Quinnipiac University
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Martha (Marcy) Sanders is a professor of occupational therapy at Quinnipiac University and a certifed professional ergonomist. Her clinical expertise is in office and manufacturing ergonomics, community health promotion (children and older adults), and environmental design to optimize health. She is the chair of the university ergonomics committee which allows her to provide ergonomics services to the QU. She teaches ergonomics, research, and administration courses to graduate students and coordinates the graduate Capstone programs. She has been involved with developing low vision programs for community seniors, school-based health promotion programs for elementary schools, and adaptive sports programs in the community.

She recently received two professional certifications in lighting design and training in cognitive behavioral therapy for Insomnia. She has been involved in researching the visual and health-promoting asepcts of lighting environments to promote performance, mood, and notably sleep. Her research focuses on sleep and circadian lighting for college students and older adults in assisted living. Her interest in health promotion extends internationally as she works with Tunxis Community college to provide oral health promotion programs to children on a rural Bahmanian Island. She has published over 50 articles in peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications. Her volunteering includes adapted sports (she started a TOPSoccer program locally), volunteers in adapted skiing and the Lions Low Vision programs.

Education

  • BS, The Fletcher School At Tufts University
  • MSOSH, University of New Haven
  • MA, University of Southern California
  • PHD, Walden University

Areas of Expertise

  • Wellness/Lifestyle Medicine
  • Community Health
  • Health & Wellness
  • Occupational Medicine, Work and Ergonomics
  • Vision Rehab/Low Vision

Organization

  • Occupational Therapy

Office Location

  • Medicine, Nursing, Health Sci 362G

Mail Drop

  • NH-HSC

Experience

Prevention Works

Owner/Director

Madison, CT

1995 - Present

Quinnipiac University

Professor, Occupational Therapy

Hamden, CT

1993 - Present

Professional Sports Care, Inc.

Co-director Occupational Therapy

Meriden, CT

1991 - 1995

Hope Special Education Center

Co-director Options Program

University of Southern California Buena Park, CA

1988 - 1990

Children's Hospital of Los Angeles,

Occupational Therapist II

Los Angeles, CA

1981 - 1988

Selected Publications

Non-Peer Reviewed Journal

Circadian Lighting: OT Opportunities to Impact Overall Health with Light.

Sanders, M., Figueiro, M., Thayer, A., Muzzio, A., Cicero, K., DeMarco, T., Barnaba, S., & Bowerman, L.

1 (1) OT Practice Jan (2023)

Conference Presentation

The impact of a circadian lighting intervention on sleep, mood, & engagement: Two case studies.

Sanders, M., Muzzio, A., Cicero, K., DeMarco, T., Barnaba, S., Bowerman, L.

AOTA Annual Conference, Kansas Cit, MO, American Occupational Therapy Association (2023)

Conference Presentation

Feasibility of a circadian lighting intervention to promote sleep in college students.

Martha Sanders

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, , Washington DC, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (2023)

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Full Paper Proceedings: Feasibility of a circadian lighting intervention to promote sleep in college students.

Martha Sanders

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (2023)

Invited Speaker

Sanders, M., (2021). Light for health: Beyond rods and cones. November 28, 2021.

Martha Sanders

Sigma Xi, Hamden, CT, Quinnipiac University (2021)

Conference Presentation

Design Guidelines for Promoting Sleep Through Healthy Lighting

Figueiro, M., Rea, M., Sanders, M.

CT Public Health Association, Virtual, Quinnipiac, Mt Sinai (2021)

Non-Peer Reviewed Journal

The Impact of Sleep on Work

Sanders, M.; Thayer, A.; Guzman, C., Brown, E., Crowley, M;, Cepeda, A.

6 (4) Work and Industry Quarterly Practice Connections 31-33 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Motivations for volunteering in an adapted skiing program: Implications for volunteer program development.

Sanders, Martha; Balcanoff, Stephen

Disability and Rehabilitation 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1981466 (2021)

Peer Reviewed Journal

A school-based, interprofessional approach to sustaining oral health on an Island community

Sanders, M.J., Turcotte, C., & Johnson, P.A.

DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2020.1803818 Journal of Interprofessional Healthcare 1-5 (2020)

Conference Presentation

Lighting your Life: Keeping older adults engaged in life.

Sanders, M.

CT Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Virtual (2020)

Conference Presentation

The Impact of Lighting on close visual activities and quality of life in older adults.

Sanders, M.

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society International Virtual Conference , virtual (2020)

Chapter

Physical Dysfunction

VanOss, T., Sanders, M., & Hewitt, P.

Environmental Assessment and Modification: Home, Work, and Community 8th (Wolters Kluwer 2019)

Academic Awards, Fellowships and Grants

Lifetime Achievement Award

Academic Award | 2019-2020

American Occupational Therapy Association

Sigma Xi Lectureship Subsidy Grant

Grant | 2019-2020

Sigma Xi Research Society

Professional Designation