Leah Simpkins

Leah Simpkins serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy within the College of Health Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), holding certifications including OTR/L, CPAM, CDP, and PNAP. She actively advises Pi Theta Epsilon and contributes to institutional pedagogical initiatives.

Her academic foundation was built entirely at EKU through sequential degrees: a B.S., M.S., and O.T.D. in Occupational Therapy. This institutional continuity informs her commitment to relationship-rich educational practices.

Research centers on Geriatric Occupational Therapy for aging populations, Interprofessional Education examining collaborative healthcare training models, and Relationship-rich Education pioneering student-faculty partnership frameworks. Her work bridges clinical practice with innovative pedagogy to enhance both patient care and educational outcomes.

Recent publications (2021-2023) demonstrate dual scholarly trajectories: rigorous measurement studies in physical rehabilitation contexts and transformative research in educational methodology. The interprofessional education focus spans virtual and in-person environments, while relationship-rich pedagogy explores inclusive teaching frameworks that prioritize student agency.

Recognition includes:

• College of Health Sciences Award for Service (2023)
• EKU Honorable Mention for Library Liaison Award (2023)

Professional engagement spans the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA) where she serves as Eastern District Co-Chair, and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Her Certified Dementia Provider (CDP) and Deep Physical Agent Modalities (DPAM) credentials directly inform clinical teaching, while Pi Theta Epsilon advising cultivates future occupational therapy leaders.