Associate Professor Danbi Lee, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, has been named to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Roster of Fellows for 2026. The Roster of Fellows Award honors occupational therapists who have made a sustained contribution to the occupational therapy profession through knowledge, expertise, leadership, advocacy, and/or guidance. Dr. Lee’s career exemplifies all of these pillars of the profession.
Dr. Lee will receive this award during a ceremony at the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference, April 23-25. Each nomination for the fellowship includes a seven-word statement summarizing the nominee's impact. Dr. Lee’s statement was: “scholar advancing practice through equity and innovation.”
Dr. Lee’s research focuses on innovation, equity, and impact, across two areas: community-based self-management interventions for stroke survivors and disability studies–informed evaluations of healthcare education and practice.
A key focus of Dr. Lee’s scholarship is improving post-discharge transitions and community reintegration for stroke survivors through the Improving Participation After Stroke Self-management (IPASS) program. IPASS is an innovative, occupation-based, ecologically oriented program which is now in the second year of an National Institutes of Health-funded multi-site clinical trial.
Dr. Lee also brings strong expertise in disability studies, with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. These principles inform her scholarship, which critically examines healthcare practice and education.
As a faculty affiliate with the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, she has led several research projects. This work has informed organizational and policy-level recommendations on inequities in care during COVID-19 for people of color and individuals with disabilities. As well, her projects have addressed disability competency training in medical education and employment conditions of disabled healthcare workers.
Dr. Lee is a founding member of the Occupational Therapy and Disability Studies (OT&DS) Network, leading research and knowledge translation efforts that integrate disability studies perspectives into OT practice and education. She also advances these principles through mentorship of graduate students and training for faculty. Within the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, she has been instrumental in fostering a cultural shift advocating for inclusive policies and practices that support students with disabilities across occupational therapy, physical therapy, prosthetics & orthotics, and residency programs.
Dr. Lee’s commitment to inclusive research is reflected in her role on the American Occupational Therapy Foundation Standing Committee for Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE). In this role, Dr. Lee fosters active engagement with STRIDE Scholarship awardees and promotes inclusive research practices that elevate equity across the field.
Dr. Lee has clearly established herself as a scholar, leader, and advocate whose work has made a lasting impact on OT research, education, and practice. Her work continues to strengthen the profession’s ability to serve diverse populations and promote equity in care.
Congratulations, Dr. Lee!