Pamela Adams Wilson, MS, LRT/CTRS, FDRT

Pam has an extensive career of servant leadership to the profession at the national, regional, and state level and has acted as mentor to numerous students and practitioners throughout the years. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Recreation Administration (TR Option) and is recognized as a Distinguished Fellow by the National Academy of Recreational Therapy. As the clinical director of Recreation Therapy at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health, Pam manages inpatient, outpatient and revenue sourced recreation therapy programs in addition to aquatic therapy, massage therapy, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, and the hospital school program. Her involvement in areas of grant writing, strategic planning, marketing, public policy, and student development makes her a frequent conference presenter.

Throughout her career Pam has advocated for the promotion of recreational therapy practice through leadership positions including treasurer and president of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA); chair of the American Therapeutic Recreation Foundation (ATRF); treasurer of the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE); and founding member of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART). For over 30 years Pam served on the board of directors for SRTS, 29 years as treasurer and then retired from the board as chair. In North Carolina Pam served as president of the state association as well as chair of the Certification Board and subsequently the Licensure Board where she was instrumental in the passage of the Licensure Act that insures consumers receive competent service delivery. These contributions to the profession have resulted in the creation of the Pamela Wilson Servant Leader Award which recognizes seasoned leaders who are making a significant impact on the advancement of the profession.               

CRITERIA

This meritorious award is presented to a distinguished practitioner that has made significant, impactful contributions to the field of recreational therapy through leadership, administration, mentoring and coaching others to success.

A servant leader serves other first, listens thoughtfully, cultivates growth in the next generation of emerging leaders, and raises hope for the future.

SRTS invites colleagues and associates to nominate a deserving fellow practitioner for this distinguished honor.

Nominees must meet the following criteria to be considered for this award

1. Currently live or practice in the SRTS footprint

2. Have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the field of recreational therapy

3. Must meet at least 2 of the following:

 a) A proven record of guiding younger professionals through teaching, instructing, demonstration, advising, mentoring.     

b) Serving in a leadership position (Board member, program chair, committee chair, officer position) in a RT association at a state or regional level within the southeast or national level representing southeast interests.

c) Serving as an active committee member of an RT association at a state, regional or national level

d) Supervising interns, recreational therapy staff members, etc. who go on to serve in leadership positions

e) Partnering with recreational therapy educators and students to conduct and promote research, publications and/or lectures that add to the body of knowledge in the field of recreational therapy.