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Dr. William Wrightsman

William Wrightsman

Founding Chair and Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

Email: wwrights@lvc.edu

Phone: 717-867-6040

Office Location: Humanities 206-B

B.S., University of Oregon; M.S., Touro University; Sc.D., Towson University

Expertise:
Physical dysfunction and rehabilitation with adults and older adults, older adult populations, qualitative research, leadership, social justice, occupational perspectives, marginalized populations

Dr. Wrightsman came to LVC from Cedar Crest College, where he served as the founding director of the doctoral program in occupational therapy. Before Cedar Crest, he was the founding doctoral capstone coordinator at Touro University Nevada, where he taught for 10 years. His clinical background is in physical dysfunction and rehabilitation with adults and older adults. His teaching focuses on adult and older adult practice, qualitative research, leadership, and social justice.

Dr. Wrightsman has completed the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Academic Leadership Institute and the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges’ Higher Education Leaders Institute. He has also earned his Certificate in Effective College Instruction, awarded by the Association of College and University Educators and the American Council on Education.

He has presented at several AOTA Inspire Conferences and the Society for the Study of Occupations. His scholarship uses qualitative methodologies, with particular expertise in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

Professional Presentations

Peer-Reviewed

  • Harris, L., Davenport, R., D’Amico, M., & Wrightsman, W. (November 2026). Cancer Survivorship, Self-Efficacy, and Return to Work: An Interpretative Phenomenological Approach. Society for the Study of Occupation Annual Research Conference. Portland, ME.
  • Biasco, H., Havens, A., & Wrightsman, W. (September 2026). End-of-Life Caregiving: Unchosen Roles and Disrupted Occupations. Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association conference. Elizabethtown University, PA.
  • Harris, L., Davenport, R., D’Amico, M., & Wrightsman, W. (September 2026). Cancer Survivorship, Self-Efficacy, and Return to Work: An Interpretative Phenomenological Approach. Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association conference. Elizabethtown University, PA.
  • Anino, L. & Wrightsman, W. (April 2026). Sexual Experience and Intimate Relationships of Transgender Men with a Phalloplasty: A Qualitative Study. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA.
  • Harris, L., Davenport, R., D’Amico, M., & Wrightsman, W. (October 2025). Positioning Occupational Therapy within Cancer Survivorship and Work. Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association conference. King’s College, PA.
  • Hess, S., Trexler, M., Velez, A., & Wrightsman, W. (October 2025). Occupational Balance: Experiences of Faculty in Health-Related Professions. Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association conference. King’s College, PA.
  • Anino, L. & Wrightsman, W. (September 2025). Sexual Experience and Intimate Relationships of Transgender Men with a Phalloplasty: A Qualitative Study. World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Santa Ana Pueblo, NM. (accepted)
  • Esposito, N., McNeilly, S., Stephenson, F., & Wrightsman, W. (2025). Medicinal Cannabis Use on Occupational Engagement: A Phenomenological Pilot Study. Penn Partners Rehab Research Day. Allentown, PA.
  • Adebayo, T., Fink, A., Highley, V., Whittaker, A., & Wrightsman, W. (May 2023). Experiences of Nursing Students Through the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lehigh Valley Health Network Annual Research Symposium, Allentown, PA.
  • Hildebrand, A., Kaur, A., Latrech, K., & Wrightsman, W. (May 2023). Illuminating Firefighters’ Sleep Experience and Its Influence on Occupational Performance. Lehigh Valley Health Network Annual Research Symposium, Allentown, PA.
  • Wrightsman, W. B. (September 2021). Exploring How Gay Married Men Navigate Gender and Household Occupations. Society for the Study of Occupations: USA, Saint Petersburg, FL. (Rescheduled to virtual due to COVID-19)
  • Wrightsman, W. B., & Martin, S. (accepted, March 2020). Developing Community-Based Capstone Experiences: One University’s Perspective. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Boston, MA. (Canceled due to COVID-19)
  • Kwan, I, & Wrightsman, W. B. (accepted, March 2020). Transitioning Mindfully with Transgender Individuals Using Mindfulness and Coping Strategies. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Boston, MA. (Canceled due to COVID-19)
  • Kwan, I. & Wrightsman, W. B. (June 2019). Transitioning Mindfully with Transgender Individuals Using Mindfulness and Coping Strategies. Nevada Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Henderson, NV.
  • Wrightsman, W. B. (April 2019). Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to Explore Occupational Experience. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
  • Wrightsman, W. B. (October 2018). Home as a restorative place: Illuminating how stigmatization influences the occupational experience and well-being of gay married men. Society for the Study of Occupation: USA, Lexington, KY.
  • Wrightsman, W. B. (October 2017). How Gay Men Experience Same-Sex Marriage and Its Relation to Well-Being. Society for the Study of Occupation: USA, Seattle, WA.
  • Wrightsman, W. B. & Martin, S. (April 2016). Use of Simulation in Occupational Therapy Education to Provide Experiential Learning Opportunities. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Chicago, Illinois.
  • Wrightsman, W. B. & Martin, S. (April 2015). Incorporating Team-Based Learning into Established Lecture-Based Courses in Occupational Therapy Curriculum. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Wrightsman, W. B (October 2015). Pilot Study: Impact of Legalized Same-Sex Marriage on Occupational Engagement and Well-Being. Society for the Study of Occupation: USA, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Invited

  • Wrightsman, W. B., (November 2017). Touro University Nevada Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program. Nevada Occupational Therapy Association, Henderson, Nevada.
  • Wrightsman, W. B., (April 2011). Facilitated SIS Roundtable, Being a change agent for the profession: The evolving role of the clinician to educator career shift. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Wrightsman, W. B., (September 2009). Interventions for clients with arthritis. Touro University Nevada, Henderson, Nevada –School of Occupational Therapy (OCCT651). Henderson, Nevada.
  • Wrightsman, W. B., (September 2008). Student perspectives on transition to entry-level practice. Nevada Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Henderson, Nevada.

 

Publications
  • Lankford, A., Wrightsman, W., & Jozkowski, A. (2023). The experience of school-age assistive technology users and their families during emergency remote instruction and the impact on classroom engagement. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention. doi: 10.1080/19411243.2023.2232783
  • Otty, R., & Wrightsman, W. (2013). Making the move: Transitioning from practitioner to academic. OT Practice, 18(4), 13-17.
  • Findley, M., & Wrightsman, W. (2006, November). Research proposal: Assessing the needs of male gay youth related to community and social support services: A phenomenological study. The Networker, 13, 4-5.

 

Grants
  • 2021: Trexler Trust, Fully Funded: $50,000.00 (Writers: Shaulis, K., Wrightsman, W.)
  • 2020: Arcadia Foundation, Fully Funded: $50,000.00 (Writers: Shaulis, K., Wrightsman, W.)
  • 2020: Keystone Savings Foundation, Partially Funded: $10,000.00 (Writers: Shaulis, K., Wrightsman, W.)
  • 2008: Touro University Nevada Research Grant Program, Fully Funded: $6,350.00 (Investigators: Findley, M., Wrightsman, W., Picus, K.)

 

Professional Associations & Service
  • Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) Higher Education Leadership Institute (HELI)
    • HELI Mentor (2025-2026)
  • American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) (2005 – Present)
    • Coalition of Practitioners: Academic Admissions (2024)
    • Academic Education Special Interest Section (AESIS)
      • New Program Director Mentorship Program (2026-2027)
      • Faculty Mentorship Program (2019, 2025)
      • New Faculty Mentor (2018 – 2019)
    • Education Special Interest Section Election
  • Coalition of Occupational Therapists for Diversity (COTAD) (2019 – Present)
    • Minority Mentorship Program (2020 – Present)
  • Nevada Occupational Therapy Association (NOTA) (2009 – 2020)
  • Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA) (2019 – Present)
    • Abstract Reviewer for POTA 2021 Conference
  • Society for the Study of Occupation: USA (SSO: USA)
    • Abstract Reviewer for SSO
      • 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026 Conferences
    • Invited judge for student poster competition for SSO
      • 2021 Conference
    • Invited judge for student grant competition
      • 2024 Conference
    • Communications Committee (2015-2020)
  • Occupational Advisory Committee for Lehigh Career and Technical Institute’s Emerging Healthcare Professionals (2025)

 

Selected Education & Experiences
  • AI-Ready 2 Program (2025-26)
  • Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Quick Study Micro-Credentials (2025-26)
  • AOTA Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) Interim Report Workshop (January 2025)
  • Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) Higher Education Leaders Institute (2022-2023)
  • American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Academic Leadership Institute (2021-22)
  • AOTA Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) Self-Study Preparation Workshop (February 2020)
  • AOTA Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) New Standards Workshop (February 2019)
  • Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) Training Workshop with IPA developer Dr. Jonathan Smith (May 2018)
  • AOTA Self-Study Preparation Workshop (October 2017)
  • Center for Occupational Therapy Education (COTE) Annual Teaching & Learning Institute (June 2010)
  • National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT): The Art and Science behind Writing Effective Multiple-Choice Items (May 2011)
  • NBCOT Examination Writer (2011-2012)

 

Awards
  • Touro University Nevada Alumni of the Year, April 2021
  • Employee of the Month, July 2009, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Henderson

 

Licenses & Certifications
  • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, License #OC016694 (2019 – Present)
  • State of Nevada Board of Occupational Therapy, License #08-0041 (2008 – 2020)
  • National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Certification #237669 (2008 – Present)
  • Bioness H200, Treatment of Upper Extremity Dysfunction