Martha J. Sanders
Professor of Occupational Therapy
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.
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
Courses
-
OT 511 Administration and Management in Occupational Therapy
Fall 2024 -
OT 542 Work and Ergonomics
Spring 2025 -
OT 570 Capstone Graduate Projects
Spring 2025 -
OTD 515 Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice
Fall 2024 -
OTD 527 Work and Ergonomics
Spring 2025 -
OTD 752 Knowledge Translation and Synthesis
Spring 2025
Quinnipiac Today
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