David R. LeVan

  • Professor
    Occupational Therapy Program

Dave enjoys outdoor activities especially on the waters of Lake Erie.  He is a black lab dad and the oldest of two brothers and one sister.  Dave has practiced occupational therapy in a variety of settings with children and adults.  Over the past 12 years, he has served in a variety of community leadership roles including Board President of Parkinson Partners, Director of the Purposeful Movement and Wellness Program for People with Parkinson's disease, and Team Leader for Wellsville USA, a nonprofit that provides outreach educational activities on health and wellness for children and their families. Through these community leadership roles, Dave enjoys connecting classroom learning to community service opportunities that allows students to see how they can create positive change in the lives of others 

Dave was selected to serve as Gannon University Faculty Fellow in 2022.  In this role, he supports junior faculty through formal mentoring as well as faculty at all career stages through professional development programs and workshops that promote excellence in classroom teaching and career advancement.
  • Registered Occupational Therapist with The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy with a practice emphasis in Health and Wellness
  • Clinical Neuroscience (GOCCT505)
  • Neurorehabilitation Techniques (GOCCT511)
  • Master Thesis I and II (GOCCT 750/751)
  • University of Indianapolis, Doctor of Health Science, 2011
  • Gannon University, Masters in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, 2002
  • Gannon University, Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy, 1997
  • American Occupational Therapy Asscoiation 
  • Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association
  • LSVT-BIG® 
  • National Association of Home Builders® 
  • American Heart Association® 
  • PWR Moves® 

 

Scholarly achievements with students are indicated with an *

  • LeVan, D. & McDade, M. (2022). Using an occupation-based and  interdisciplinary approach to functional neurological disorder: A case  study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76 (Supplement_1),  7610500009p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.76S1-PO9        
  • Hoppe, B. & LeVan, D. (2021). Hand Atrophy. Journal of Orthopaedics for  Physician Assistants, 9(1), p e20.00022.  https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.JOPA.20.00022                                                                                                                                                
  • LeVan, D., Kiss*, K., Gaffney*, J., LaDuke*, A., Flint*, L. & Lacy*, A. (2020). Saddle  up for success: equine-assisted activities and therapy program  evaluation survey. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74,  7411500016. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S1-PO2403                                                                                                                                              
  • LeVan, D., Blatt*, A., Cummings*, C., Demyanovich*, M., Tomer*, E. &  Weightman*, J. (2020). Program effectiveness of life skills classes for  homeless veterans. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74,  7411510300. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S1-PO8400                                                                                                                                                                                                          
  • LeVan, D. (2020). The Development of a Portfolio for Academic Promotion and  Tenure for Occupational Therapy Educators. The Open Journal of  Occupational Therapy, 8(4), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168- 6408.1749                                                                               
  • Haines J*, LeVan, D. & Kauffman M. (2020). Malnutrition in the elderly:  Underrecognized and increasing in prevalence. Clinical Advisor, March  2020.  Featured article.                                                                                                                                                                
  • LeVan, D., Corrigan, J., Fillman*, K., Mack*, R. & Maslowski*, Z. (2019). Quality  of life (QOL) and reproductive choices of people with Huntington’s  disease (HD). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73,  7311505092. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.73S1-PO2008                                                                                                                                                                                                          
  • Gotham, L. & LeVan, D. (2019). Utilizing community partnerships to provide a  respite care program for people with Parkinson's disease. Journal of  Parkinson Disease, 9(s1), 172-173. https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-199900                                                                        
  • LeVan, D., Corrigan*, J., Fillman*, K., Mack*, R. & Maslowski*, Z. (2018). Quality  of life and reproductive choices of people with Huntington disease.  Neurotherapeutics, 15, 1168-1214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311- 018-00673-5                                                        
  • LeVan, D. & Gotham, L. (2016). Forming community partnerships to create a wellness program for people with Parkinson’s disease.Journal of Parkinson Disease, 6(s1), 243. https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD- 169900                                                                                   
  • LeVan, D. & Sonack, J. (2012, May 7). Hand-on engagement learning  functional anatomy in the classroom. OT Practice, May 7, 2012. Featured  Article.

Served as a primary advisor for the following Master in Science in Occupational Therapy Thesis Projects:

Replication of Shapes Using Various Color Schemes with Six and Seven Year Old Children

Attitudes about Disability within the Haitian Culture

The Effects of Music on Functional Performance on Individuals with Parkinson's Disease

Motivation in the Child with Autism:  The Use and Effectiveness of Token Reinforcement and Verbal Praise

Outcomes of Purposeful Activity and Rote Activity on Individuals with Arthritis: Clients' Self Perception

 
  • Founder and Director (2009-Present)
    Purposeful Movement and Wellness Program for People with Parkinson’s Disease
  • Volunteer Team Leader (2014-present)
    Wellsville USA
  • Gannon University Volunteer Coordinator (September 2018-present)
    Hope on Horseback
  • Consultant (2014-present)
    Huntington’s Disease Support Group of Erie
  • Board President (2009-2016, 2018-2021)
    Parkinson Partners of Northwestern Pennsylvania
  • Clinical Faculty Advisor, Little Knights Pro-Bono-Clinic (Sept. 2018-May 2021)

 

David R. LeVan

+1 8148717730
Office: M 048

Contact David LeVan