Faculty

Jane Bear-Lehman

Associate Professor and Department Chair of Occupational Therapy

Jane Bear-Lehman

Phone: (212) 998-5825
Email:

Jane Bear-Lehman is the Department Chair in Occupational Therapy. An associate professor, Dr. Bear-Lehman's clinical and teaching specialities are orthopedics, upper limb rehabilitation, work reentry, and research. She was an associate professor of occupational therapy at Columbia University before joining NYU's faculty in 2004 and held academic positions earlier in her career at the University of Toronto and the University of Illinois-Chicago. She has over 40 publications in refereed journals and textbooks. She often presents nationally and internationally on topics related to the assessment of hand function. Her research interests center around upper limb assessment and intervention with a focus on the hand and spanning different populations. She is a co-investigator in a National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Aging (NIH/NIA) grant studying the cognitive and physical bases of disablement in adults.

Watch video now : Jane Bear-Lehman discusses how research in occupational therapy informs clinical practice.

Read more news/features on Jane Bear-Lehman:

Cellist Duo-Lin Peng Searches for the Origin of Wrist Pain with Hand Specialist Jane Bear-Lehman

That Pain in Your Wrist, Hand, and Index Finger: Occupational Therapist, Jane Bear-Lehman, Weighs In

Faculty Profile


Presentations

  • "Study of hand span and active hand mobility in healthy adults."
    Chai, S.C., Bear-Lehman, J., Ford, M., Schwartz, R., & Weichselbaum, Y. (2010, June). The 8th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), Orlando, Fl.
  • "A Vision for Clinical Research—From the Clinic to the Community"
    President's Invited Lecturer, American Society of Hand Therapists Annual Meeting, June 23, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.
  • "Transitions in Function over 2 years in a Tri-Ethnic Urban Cohort"
    Scientific paper presented by Steven M. Albert, Jane Bear-Lehman and Ann Burkhardt at The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, November 18-22, 2009.
  • "Unilateral and bilateral upper-extremity weight-bearing effect on hand function and functional performance after brain injury."
    Poster by Timothy Reistetter, Beatriz Abreu, Jane Bear-Lehman, and Kenneth Ottenbacher at The American Occupational Therapy 2009 Annual Conference and Expo, on 4/23-26/2009 in Houston, Texas, 2009
  • "Grip Strength Testing- Does visual feedback impact scores?"
    Accepted poster by Gwen Weinstock-Zlotnick (presenter), Jane Bear-Lehman, Margaret Burdo, Jennifer Eisenberg and Laura Vasquez for presentation at the 2008 ASHT 31st Annual Meeting (October 23-26, 2008) in Boston, Massachusetts, 2008
  • "Observing IADL competencies: Insights on sources of disability"
    Accepted poster by Steven Albert (presenter), Jane Bear-Lehman and Ann Burkhardt for presentation at the Gerontological Public Health, 133rd Annual Meeting (December 10-13, 2005) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2005
  • "Acquired visual impairment, environmental light, and occupational participation in older adults."
    Paper by Ann Burkhardt (presenter), Steven Albert, and Jane Bear-Lehman (presenter) at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, on 5/14/05 in Long Beach, California. 2005
  • "Hand and foot sensation and disability in high-functioning community-dwelling elderly."
    Poster by Jane Bear-Lehman, Ann Burkhardt, and Steven Albert at American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, on 5/13/2005 in Long Beach, California, 2005
  • "If you can see it, can you feel it?"
    Poster with Alexia Lantzounis, Loriel Knight, Shmary Zeilingold & Steven Albert at the American Society of Hand Therapist, 2004, Annual Scientific Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • "Use of the activity card sort in a population based study of the elderly"
    Paper with Steven Albert & Ann Burkhardt at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2004.
  • "Validation of the assessment of motor and process skills among older adults in the community"
    Poster presented with Steven Albert & Ann Burkhardt at ACRM-ASNR Joint Conference, Tuscon, Arizona, 2003.
  • "Contrast baths: What do we know about their use?"
    Poster presented with Donna Breger-Stanton, Mark Graziano & Christine Ryan at the American Society of Hand Therapist Annual conference in Los Angeles, California, 2003.
  • "Administration and management SIS annual program: Academic-clinical partnerships to facilitate evidence-based practice"
    Paper presented with Ann Burkhardt at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, 2002.
  • "Occupational therapy students' invention promotes function and nutrition of homebound elderly persons"
    Poster presented with Patricia Miller & Janet Falk-Kessler at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, 2002.
  • "How do our children use computers and electronic games?"
    Paper presented with Christine James & Erylnn Ang at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, 2002.
  • "An exploration of hand strength and somatosensory function in the well elderly"
    Poster with P. Miller, M. Adler, H. Amsel, N. Coles, F. Katz, J. Murray & B. Sweeney at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, 2002.
  • "An exploration of hand strength and somatosensory function in the well elderly"
    Poster with P. Miller, M. Adler, H. Amsel, N. Coles, F. Katz, J. Murray & B. Sweeney at the American Hand Therapy Association Annual Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, 2001.
  • "Hand strength and size in children 3 to 5 years old"
    Poster with M. Kafko, L. Mah, L. Mosquera & B. Reilly at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2001.
  • "Occupational therapy: The missing piece in pain management"
    Poster with N. Hoffman & B. Bergesen at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2001.
  • "Factors affecting delivery models of occupational therapy"
    Paper with G. DeSilva, S. Glantz, L. Gross & F. Schecter at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, 2000.
  • "How do hospitalized stroke patients spend their time?"
    Poster with G. Gillen, K. Hagen, C. Bang & A. Lupinacci at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, 2000.
  • "A pilot study for preschool norms for grip and lateral pinch"
    Poster with L. Guerrero, A. Hunt, E. Kace & C. Romanoff at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, 2000.

Degrees Held

  • Ph.D. New York University
  • M.S. University of Illinois-Chicago
  • B.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Awards

  • 2010 : President's Invited Lecturer, American Society of Hand Therapists Annual Meeting
  • 2004 : Adjunct Research Scientist, Columbia University
  • 2004 : NIH/NIA RO1 as a co-investigator
  • 1999 : 1997: 1995: Merit of Practice Award, New York State Occupational Therapy Association
  • 1998 : Nominated member in Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education
  • 1994 : Roster of Fellows, American Occupational Therapy Association

Publications

  • Bear-Lehman, J., (2012). The Issue Is—Comparison of the occupational therapy research agenda with the national institutes of health roadmap for medical research. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 1-4, doi: 10.5014/ajot.2012.002840
  • Barr, A. & Bear-Lehman, J. (2012). Biomechanics of the wrist and hand. In M. Nordin & V. Frankel (Eds.), Basic biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system (4th ed., pp. 364-394). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Bear-Lehman, J., Chippendale, T., & Albert, S.M (in press-2011). Approaches to Screening and Assessment in Geriatric Occupational Therapy, chapter 9. In K.Barney and M. Perkinson (Eds), Geriatric Occupational Therapy, 1E.
  • Albert, S. M., Bear-Lehman, J., Burkhardt, A. (2011). Mild depressive symptoms, self-reported disability, and slowing across multiple functional domains. International Psychogeriatrics,1-8. Doi: 10.1017/S1041610211001499
  • Bear-Lehman, J. (2011). The NIH roadmap: An opportunity for occupational therapy. OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health, 31, 3, 1-2. Doi: 10.3928/15394492-20110428-01
  • Bear-Lehman, J., & Poole, S. E. (2011). The presence and impact of stress reactions on disability among patients with arm injury. Journal of Hand Therapy, 24, 2, 89-94.
  • Chippendale, T., & Bear-Lehman, J. (2011). The Issue Is—Falls, older adults, and the impact of the neighborhood environment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 1–6. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2011.000729
  • Weinstock-Zlotnick, G., Bear-Lehman, J., Yu, T.Y. (2011). A test case: Does the availability of visual feedback impact grip strength scores when using a digital dynamometer? Journal of Hand Therapy, 24, (3), 266-75.
  • Bear-Lehman, J. (2011). 2010 President’s invited lecture: A vision for clinical research—from the clinic to the community. Journal of Hand Therapy, 24, 73-77.
  • Chippendale, T. & Bear-Lehman, J. (2010). Enabling “aging in place” for urban dwelling seniors: An adaptive or remedial approach. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 28, (1), 57-62.
  • Reistetter, T., Abreu, B. C., Bear-Lehman, J., & Ottenbacher, K. J. (2009). Unilateral and bilateral upper extremity weight-bearing effect on upper extremity impairment and functional performance after brain injury. Occupational Therapy International. 16, (3-4), 218-231.
  • Albert, S. M., Bear-Lehman, J., & Burkhardt, A. (2009). Lifestyle adjusted function: Variation beyond BADL and IADL competencies. The Gerontologist: The Gerontologist Advance Access, 10.1093/geront/gnp064. Retrieved from http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/gnp064v1.
  • Maher, C. & Bear-Lehman, J. (2008). Orthopaedic conditions. In C. A. Trombly Latham, & M. V. Radomski (Eds.), Occupational therapy for physical dysfunction (6th Ed., pp. 1106-1130). Baltimore: Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Spencer, S. M., Albert, S. M., Bear-Lehman, J., & Burkhardt, A. (2008). Relevance of race and ethnicity for self-reported functional limitation. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56, 553-557.
  • Weinstock-Zlotnick, G., Bear-Lehman, J., Burdo, M., Eisenberg, J., Vasquez, L., Yu, Z. Y. (2008). Grip strength testing: Does visual feedback impact scores? Journal of Hand Therapy. 21(4), 422-423.
  • Bohannon, R. W., Bear-Lehman, J., Desrosiers, J., & Massey-Westropp, N. (2007). Average grip strength: A meta-analysis of data obtained with a Jamar Dynamometer from individuals 75 years or more of age. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 30, 28-30.
  • Bear-Lehman, J. (2007). Functional evaluation of the wrist and hand. In M. Nordin, G. Andersson, & M. Pope (Eds.), Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace: Prevention of disability (2nd ed., pp. 227-236). Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  • Albert, S. M., Bear-Lehman, J., & Burkhardt, A. (2006). Disparities between ambient, standard lighting, and retinal acuities in community dwelling older people: Implications for disability. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 54, 1713-1718.
  • Bear-Lehman, J., Albert, S. M., & Burkhardt, A. (2006). Cutaneous sensitivity and functional limitation. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 22 (1), 61-69.
  • Albert, S. M., Bear-Lehman, J., Burkhardt, A., Merete-Roa, B., & Noboa-Lemonier, R. (2006). Variation in sources of clinician- and self-rated IADL disability. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 61A, 826-831.
  • Bohannon, R. W., Peolsson, A., Massey-Westropp, N., Desrosiers, J., & Bear-Lehman, J. (2006). Reference values for adult grip strength measured with a Jamar Dynamometer: A descriptive meta-analysis. Physiotherapy, 92, 11-15.
  • Bear-Lehman, J. & Miller, P. (2006). Occupational therapy. The Merck manual of geriatrics - http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmg/sec3/ch30/ch30a.jsp (4th ed.), West Point, PA: Merck.
  • Ramos, E. M., James, C. A., & Bear-Lehman, J. (2005). Children’s computer usage: Are they at risk of developing repetitive strain injury? Work, 24, 1-12.
  • Breger Stanton, D., Bear-Lehman, J., Graziano, M., & Ryan, C. (2003). Contrast baths: What do we know about their use? Journal of Hand Therapy, 16, 343-346.
  • Falk-Kessler, J. & Bear-Lehman, J. (2003). Hand function in persons with chronic mental illness: A practice concern. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 19, 61-67.
  • Bear-Lehman, J., Miller, P., Adler, M., Buononcore, J., Coles, N., Kneafsey, B., Katz-Sillman, F., & Sherman-Amsel, H. (2003). An exploration of hand strength and sensation in community elders. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 19, 127-136.
  • Bear-Lehman, J., Kafko, M., Mah, L., Mosquera, L., & Reilly, B. (2002). An exploratory look at hand strength and hand size among preschoolers. Journal of Hand Therapy, 15, 340-346.
  • Bear-Lehman, J. (2002). A word about qualitative research. Journal of Hand Therapy, 15, 85-86.
  • Bear-Lehman, J. (2002). Orthopaedic conditions. In C. A. Trombly, & M. Radomski (Eds.), Occupational therapy for physical dysfunction (5th ed., pp. 909-925). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Bear-Lehman, J., Bassile, C., & Gillen, G. (2001). A comparison of time use on an acute rehabilitation unit: Subjects with and without a stroke. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 20, 17-27.

Courses

  • OT-GE 2725 - Occupational Therapy Research
  • OT-GE 2724 - Occupational Therapy Research: Project Design
  • OT-GE 3408 - Doctoral Colloquium
  • OT-GE 2025 - Research Methods for OT

Editorial Boards

  • 1997-Present: Journal of Hand Therapy, Editorial Board Member
  • 2002-Present: OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health, Editorial Board Member
  • 2003-Present: Occupational Therapy International, Editorial Board Member
  • 2004: Medical Advisory Board for the Fifth Edition of The Medical Disability Advisor: Workplace Guidelines for Disability Duration, Editorial Board Member

Research Interests

  • Upper limb assessment and intervention with a focus on the hand