Lindsay Leigh
Program Director and Associate Professor
- Health Professions Building 2004
- lleigh@su.edu
Preferred Pronouns:
She/Her
Educational History:
Post-Professional OTD, Shenandoah University (2023); M.S., Occupational Therapy, Shenandoah University (2011); B.S., Psychology, Shenandoah University (2010)
Fields of Expertise:
- Women’s Health across all stages: Focusing on fertility, assisted reproduction, pregnancy, perinatal and pelvic health, matrescence, and maternal mental health and balance, alongside other areas.
- Occupational Balance and Wellness: Committed to helping individuals across the lifespan achieve occupational balance and enhance their overall well-being through evidence-based practices.
- Environmental Adaptations and Aging in Place
- OT evaluation and intervention across the lifespan, including pediatrics, aging adults, neurological, orthopedic, cardiopulmonary, and post-surgical populations
- Curriculum Development and Experiential Learning
- Interprofessional Education and Collaboration
Personal Highlights:
Dr. Leigh resides in Virginia and enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time outdoors. Above all, she cherishes every moment being a mom to her active, sensory-seeking preschooler.
Professional Highlights:
Dr. Leigh brings extensive experience as an occupational therapist, with a diverse clinical background spanning care from infancy to geriatrics, including end-of-life care. Her expertise includes aging in place, dementia care, environmental modifications, and women’s health. She began her journey in academia as an adjunct instructor before transitioning to a full-time role focused on fieldwork education in 2021. While no longer in a fieldwork coordinator position, Dr. Leigh remains deeply passionate about fieldwork education and is dedicated to supporting students in bridging the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice. Dr. Leigh is committed to enhancing occupational balance and well-being, empowering clients to lead meaningful lives and mentoring the next generation of occupational therapists through innovative, evidence-based teaching.
Honors & Awards:
Fall 2024 Faculty-Student Collaborative Scholarship Grant
Spring 2024 Junior Faculty Scholarship Grant
Publications:
Leigh L, Skuthan A. The Effect of IVF Treatments for Infertility on Occupational Balance. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. 2025;45(1):12-20. doi:10.1177/15394492241267255
Manuscripts in Progress:
Leigh, L., Gillispie, A., Kennedy, E., McCullough, A., Wise, A., (in preparation). The Quiet Foundation of Occupational Balance: Activities of Daily Living–A Scoping Review. Submitted to OTJR.
Skuthan, A., Foley, P., Gehman, C., Jewell, C., McKercher, S., Leigh, L. (in preparation). Episodic Care: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle in Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practice. Submitted to OT Practice.
Reume, C., Leigh, L. (in preparation). Matresense/Maternal Role Transition. In C. Reaume (Ed.), Maternal health: A foundational guide for occupational therapy practitioners.
Leigh, L. (in preparation). Occupational Therapy in Infertility and Assisted Reproduction. In C. Reaume (Ed.), Maternal health: A foundational guide for occupational therapy practitioners.
Leigh, L., Skuthan, A. (in preparation). Occupational Therapy in Infertility and Assisted Reproduction. In C. Reaume (Ed.), Maternal health: A foundational guide for occupational therapy practitioners.
Presentations:
Virginia Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA) Annual Conference (2025), Fredericksburg, VA: Workshop “Classroom as clinic: Fieldwork in academic practice settings”
Virginia Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA) Annual Conference (2025), Fredericksburg, VA: Poster Presentation “Exploring occupational therapy’s role in infertility care”
Virginia Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA) Annual Conference (2025), Fredericksburg, VA: Poster Presentation “Redefining occupational balance: Integrating activities of daily living”.
Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy (2024), Blacksburg, VA: Presentation “Demonstration of Knowledge through Assessments of Practical Skills”
Virginia Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA) Annual Conference (2023), Fredericksburg, Virginia: Poster Presentation “The effect of IVF treatments for infertility on occupational balance: A qualitative study”.
Innovation Summit for Health Professions Education (2023) Virtual: Poster Presentation “Demonstration of Knowledge through Assessments of Practical Skills”
American Occupational Therapy Association (2011) Philadelphia, PA: Panel Presentation “Hybrid learning: A future in occupational therapy education”
American Occupational Therapy Association (2011) Philadelphia, PA: Poster Presentation “Promoting disability awareness and occupational and social justice through a community-based not-for-profit arts organization”