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Leigh Small, PhD, RN, PNP-PC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN

  • Professor

About Me:

Dr. Leigh Small brings extensive expertise to her role as Professor, drawing on a distinguished career as a nurse researcher, primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, and nurse educator. She has dedicated over 25 years to advancing nursing research and education, while also contributing significant leadership within multiple professional nursing organizations and academic institutions.

With 35 years of clinical experience as a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Small integrates evidence-based practice insights into her research and scholarly work. Her research focuses on positive parenting approaches, child development, motivational interviewing, and the study of parent–child interaction synchrony. Building on this foundation, she has examined children’s maladaptive responses to hospitalization, as well as interventions addressing childhood overweight and obesity through nutrition and physical activity promotion among young children and their families. Her work also incorporates technology-facilitated measures and interventions.

Dr. Small’s contributions to the health and well-being of children and families have been recognized through her selection as a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Small is taking on PhD students as a co-advisor.

Education:

PhD, Nursing, University of Rochester School of Nursing
MS, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, University of Rochester School of Nursing
BS, Nursing, Keuka College

Interest Areas:

  • Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention Research
  • Physical Activity and Health Behavior Research
  • Technology to Support Healthy Lifestyle Interventions
  • Child Development and Mental Wellness
  • Health Equity
  • Nurse and Nurse Practitioner Education
  • Literature Reviews
  • Evidence-based Practice
  • Nursing Leadership Development and Mentoring

Publications:

My Bibliography

Funding:

2010–2017
PI. An evaluation of an 18-month leadership academy for maternal-child nurses (annual application). Continuously funded by Johnson & Johnson Foundation.
 

2015
Co-I. Developing a tailored ADHD health communication strategy for African Americans (R15 NINR; scored 52, 50th percentile; resubmitted February 2016). National Institutes of Health (Unfunded).
 

2014
PI. Visceral Indicators of Growth or Metabolic Risk in young children (VIGOR). Funded by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing start-up funding (L. Small, PI; $15,000).

 

2014
PI. Facilitating Activity Skills-Building Training (FAST) with technology enhancement. Funded by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing Intramural Grants Program (L. Small, PI; $25,000).

 

2014
PI. PLAY! Parents Lead Active Youth (priority score, 30th percentile, first submission). National Institutes of Health (Unfunded).

 

2012
Co-PI. Facilitating Activity Skills-Building Training (FAST) with technology enhancement (Alpha Project). Funded by Health Solutions Arizona State University (K. Shea, Co-PI; L. Small, Co-PI; $9,000).

 

2012
Co-PI. FAST: Facilitating Activity with Skills-Building Training

(Priority score, 14th percentile). National Institutes of Health (Unfunded).

 

2010
PI. CHiLDs PLAY. Funded by Aetna Foundation for Healthy Communities (L. Small, PI; $50,000).

 

2009
Co-I. COPE healthy lifestyles for teens: A school-based RCT (National Institute of Nursing Research R01 NR012171). Funded by National Institutes of Health (B. Melnyk, PI; L. Small, Co-I; $2,500,000).

 

2007
PI. PLAY! Parents Lead Active Youth. Funded by National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R15DK074428, priority score 119, 2nd percentile), National Institutes of Health (L. Small, PI; $223,925).

 

 

2006
PI. Parent-Directed child-portion education: The Beary Healthy Plate! Funded by Arizona State University Center for Improving Health Outcomes for Children, Teens and Families, College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, ASU Bridge Funding (L. Small, PI; $10,000).

 

2005–2006
Co-PI. Healthy child program. Funded by BHHS Legacy Foundation Grant, Phoenix Day Child and Family Learning Center (L. Garcia, Co-PI; L. Small, Co-PI; $50,000).

 

2005
PI. Treatment and prevention intervention programs with young Latino children and their parents: Understanding the cultural context of the childhood overweight/obesity dilemma. Funded by Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, New Faculty Funds (L. Small, PI; $2,000).

 

2005
PI. COPE/Healthy Children: An intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and enhanced mental health in overweight/at-risk preschool children and their parents: A replication study. Funded by Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, Faculty Grant in Aid (L. Small, PI; $25,000).

 

2004
PI. COPE/Healthy Children: An intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and enhanced mental health in overweight/at-risk preschool children and their parents. Funded by New York State Nurses Association, Rita C. Kopf Memorial Research Grant (L. Small, PI; $3,000).

 

2003
Co-PI. COPE/Healthy Children: An intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and enhanced mental health in overweight/at-risk children, adolescents, and their parents. Funded by University of Rochester School of Nursing, Family Research Roundtable Grant (B. Melnyk, PI; L. Small, PI; $500).

 

2003
Co-PI. COPE/Healthy Children: An intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and enhanced mental health in overweight/at-risk children, adolescents, and their parents. Funded by University of Rochester School of Nursing, Small Research Faculty Grant (B. Melnyk, PI; L. Small, Co-PI; $25,000).

 

2002
Co-PI. COPE/Healthy Children: An intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and enhanced mental health in overweight/at-risk children, adolescents, and their parents. Funded by University of Rochester Medical Center, Project Believe Small Grants Program (B. Melnyk, PI; L. Small, Co-PI; $25,000).

 

2002
PI. Predictors of child outcomes after a pediatric intensive care hospitalization. Funded by Susan B. Anthony Institute, Graduate Student Research Grant (L. Small, PI; $2,000).

 

2002
PI. Predictors of child outcomes after PICU hospitalizations. Funded by National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Foundation Grant (L. Small, PI; $2,000).

Honors & Awards:

  • 2024
    Recipient, Outstanding Service Award, Michigan State University, Master of Public Health Program, Stakeholder Advisory Committee
    2024
    Recipient, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Wharton Executive Leadership Program (selected following competitive application process)

  • 2022
    Recipient, AACN Advancing Academic Leadership for New Deans Program (selected following competitive application process)

  • 2020
    Recipient, University of Colorado Innovation and Efficiency Award (highly competitive University Controller Award)

  • 2019–2020
    Mentor (selected following application process), American Nurses Association (ANA) mentorship program

  • 2019
    Grant Reviewer (selected following competitive application), American Nurses Foundation (ANF)

  • 2019
    Invited Column Editor, Pediatric Nursing Journal

  • 2019
    Invited Speaker, Navigating National Accreditation Conference, Duke University

  • 2017
    Invited Educational Thought Leader, AACN (requested to attend an AACN Think Tank)

  • 2016
    Grant Reviewer (selected), Health Resources and Services Administration

  • 2015–2016
    Fellow, Leadership in Academic Nursing Program (competitive application)

  • 2014–2016
    Mentor, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Research and External Research Academy for Underrepresented Faculty

    Mentee awarded: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing Internal Grant Program Award (01/2015–01/2017), Preliminary testing of an internet-based, culturally-tailored, yoga activity in African American women at-risk for the metabolic syndrome

    Mentee awarded: Faculty Research Fellow (10/2014–06/2016), Virginia Commonwealth University Research and External Research Academy, Preliminary testing of an internet-based, culturally-tailored, yoga activity in African American women at-risk for the metabolic syndrome

  • 2013–2019
    Invited Editorial Board Advisor, Journal of Pediatric Health Care

  • 2013–Present
    Invited Editorial Board Member, Pediatric Nursing

  • 2014
    Participant, Grace E. Harris Leadership Academy, VCU Department Chair Certification

  • 2013
    Fellow, American Academy of Nursing

  • 2013
    Fellow, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

  • 2012
    Recipient, Nurse of the Year, Innovation/Creativity, March of Dimes

  • 2012
    Reviewer, Center for Scientific Review Early Career, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  • 2012
    Winner, Most Influential Faculty by Student Winner of the Courage Award (L. White)

  • 2012
    Invited Participant, Competency Validation Panel, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)

  • 2011
    Recipient, Joyce Finch Faculty Service Award (student elected)

  • 2010
    President, Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

  • 2010–2016
    Board Member, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Foundation

  • 2009
    Clinical Expert Panel Member, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

  • 2009
    Recipient, Outstanding Educator Award from the Association of Faculties for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

  • 2009
    Recipient, Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow, National Academies of Practice

  • 2009
    Recipient, Outstanding Researcher Award from College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation, Arizona State University

  • 2009
    Invited Keynote Speaker, Evidence-Based Practice Pediatric Forum

  • 2007–2017
    Invited International Faculty Mentor, Leadership Academy, Maternal-Child Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International

  • 2004–2005
    Participant (competitive application process), Leadership Academy, Maternal-Child Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International

  • 2004–2006
    Participant (representing Arizona State University College of Nursing), Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Commonwealth Grant

  • 2003
    Recipient, Rita Kopf Award, New York State Nurses Association

  • 2001
    Recipient, Sigma Theta Tau Graduate Student Scholarship

  • 1999
    Recipient, The Outstanding Large Chapter Award, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

  • 1998
    Recipient, Clinical Excellence Award, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners, Upstate New York Chapter

  • 1998
    Recipient, Excellence in Clinical Precepting Award, University of Rochester