The Pitt Alumni Association recognized Occupational Therapy Associate Professor Alyson Stover as an MVP during this year's homecoming celebration. Each year, the Association honors several distinguished alumni for their personal and professional accomplishments as well as their outstanding service to the University. As the recipient of the Ivan and Mary Novick Award for Young Alumni Leadership, Stover was selected for her entrepreneurial spirit, fierce advocacy and many contributions to the Pitt community.
Stover is the founder and director of Clinical Services for Capable Kids, a private outpatient pediatric practice north of Pittsburgh that provides multiple therapy services in addition to occupational therapy. She's also president-elect of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the first Pitt faculty member to hold this national leadership position.
Earning her bachelor's and master's degrees through SHRS, Stover also holds a Juris Doctor degree and a post-graduate certificate in health law from Pitt. According to Pennsylvania Representative Mark Longietti, Stover is a “fantastic advocate-therapist to have in your corner during a meeting, appealing an insurance denial or requesting an accommodation through the Fair Housing Act.”
During the pandemic, Stover led efforts to advocate for telehealth services, resulting in the state’s announcement that rehabilitation practitioners could provide telemedicine services to patients in Pennsylvania without previous reimbursement restrictions. She has also participated in Pitt Day in Harrisburg, mentoring students on how to advocate for their patients and their profession.
View the video below to see Stover receive her award and hear what it means to her.