Dr. Classen has chaired the ADED Research Committee from 2022-2024 and has received the award of excellence for her dedicated service to ADED.
During her term, the strategic initiatives of the ADED Research Committee included:
- Increasing (inter)national visibility for driving rehabilitation as an evidenced-based discipline;
- Increasing knowledge, competency, and skill to develop, access, and use the evidence-base of driver rehabilitation;
- Enhancing the rigor of ADED’s research agenda; and
- Expanding research resources to ensure confluence between best evidence and best practices.
All of the strategic initiatives were met and the Research Committee planned and successfully presented two (2023; 2024) virtual research conferences; published a paper entitled: Automated vehicles: Future initiatives for occupational therapy practitioners and driver rehabilitation specialists. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492241229993; appointed scientists and fellows as members of the committee; and developed a process and rubric for assessing scientific abstracts. The committee members have also contributed to other publications in peer reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences pertaining to driving and community mobility.
“It’s so rewarding to lead a group of diverse thinkers from the scientific and clinical community, who come together, to meet and/or exceed identified goals. Thought leadership, meticulous planning, support from ADED, and the members’ commitment and passion make up the core variables in the algorithm for the success of this committee. I deeply appreciate the dedicated contributions of all of the committee members, i.e.: Drs. Hannes Devos, Isabelle Gelinas, Peggy Barco, Emily Haffner, Mary Jeghers, Isabelle Wandenkolk, Benedict Hwangbo and Ms. Beth Gibson.”
Dr. Classen’s take-home message from her tenure as chair of the Research Committee.