Clinical Specialty

• Neuro-Development
• Pediatrics
• Certified in Sensory Integration, including the administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT)
• Certified in the HANDLE^® Approach as Practitioner and Instructor

Education

• BA, Psychology, Yeshiva University Stern College for Women
• MA, Occupational Therapy, New York University
• OTD, Occupational Therapy, Misericordia University

Areas of Expertise

 Neuro-Development and pediatrics

 

Honors and Awards

• SHS Dept of Occupational Therapy Excellence in Teaching 2017
• Inspiring Faculty 2018 Touro College
• Dean’s Research Award 2018

Research

Agendas:

 

• Modalities and Interventions related to Neurodevelopment, Neuroplasticity and the HANDLE Approach

 

Publications

• Waldman-Levi, A., Akselrud, R., Friedman, Z., Halperin, L., Leiser, S. K., & Molinsky, R. (2025). Addressing the Needs of Jewish Clients and Students Through a Trauma-Informed Approach. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 13 (1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2343
• Buccinna, M., Collins, T., Cullinane, D., Wong, S. J., Koenig, V. E., Leiser, S. K., & Purohit, R. B. (2022). Community-Based OT Program Planning: A Virtual Level II Fieldwork Program Developed in Response to the Global Pandemic. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6 (3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2022.060318
• Bensinger-Brody, Y., & Leiser, S. (2021). Deconstructing Occupational Performance: Investigating the Impact of a Visual–Spatial Attention Intervention on Motor and Subsystem Performance. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75 (Supplement_2), 7512520374p1-7512520374p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75S2-RP374
• Molinsky, R. & Leiser, S. (2019 April 4). Closing the gap: The role of OT in providing healthcare in the context of diversity. Presentation at 2019 Annual Conference, American Occupational Therapy Association, New Orleans, LA.
• Leiser, S. (2019, January 23). Cultural humility: An approach to enhancing therapeutic rapport and outcomes with Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Clientele. Presentation at Advanced Therapy of America, Hoboken, NJ.
• Bensinger-Brody, Y. Leiser, S., Precin, P. et al. (2019, January). The Effect of isolated attention training on motor and cognitive performance. Presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Meeting, Washington, DC.
• Chiariello, B. & Leiser, S. (2018, November 11). A path to cultural responsiveness: Orthodox Jewish female students in a non-traditional fieldwork level I site. Presentation at 2018 NYSOTA Annual Conference by the New York State Occupational Therapy Association, Palisades, New York.

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Professional Service

• Invited presenter for parent support groups for families of children with special needs: National Autism Association NY Metro Chapter, TACA
• Invited presenter for Continuing Education credits on the HANDLE® Approach
• AOTA Multi-Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Network (MDI): Orthodox Jewish Occupational Therapy Chavrusa (OJOTC)
• AOTA continuing education course consultant
• HANDLE Institute Board of Directors:  Research and Development Circle

Teaching Responsibilities

• HS390:  Neuroscience
• OT480:  Professional Journeys
• OT470:  Pediatrics Treatment Lab
• OT660:  Advanced Clinical Neurology
• OT695/696:  Research Mentor
• OTHN333: Brain, Behavior, and Occupation