Ronnie L. Leavitt, Ph.D.
Associate Clinical Professor

Dr. Leavitt is a licensed physical therapist. Her advanced degrees in Public Health and Medical Anthropology have provided a focus for her interest. She has been involved in a variety of community and public health arenas both nationally and internationally. As a PT her clinical expertise is in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric and adult clients with neurological disorders. Areas of interest for potential research – qualitative and quantitative – The role of culture in the provision of physical therapy services (from either the patient/ client or provider perspective). Particular cultural groups might include people from a particular ethnic or religious background, people with a disability, or people who partake in an alternative lifestyle (eg. gays or lesbians). o Examples of a specific research question could be: How does PT cultural competence relate to patient functional outcomes?; What is the “Explanatory Model” of a particular patient?; What is the relationship between patient satisfaction (for patient or family) and practitioner and/or environmental cultural competence? - Multiculturalism at UCONN – a best practice model (possibly a combination of data gathering and a project. – for any of the above groups – will need to relate to health outcome – i.e. physical, mental or social well being. - An ethnography of UCONN student with a disability or from another particular cultural group - Cross-cultural knowledge of PTs attending a APTA or CPTA meeting.- Actual research project (collecting data, analysis, etc).

•Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology, University of Connecticut, 1988

•M.P.H., Columbia University, 1975

•B.S., Boston University, 1968

« Full C.V. »

Contact Information: 

Koons Hall - 112

Phone: (860) 486-1999
Fax: (860) 486-1588

Email: ronnie.leavitt@uconn.edu

Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday

Mailing Address:
358 Mansfield Rd., U-2101
Storrs, CT. 06269-2101

Current Courses Taught:

Health Care Issues

Growth and Development Across the Lifespan and Disability Studies

Women's Health

Cross-Cultural Health Care

International Physical Therapy: the Jamaican Experience

Honors/Awards:

April 2000 Golden Apple Award for Clinical Application

April 2001-03 Appointed to APTA Committee on Cultural Competence

October 2001 APTA Diversity Award to APTA Health Policy Section, CCISIC.

Deans Leadership Award for Work to Foster Multiculturalism (May)

Marcus Garvey Award. Humanitarian Award given by St. Martins Episcopal Church,

Associations/Committees/Outreach:

Social Action Committee, Chair. Working on immigrant resettlement project.

Selected Publications/Presentations:

Developing Cultural Competence: Working with Older Adults of Hispanic Origin, March-August 2003, Section on Geriatrics, APTA

Working with People of Jewish Heritage

Disability Across Cultures

Developing Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World Part II– Jan. 2003, PT Magazine

Developing Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World Part I – Dec. 2002, PT Magazine

Cross-Cultural Rehabilitation: An International Perspective – Saunders 1999.