Merits
- Jeannette Bair Writer’s Award. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) April, 2021.
- Merit Award for Service. New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA), Executive Board. October, 2019.
- Award of Merit for Service. NYSOTA, Executive Board. November 2017.
- Professor Emeritus. Erie Community College Board of Trustees. August 24, 2016.
- Service Commendation. AOTA, OTA Representative, Representative Assembly, 2015-2016. April 7, 2016.
- Roster of Honors. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). April 5, 2014.
- Award of Excellence. AOTA Awarded for "promoting occupational therapy in community mental health". April 5, 2014.
- Service Commendation. AOTA, Ad Hoc Committee on Health Care Reform, 2011-2013. April 5, 2014.
- Certificate of Recognition. New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA), Executive Board. October 23, 2011.
- Award of Merit for Service. NYSOTA, Executive Board. October 2009.
- COTA Achievement Award. NYSOTA, Executive Board. October 2005.
- Award of Merit for Service. NYSOTA, Executive Board. October 2003.
- NYSOTA Graduate Scholarship. Niagara Frontier District of NYSOTA. 2003
- RSA Federal Grant Recipient. Rehabilitation Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Education. A $9300 educational grant to fund my graduate studies in assistive and rehabilitation technology at the University at Buffalo. December 2000.
- Certificate of Merit for Service. Niagara Frontier District- NYSOTA. April 2000.
- Professional of the Year Award. Action for Mental Health, Inc. November 1994
- Alpha Sigma Lambda. Lambda Chapter, National Honor Society. State University of New York at Buffalo. 1994.
- Graduated Cum Laude and achieved Dean's List status all semesters at University of Buffalo. Also received Social Sciences Department honors- Graduate of Highest Distinction. 1994.
- Edna Aimes Scholarship. Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. 1992.
- Graduate of Highest Distinction. Also received Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. Erie Community College. 1984.
Presentations
- Merlo, David, MS, COTA/L, CPRP, ROH, Nawotniak, Stephen, MS, OTR/L, NYCPS (November 8, 2023). Teaching Skills is a Skill. 2023 NYAPRS Recovery and Rehabilitation Academy, Albany.
- Merlo, David, MS, COTA/L, CPRP, ROH; Olson, Linda, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Linkie, Christine, PhD, OTR/L, CPRP (December 3, 2022). Standing Out and Fitting In: Articulating OT's Distinct Value within Recovery-Oriented Community Mental Health Systems. AOTA Mental Health Specialty Conference, Columbus.
- Merlo, David, MS, COTA/L, CPRP, ROH; Gitlow, Lynn, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP; Battistella, Debra Battistella, MS, OTR/L; Hays, Maggie, MS, OTR/L; Bergé, Christy, OTS (April 2, 2022). Maximizing Mental Health, Well-Being, & Quality of Life on College Campuses - An Opportunity for OT. AOTA Inspire Conference, San Antonio.
- Merlo, David (April 22, 2021). OTA Panel: Emerging OTA Career Pathways - Shifting Practice Beyond Episodic Disease Management. Panel Presentation at AOTA Inspire Conference, Virtual.
- Merlo, David; Gitlow, Lynn, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP (April 8, 2021). College Student Mental Health: An Opportunity for OT. Short Course 301 at AOTA Inspire Conference, Virtual.
- Merlo, David; Cavanaugh Sharon (September 15, 2017). Utilizing Website Building to Develop Transition Readiness and Self-Advocacy with Youth. New York State Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS), 35th Annual Conference, Kerhonkson, NY.
- Merlo, David; Cavanaugh Sharon (June 26, 2017). Utilizing Website Building to Develop Transition Readiness and Self-Advocacy with Youth. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA) Wellness and Recovery Summit, Atlanta.
- Merlo, David; Tilton, Melissa; Christenson, Barb; Goulding, Bill (March 30, 2017). OTAs: Celebrating Our History, Ready for Our Future. Short Course at AOTA Conference, Philadelphia.
- Merlo, David; Linkie, Christine, MS, OTR/L, CPRP; Sullivan-Soydan, Anne, ScD, CPRP (March 29, 2017). Recovery and Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Updating OT Mental Health Practice. Full-day Institute at AOTA Conference, Philadelphia.
- Merlo, David; Gitlow, Lynn, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP (November 4, 2016). Every Day Technology Interventions for People with Serious Mental Illness. Workshop presentation at New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) Conference, Syracuse, NY.
- Merlo, David; Gitlow, Lynn, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP (April 7, 2016). Using Assistive Technology With People Who Have Serious Mental Illness. Short Course at AOTA Conference, Chicago.
- Merlo, David; Lazzarini, Ivelisse, OTD/OTR/L; Champagne, Tina, OTD/OTR/L; Burkhardt, Ann, OTD,OTR/L, FAOTA; Lehman, Regina, MS, OTR/L; Torcivia, Elizabeth, PhD, OTR; Esposito, Caitlin, MSOT, OTR/L (April 6, 2016). The Road to Relevancy in Mental Health: Discussing essentials for OT/OTA accreditation, curriculum, fieldwork, clinical practice and billing. Day Workshop at AOTA Conference, Chicago.
- Merlo, David; Cavanaugh, Sharon, BS, OTR/L (October 1, 2015). School Work-Based Learning - Mental health and the use of Technology. New York State Rehabilitation Association Summit and Transition Age Youth Institute. Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Merlo, David (May 15, 2014). Guest Lecture: Utilizing Web Technology as a Creative Intervention in Occupational Therapy. Rush University Medical Center, Occupational Therapy Department, Chicago.
- Merlo, David (April 4, 2014). MHSIS Roundtable: Building Relationships with Outside Mental Health Agencies. Short course presentation at American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Conference, Baltimore.
- Merlo, David; Cavanaugh, Sharon, BS, OTR/L; Wynn, Heather, OTS; Manikhout, Justin (April 3, 2014). Heads in the Clouds: Utilizing Cloud-based Technologies to Develop Transition Readiness and Self-Advocacy with Youth. Workshop presentation at AOTA Conference, Baltimore.
- Merlo, David; Champagne, Tina; Johnson, Marilyn; White, Suzanne (April 27, 2013). Recovery and the National Mental Health Transformation Initiative: Promoting Leadership in Occupational Therapy Practice. Workshop presentation at AOTA Conference, San Diego.
- Merlo, David (October 30, 2012). Guest Lecture: Meaningful Occupation in At-Risk Children. American International College, Occupational Therapy Department, Springfield, MA.
- Merlo, David; Cavanaugh, Sharon, BS, OTR/L; Henning, Margery, OTS (November 11, 2012). Utilizing Website Development as an Intervention for Youth Transition and Empowerment. Workshop presentation at New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) Conference, Rochester, NY.
- Merlo, David; Sheehan, Colleen, BS, CPRP; McGraw, Katherine, MS, OTR/L (November 10, 2012). Wellness Recovery Action Planning: A self-developed guide to daily living and success and the Occupational Therapy Connection. Workshop presentation at NYSOTA Conference, Rochester, NY.
- Merlo, David; Baughan, Kimberly; Singh, Nancy (July 17, 2012) Co-facilitator and developer. Regional Coordinator Training: Healthcare Reform in New York State. Webinar part of SAMHSA grant-funded project to train peers to conduct education and outreach regarding Affordable Care Act throughout New York State.
- Merlo, David (April 28, 2012). Infusing Website Development Into Academics and Fieldwork Coordination. "Technology Day" presentation at AOTA Conference, Indianapolis.
- Merlo, David (2011, October 14). OT Collaboration in a Transdisciplinary Universe. Presentation at University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Rehabilitation Science - Seminar Series.
- Co-organizer of Consortium of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Educators (CPRE) Symposium 2011, Buffalo, September 30-October 2, 2011.
- Merlo, David; Champagne, Tina OTD, OTR/L, CCAP (June 16, 2011).When Parallel Worlds Merge: Occupational Therapy and Psychiatric Rehabilitation in a Transdisciplinary Universe. United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) Conference/OT Symposium, Boston.
- Primary organizer of first national symposium on occupational therapy and psychiatric rehabilitation. Held in conjunction with the USPRA Conference. Boston, June13-16, 2011. Event was co-sponsored by Massachusetts Association of Occupational Therapy and USPRA.
- Bursen, Katherine, MS, OTR/L, CPRP; Merlo, David M., MS, COTA, CPRP; Tudano, Roseanna, LMFT, OTR/L; Champagne, Tina, OTD., OTR/L, CCAP (April 14, 2011). Infusing the New Mental Health Knowledge and Skills Requirements into OT and OTA Educational Programs. Workshop presentation at AOTA Conference, Philadelphia.
- Merlo, David (November 13, 2010). Integrating Website Development into Academics and Fieldwork Coordination: Easy High Tech on a Shoe-string Budget. Workshop presentation at NYSOTA Conference, Columbia University Medical Center, NYC.
- Merlo, David (October 24, 2009). Re-Entry Support and Jail Diversion Services as Part of Mental Health Recovery. Presentation at Re-Entry Support in Western New York Conference, sponsored by Action for Mental Health Inc., American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, Erie Community College-City Campus, Buffalo, NY.
- Merlo, David; Smith, Sarah (July 1, 2009). Occupational Therapy & Psychiatric Rehabilitation: A Natural Partnership. Poster session presented at the 34th Annual USPRA Conference, Norfolk, VA.
- Merlo, David; Bernacchio, Charles; Welkowitz, Julie (June 16, 2008). Strategies for Engaging Students: Comprehending, Applying, and Analyzing Evidence-Based Methods of Teaching in Psychiatric Rehabilitation College Education. Workshop session presented at USPRA Conference, Metro Chicago, IL
Publications
- Technology Interventions for Individuals with Mental Health Conditions. (January, 2020) OT Practice. Gitlow, Lynn; Merlo, David.
- Assisting Transition through Website Building. AOTA OT Practice Special Interest Section Newsletter (November 2016) Cavanaugh, Sharon; Merlo, David; Griffo, David; Cosmas, Jayani.
- The Force of Habit – Creating and sustaining a wellness lifestyle. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing Vol 53, No. 9, 2015. Nemec, Patrica; Swarbuck, Margaret; Merlo, David.
- Occupational Therapy's Role in Transitions (Module 4 Mental Health) PowerPoint Presentation available at: http://www.aota.org/practice/children-youth/transitions/powerpoint.aspx Schweitzer, Jo; Merlo, David.
- Computer Assistive Technology: Opportunity Knocks for OTAs Working in Schools. November 7, 2005. OT Practice, 10(20).
