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Leigh Small

  • Professor
  • Dean

About Me:

Dr. Small earned her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree from a small college, Keuka College, in upstate New York (1981) and her Master’s of Science in Nursing (1993) and PhD (2003) degrees from University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. With each successive academic position advancement, her passions for high quality healthcare, evidence-based practice and implementation of thought-provoking educational strategies has grown. For over two decades she has integrated and applied these passions with the goals of impacting healthcare practices (evidence-based ‘best practices’) and stimulating the intellectual curiosity of nurses, students, faculty and staff. She has held various successively complex and comprehensive administrative roles in nursing academia since 2004. 

Embracing the academic tripartite mission of education, research and service; Dr. Small has served as a nursing educator for greater than 25 years, held multiple leadership roles in several professional nursing organizations as well as serving colleges and universities, and she has continuously engaged in scholarship. With almost 35 years as a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, her research portfolio is based on positive approaches to parenting, child development, motivational interviewing and the synchrony of interactions between parents and young children. Given that foundation, she has studied child maladaptive responses to hospitalization and obesity interventions with young children and their parents. Her dedication to the healthcare of children and families has been recognized by Fellowship in the National Academies of Practice, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Academy of Nursing.

Education:

  • PhD, University of Rochester
  • MS, University of Rochester
  • BS, Keuka College

Interest Areas:

  • Pediatric Obesity
  • Child Maladaptation to Acute Hospitalization
  • Child Development
  • Nursing Education
  • Educational Strategies
  • Curricular Development
  • Evidence-Based Practice

Publications:

Funding:

Clinical Research

2025–2026  (Key Personnel)
What factors impact effectiveness of public health in underserved populations: Childhood obesity prevention/amelioration as an exemplar
FunderClinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI) of Southeast Wisconsin 2025 Pilot Award
M. Frenn, PI) $25,000

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


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

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

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) $9,000
 

2010 (PI)
CHiLDs PLAY.
Funder: Aetna Foundation for Healthy Communities. $50,000
 

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

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

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

2005–2006 (Co-PI) 
Healthy child program.
Funder: BHHS Legacy Foundation Grant, Phoenix Day Child and Family Learning Center (L. Garcia, 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. $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.
Funder: Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, Faculty Grant in Aid.  $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.
Funder: New York State Nurses Association, Rita C. Kopf Memorial Research Grant. $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.
Funder: University of Rochester School of Nursing, Family Research Roundtable Grant (B. Melnyk, 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.
Funder: University of Rochester School of Nursing, Small Research Faculty Grant (B. Melnyk, 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.
Funder: University of Rochester Medical Center, Project Believe Small Grants Program (B. Melnyk, PI); $25,000

2002 (PI)
Predictors of child outcomes after a pediatric intensive care hospitalization.
Funder: Susan B. Anthony Institute, Graduate Student Research Grant. $2,000
 

2002 (PI)
Predictors of child outcomes after PICU hospitalizations.
Funder: National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Foundation Grant. $2,000

Educational Research

2024–Present (PI)
Nurse Faculty Loan Program (Unique Federal Award, No.: 2 EO1HP28823-04-00) 
Funder: Health Resources and Services Administration Nurse Education. $120,076 [Total current award, $133,418]
 

2020–2023 (PI)
Nurse Faculty Loan Program (Unique Federal Award, No.: EO128823) 
Funder: Health Resources and Services Administration Nurse Education. $717,948
 

2016–2018 (Faculty Administrator and Scholarship Mentor)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing practicums in community settings program (Primary Care Options to Maximize Opportunities to Transform Education in Nursing [PROMOTE-Nursing]).
Funder: Health Resources and Services Administration Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention, Health Resources and Services Administration (T. Zurakowsky, Co-PI) $800,000
 

2003–2006 (Co-PI) 
Distance education for NNP/PNP’s in underserved rural AZ.
Funder: by Health Resources and Services Administration (J. McGrath, PI) $1,481,386

Honors & Awards:

  • 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