in Birmingham. Since working at Tuskegee University, she continued a faculty practice until 2005 in several school districts in the Central AL area. The districts include Maxwell AFB, Auburn City, Eufaula City, Lee, Montgomery and Macon Counties. She has also served as a consultant to East Central AL Mental Health.

OT Award of Excellence: Deek Cunningham, MS, OTR/L, SIPT (#2623), ATP

Deek Cunningham graduated from UAB in 1998 with his Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. His career began in the nursing home field, then transitioned to the pediatric arena working in both inpatient psychiatric units and outpatient settings. Deek later accepted a position in Florida continuing his work with the pediatric population. In 2009, he moved back to Alabama beginning a new career experience in the field of adult care burns, trauma, and home health, while continuing to work with the pediatric population. Deek is certified in Interactive Metronome, Therapeutic Listening, Sensory Integration (SIPT), and is an Assistive Technology Practitioner. He has supervised multiple Level I and Level II occupational therapy students throughout his career. Deek has recently been accepted to participate in the Graduate Certification in Low Vision Rehabilitation program at UAB which will begin early next year. He holds membership in AOTA, RESNA, and ALOTA where he will be serving as co-chair of the Membership Committee.

COTA Award pf Excellence: Sharon Bowden

OTS scholarship:Allison Jones, Alabama State University

Allison Jones is a native of Natchez, Ms and currently a second year occupational therapy student at Alabama State University. She recieved her bachelor’s degree in 2008 from Mississippi State University in Kinesiology with a concentration in Clinical Exercise Physiology. Allison is a member Alabama State University Student Occupational Therapy Association, ALOTA, and AOTA. Her interest areas of occupational therapy are industrial rehab and school-base occupational therapy.