Gaithersburg, MD: The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT Ⓡ) announces Stephanie M. Foster, PhD, OTR/L, CYT500, a registered occupational therapist from Santa Maria, CA, has won the 2023 NBCOT Impact Award. This award recognizes occupational therapy (OT) practitioners who demonstrate exceptional professional commitment through their dedication, hard work, and outstanding OT skills to improve their clients’ overall life satisfaction and engagement in valued occupations.
Dr. Foster received the NBCOT Impact Award for her work with over 3,000 families in helping their children reach their greatest potential. At her private practice, Dr. Foster provides state-of-the-art pediatric occupational therapy to children with developmental delays and self-regulation difficulties like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She believes children progress when they are comfortable and having fun.
“Our focus is to teach new skills and empower kids to meet challenges, but make it feel like play, not work”.
Dr. Stephanie Foster
Parents who nominated Dr. Foster for the award cited that their children had fewer outbursts and fights at school, needed fewer reminders from teachers to stay on task, and improved interactions with siblings and peers. In addition, 100% of clients who wanted to improve their child’s functioning without the use of medication were able to do so successfully as a result of evidence-based OT therapies used in the clinic, reports Dr. Foster.
“We want to provide parents with options in how to best treat their children and find what works best for their families”.
Dr. Stephanie Foster
Dr. Foster applies her clinical expertise to improve the attachment patterns between parents and children and creates an environment where parents learn alongside their children.
“Our practice is not a stop-and-drop clinic because the transfer of skills to home, school, and the community is critical to the effectiveness of therapy. We see the best outcomes for children and parents who are supported and educated”.
Dr. Stephanie Foster
Dr. Foster earned her national OT certification in 1989. In addition to receiving the NBCOT Impact award, she received the Occupational Therapy Practice Award by the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) in 2020. Dr. Foster is a dedicated researcher, a published author, and an accomplished international lecturer. She is a former Major in the United States Army Reserve and has provided OT services abroad in Germany and Japan. For more information about Dr. Foster’s practice, visit https://kidsworktherapy.com/. For more information about the NBCOT Impact Award, visit https://www.nbcot.org/awards.
About NBCOT
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT Ⓡ) is a national not-for-profit organization that provides certification to over 218, 000 occupational therapy professionals. NBCOT develops, administers, and continually reviews its certification process based on current and valid standards that provide reliable indicators of competence of occupational therapy practice. Above all else, our mission is to serve the public interest. Initial certification from NBCOT is a requirement for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. We also work with state regulators and employers to provide information on credentials, professional conduct, and regulatory issues. NBCOT’s certification programs have received and maintain accreditation from the International Accreditation Service (IAS) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Contact: Angela Macauley / am@nbcot.org / 301-944-2104.