Wendy J. Coster, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Background
►Home	►Background	►Courses	►Research	►Publications & Presentations	►SFA ►PEDI

► Awards and Honors

• Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship

• A. Jean Ayres Award

► Education

► Current Position

► Academic Teaching Experience

► Clinical Experience

Awards and Honors

2009 Sargent College Award of Merit – Boston University

2008 Certificate of Appreciation – American Occupational Therapy Foundation

2007 Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award – American Occupational Therapy Association

2001 A. Jean Ayres Award - American Occupational Therapy Foundation

1997 Academy of Research - American Occupational Therapy Foundation

1996 Faculty Award of Merit - Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

1993 Roster of Fellows - American Occupational Therapy Association

1991 Mary E. Switzer Distinguished Rehabilitation Research Fellowship Award

National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, US Department of Education. (Award included full-time research support for one year).

1984 Peter B. Livingston Research Fellowship. Dissertation research award.

1982 G. & C. Naumberg Doctoral Fellowship.

Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship (2008) Reprinted from BU Today (Feb 22, 2007), by Brittany Jasnoff:

Dr. Wendy Coster has been awarded the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship, the highest honor given by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Given annually to a member of the association who has “creatively contributed to the development of knowledge of the profession through research, education, and/or clinical practice,” the award was established in 1955 as a memorial to Slagle, a pioneer in the field of occupational therapy. Dr. Coster delivered her lecture entitled "Embracing Ambiguity: Facing the Challenges of Measurement" at the 2008 AOTA Annual Conference in Long Beach, California.

“Dr. Coster is an exemplary faculty member and tremendous asset to Boston University Sargent College,” says Gloria Waters, dean of Boston University Sargent. “She is truly a gifted teacher, researcher, and administrator. I am thrilled that the AOTA has chosen to celebrate her efforts with this award.”

In addition to her work as an educator and leader at Boston University, Coster helped develop two assessment tools that evaluate functional capabilities and performance in young children, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and the School Function Assessment. She has advanced theory and advocated evidence-based practice that promotes the well-being of people with disabilities. “I’m pleased that the assessments we developed really made a difference,” says Coster. “I think they really helped people focus on what children with disabilities could do as opposed to what they couldn’t do.”

Coster earned a master’s degree in occupational therapy at Boston University Sargent College and a doctorate degree at Harvard. Besides administering programs in the occupational therapy and rehabilitation counseling department, she teaches courses and conducts research on outcome measures for adults receiving rehabilitation services. Her colleagues describe her as a “gifted colleague,” whose “leadership style nurtures the growth of others.”

► Please visit AOTA's website for reprints of past Slagle Lectures (AOTA log-on required).

A. Jean Ayres Award (2001):
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) awarded Wendy Coster, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA the 2001 A. Jean Ayres Award in recognition and appreciation of her many contributions to the profession. The AOTF expressed its appreciation for her commitment to moving the profession of occupational therapy to view functional assessment in a new light. As Dr. Jean Ayres shifted practice with the introduction of the Sensory Integration tests, Dr. Coster has influenced practice through the introduction of the School Function Assessment (SFA) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Both assessments, now used throughout the world, account for children’s participation within their environment instead of solely viewing children from an impairment model. Dr. Coster is recognized in the profession as a superb researcher, mentor, and clinician.

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Education:

1986 Harvard University, Department of Psychology and Social Relations, PhD.

1975 Boston University Sargent College, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

1971 Antioch College; Bachelor of Arts

Current Position:

Boston University College of Health & Rehab Sciences: Sargent College
Head of Departments/Programs:

2008- Dept Chair, Dept of Occupational Therapy

2008- Acting Chair, Dept of Physical Therapy

2005-2008 Dept Chair, Dept of Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation Counseling

2002-2005 Program Director, Programs in Occupational Therapy

1997-2002 Dept Chair, Dept of Occupational Therapy

Boston University College of Health & Rehab Sciences: Sargent College
Faculty Appointments:

2008- Professor Occupational Therapy

1995-2008 Associate Professor with tenure Occupational Therapy

1986-1995 Assistant Professor Occupational Therapy

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Academic Teaching Experience (Boston University):

Entry-Level (BS/MSOT and MSOT) Courses:

• SAR-OT151-A1 Intro to Occupational Therapy

• SAR-OT321-A1 Research 2

• SAR-OT329-A1 Develop of Human Performance Abilities

• SAR-OT520-A1 Evidence Based Practice 1

• SAR-OT529-A1 Development of Human Performance Abilities

• SAR-OT620-A1 Evidence Based Practice 2

• SAR-OT720-A1 Applied Research Methods I

• SAR-0T901-C4 MSOT scholarly projects

• SAR-RC620-A1 Evidence Based Practice 2 (meets with OT620)

Post-Professional MS, OTD, and ScD Courses:

• SAR-HP561-OT Evidence Based Practice (on-line)

• SAR-HP618-OL Directed Research in EBP (on-line)

• SAR-HP870-A1 Theory and Research: Measurement in Rehabilitation Research

• SAR-HP715-A1 Evaluation of Developmental Deficits

• SAR-HP761-A1 Proseminar: Occupation and Development

• SAR-HP768-A1 Proseminar: Mechanisms of Therapeutic Change

• SAR-HP804-C4 Practicum: Teaching in Health Profession

• SAR-OT617S-OL Contemporary Trends in OT Practice (on-line)

• SAR-OT915-OL Evaluating Clinical Theory and Research (on-line)

• SAR-OT916-OL Practicum in Theory Analysis (on-line)

• Directed Studies: Doctoral and masters research

Clinical Experience (Occupational Therapy practice):

1978-1986 Private practice in occupational therapy for school-age children and adolescents (Greater Boston area)

1978-1981 Occupational Therapist, Norfolk Clinical Children's Center & Cutler Counseling Center, Norwood, MA

1975-1978 Occupational Therapist, Early Childhood Program, Dorchester Mental Health Center, Boston, MA

1974-1975 Occupational Therapy Clinical Intern:

Dorchester Mental Health Center, Boston, MA.
Fernald State School, Waltham, MA.
New England Medical Center, Boston, MA.
West-Ros-Park Community Mental Health Center, Boston, MA.

1971-1973 Occupational Therapy Assistant, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston, MA

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Dept of Occupational Therapy Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 (617-353-2000) Boston University | Sargent College | OT Programs | PT/AT Programs | InfoCenter

June 9, 2009