Research/Areas of Interest
Research and scholarly interests include student success, graduate readiness, educational innovation, mentoring, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), artificial intelligence in education, health promotion, collaborative practice, and workforce development across educational and professional settings.
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Ohio University, Athens, United States, 2000
- Master of Physical Therapy, Ohio University, Athens, United States, 2002
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States, 2006
- Doctor of Health Science, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States, 2010
Biography
Amy Schlessman, PT, DPT, DHSc, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Founding Director of ADEPT (Accelerated Development of Excellence in Professional Training), an innovative student success and graduate readiness program designed to support prospective graduate students, career changers, non-traditional learners, and healthcare students returning from leave of absence. She has more than 24 years of experience as a pediatric physical therapist and more than 20 years of experience in higher education, with extensive work in school-based practice, online learning, educational innovation, faculty development, student success, and workforce development.
Dr. Schlessman's scholarship and educational leadership focus on graduate readiness, educational innovation, mentoring, professional identity development, health promotion, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), interprofessional collaboration, and workforce development. Her work has been disseminated through 108 peer-reviewed presentations at international, national, state, and regional conferences, as well as more than 110 invited presentations for healthcare professionals, educators, and interdisciplinary audiences.
She currently serves as Treasurer and Board Member of the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy and as Ohio Pediatric Advocacy Liaison. Amy also serves as Chair of the Ohio School-Based OT/PT Practice Guidelines Initiative. Her recent interdisciplinary work includes development of the Universal OMNI Faces Scale, collaboration on the APTA/AOTA/ASHA Joint Statement on Interprofessional Collaborative Goals in School-Based Practice, participation in the SPARK+ Wellness Study at Tufts Medicine, and leadership of statewide and national initiatives focused on student success, school-based practice, and collaborative care.
Her contributions to education and leadership have been recognized through the 2026 Tufts University Excellence in Online Teaching Award, the 2025 Tufts University David H. Kahle Leadership Award, and the 2024 Ohio Department of Education Outstanding Special Education Leadership Award. Amy is passionate about helping learners and professionals successfully navigate educational and career transitions while creating innovative systems that promote belonging, resilience, professional growth, and lifelong learning.
Dr. Schlessman's scholarship and educational leadership focus on graduate readiness, educational innovation, mentoring, professional identity development, health promotion, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), interprofessional collaboration, and workforce development. Her work has been disseminated through 108 peer-reviewed presentations at international, national, state, and regional conferences, as well as more than 110 invited presentations for healthcare professionals, educators, and interdisciplinary audiences.
She currently serves as Treasurer and Board Member of the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy and as Ohio Pediatric Advocacy Liaison. Amy also serves as Chair of the Ohio School-Based OT/PT Practice Guidelines Initiative. Her recent interdisciplinary work includes development of the Universal OMNI Faces Scale, collaboration on the APTA/AOTA/ASHA Joint Statement on Interprofessional Collaborative Goals in School-Based Practice, participation in the SPARK+ Wellness Study at Tufts Medicine, and leadership of statewide and national initiatives focused on student success, school-based practice, and collaborative care.
Her contributions to education and leadership have been recognized through the 2026 Tufts University Excellence in Online Teaching Award, the 2025 Tufts University David H. Kahle Leadership Award, and the 2024 Ohio Department of Education Outstanding Special Education Leadership Award. Amy is passionate about helping learners and professionals successfully navigate educational and career transitions while creating innovative systems that promote belonging, resilience, professional growth, and lifelong learning.