2025 ASHT Hall of Fame Award

NOMINATION INFORMATION

Description

The ASHT Hall of Fame Award recognizes Certified Hand Therapists who have reached the pinnacle of excellence in all areas of hand therapy. The areas identified for excellence include clinical practice, research, advocacy, education, international involvement, and innovation, but this may evolve as hand and upper extremity therapy evolves.

Eligibility
Nominees for the ASHT Hall of Fame Award are Certified Hand Therapists who are ASHT members in good standing with previous volunteer and leadership experience within the Society. Nominees also must have been a previous winner of the Nathalie Barr Lectureship Award, the Paul Brand Award, the MacDermid Lifetime Scientific Award, or the Lifetime Fellowship Award. The Awards Committee will also consider nominations of deceased hand therapists who meet the criteria and would be honored for their contributions posthumously. Founding Members of the ASHT qualify for automatic nomination for the Hall of Fame Award. Members of the ASHT Board of Directors and the Awards Committee are ineligible for nomination.

Required Criteria

ASHT member in good standing OR a previous member of ASHT who is deceased

Required

Certified Hand Therapist

Required

Previous volunteer within a committee or division of ASHT

Required

Founding Member

Automatic Nomination

Previous award winner: Nathalie Barr Lectureship Award, Paul Brand Award, MacDermid Lifetime Scientific Award, Lifetime Fellowship Award

Requires minimum one award for eligibility .

Approval into the Hall of Fame requires contributions in three of the six starred (**) categories below.

** Clinical Contributions

Development of a protocol and/or clinical practice guideline supported by evidence-based practice 

Requires minimum one of these clinical contributions.

Development and promotion of a hand/upper extremity therapy fellowship and/or certificate program

Contribution to chapter in ASHT’s Test Prep for the CHT Exam

** Advocacy

Previous ASHT Board Member/Leadership contributions:

· President

· Secretary/Treasurer

· BMAL

· Division Director

· Annual Meeting Chair

Requires minimum of 2 ASHT leadership contributions.

Participation in HTCC:

· Board leadership

· Committee leader

· Test question writer

Requires minimum of 1 leadership role within Tri-Alliance and/or parent organization

Participation in AHTF:

· Board leadership

· Committee leader

Participation in parent organization

· AOTA or APTA board leadership

· AOTA/APTA committee leader

Involvement in advocacy of the hand and upper extremity therapy profession through participation in capitol hill events, meetings with CMS, etc.

Requires minimum of 1 example of advocacy for hand and upper extremity therapy.

Demonstrated leadership initiatives that furthered growth of ASHT and the hand and upper extremity therapy profession. Examples: developing legislative action center, volunteer portal

Requires minimum of 1 example of leadership initiative to improve the hand and upper extremity therapy profession.

**Education

Mentorship of therapists as evidenced by involvement in fellowship programs, teaching in PT and OT programs, fieldwork students or mentoring colleagues.

Requires minimum of 1 example of mentorship to a less experienced therapist.

Presenter of educational content for ASHT through webinars, HTRC, HOO, Annual Meeting

Requires minimum of 5 presentations.

Presenter of hand and upper extremity therapy content at meetings supported by ASHT- including AOTA, APTA, and recognized hand therapy conferences

Editor of hand and upper extremity therapy related textbook

Requires minimum of 1 example within these 2 categories.

Author of chapters in hand therapy textbooks, including Rehabilitation of the Hand, Fundamentals of Hand Therapy, Orthotic Intervention for the Hand and Upper Extremity and Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: A Practical Guide. This is not an inclusive list and other texts may be reviewed by the nominations committee. Other texts may be found on this site: https://www.htcc.org/certification/exam-preparation/preparation-materials-references

** International Involvement 

Involvement in promoting hand and upper extremity therapy internationally through service trips, companion clinic participation, and involvement in the international division 

Requires evidence of 1 example of promoting hand and upper extremity therapy on an international level.

Speaker at IFSHT conference 

Participation in international events through ASHT and/or reverse fellowship program 

**Innovation

Creating a distinguished product utilized in hand and upper extremity therapy

Requires evidence of 1 example of innovation within hand and upper extremity therapy.

Development of an association that supports the hand and upper extremity therapy community 

Development of a model of practice or innovation of an evolution of hand and upper extremity practice.

**Research

Publications in Journal of Hand Therapy

Requires at least one contribution in any of these categories.

Publications in peer reviewed journals associated with hand therapy- including AJOT, JOSPT, Journal of Pain. This is not an all-inclusive list and will be reviewed by the nominations committee. The content of the work must be relevant to hand and upper extremity therapy.

Research grants awarded relevant to hand and upper extremity therapy.

Served as a reviewer for research grants relevant to hand and upper extremity therapy.

Member of editorial review board for Journal of Hand Therapy

Reviewer of manuscripts for Journal of Hand Therapy and/or other hand therapy related peer-reviewed publications. 

Process

The Awards Committee accepts nominees from the membership and selects the award winner through a structured process. Committee-endorsed recommendations will be presented to the Board for approval. A non-monetary honor (plaque or equivalent award) will be presented at the ASHT Annual Meeting.

Frequency

Only one Hall of Fame Award is considered each year.

Requirements

  • Completed online nomination form. Nominator must write to each appliable category on the nomination form with inclusion of supportive data from the nominee’s CV. Data from the CV may not be repeated in different categories.
  • Letter of nomination from an ASHT member in good standing for at least one year establishing why the nominee meets the criteria of the award. This letter is limited to a maximum of 250 words.
  • Nominee’s current curriculum vitae.

This completed application must be submitted no later than August 20, 2025

Is the nominator a current member of ASHT in good standing for at least 1 year?
Is the nominee a Founding Member?
Is the nominee currently an ASHT member in good standing OR were they a previous member of ASHT who is now deceased?
Is the nominee a Certified Hand Therapist?
Is the nominee a previous volunteer within a committee or division of ASHT?
Is the nominee a previous winner of the Nathalie Barr Lectureship Award, Paul Brand Award, MacDermid Lifetime Scientific Award, and/or Lifetime Fellowship Award?
Nathalie Barr Lectureship Award
Please indicate the year the award was received.
Paul Band Award
Please indicate the year the award was received.
MacDermid Lifetime Scientific Award
Please indicate the year the award was received.
Lifetime Fellowship Award
Please indicate the year the award was received.
Upload requirements
Letter of nomination must be from an ASHT member in good standing for at least one year establishing why the nominee meets the criteria of the award. The letter is limited to a maximum of 250 words.
Upload requirements

Approval into the Hall of Fame requires contributions in three of the six categories considered for this award: 1) Clinical Contributions, 2) Advocacy, 3) Educational Contributions, 4) International Involvement, 5) Innovation, and 6) Research. Data from the CV may not be repeated in different categories.

Please indicate the nominee’s participation in the following:

Development of a protocol and/or clinical practice guideline supported by evidence-based practice
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Development and promotion of a hand/upper extremity therapy fellowship and/or certificate program
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Contribution to chapter in ASHT Test Prep Book
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
The nominee has served in a minimum of 2 ASHT leadership positions.
The nominee has served in a minimum of 1 leadership role within the Tri-Alliance and/or parent organization.
Leadership History
Participation in HTCC
Participation in AHTF
Participation in parent organization
The nominee has a minimum of 1 example of advocacy efforts for the hand and upper extremity therapy profession through participation in capitol hill events, meetings with CMS, etc.
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
The nominee has a minimum of 1 example of a leadership initiative to improve the hand and upper extremity therapy profession. Can be demonstrated leadership initiatives that furthered growth of ASHT and the hand and upper extremity therapy profession. Examples: developing legislative action center, volunteer portal, etc.
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
The nominee has a minimum of 1 example in which they provided mentorship to a less experienced therapist. Evidence of mentorship may be involvement in fellowship programs, teaching in PT and OT programs, fieldwork students or mentoring colleagues, etc.
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
The nominee has completed a minimum of 5 presentations in hand/UE content. These presentations may have occurred through ASHT sponsored webinars, HTRC, HOO, and/or the Annual Meeting. Presentations may have also occurred at venues supported by ASHT, such as AOTA, APTA, and other recognized hand therapy venues.
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.

The nominee has evidence of contributions in a minimum of 1 of the following 2 following categories:

1. Editor of hand and upper extremity therapy related textbook
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
2. Author of chapters in hand therapy textbooks, including Rehabilitation of the Hand, Fundamentals of Hand Therapy, Orthotic Intervention for the Hand and Upper Extremity, and Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: A Practical Guide. This is not an inclusive list and authorship in other texts may be reviewed by the Awards Committee.
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.

Please indicate the nominee’s participation in the following:

Involved in promoting hand and upper extremity therapy internationally through service trips, companion clinic participation, and/or involvement in the International Division
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Speaker at IFSHT conference
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Participation in international events through ASHT and/or reverse fellowship program
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.

Please indicate the nominee’s participation in the following:

Created a distinguished product utilized in hand and upper extremity therapy
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Development of an association that supports the hand and upper extremity therapy community
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Development of a model of practice or innovation of an evolution of practice
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.

Please indicate the nominee’s participation in the following:

Publications in Journal of Hand Therapy
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Publications in peer reviewed journals associated with hand therapy- including AJOT, JOSPT, Journal of Pain. This is not an all-inclusive list and will be reviewed by the Awards Committee.
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Research grants relevant to hand and upper extremity therapy awarded
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Served as a reviewer for research grants relevant to hand and upper extremity therapy
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Member of editorial review board for Journal of Hand Therapy
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.
Reviewer of manuscripts for the Journal of Hand Therapy and/or other hand therapy related peer-reviewed publications.
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, files, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.