University Directory

Melissa A. Lesser, PT, DPT

Clinical Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Clinical Education

Melissa Lesser

Department

Office

Glasser 302

Phone

215-596-7282
Contact

Dr. Lesser is a board-certified clinical specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. She assists with overseeing clinical education experiences for graduate physical therapy students. She is the primary professor for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy II and serves as a teaching assistant in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy I. Dr. Lesser specializes in acute care physical therapy, spending most of her career at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she still works as a per diem physical therapist. At HUP, Dr. Lesser was the Co-Site Coordinator of Clinical Education. Dr. Lesser is an active member of both the PPTA and APTA. She is a member of the acute care, cardiopulmonary, and education sections of the APTA.

    • Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Drexel University
    • BS Exercise Physiology, West Virginia University

  • Peer Reviewed Publication

    Lesser M, Borst J, Dekerlegand J. Use of the postural assessment scale for stroke patients in determining acute care discharge recommendations. Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy. 2017; 8(3): 79-85. doi: 10.1097/JAT.0000000000000057.

    Selected Scholarly Activity

    Lesser M., Packel L. Educational lessions from a pandemic: Lecture recording and learning outcomes. Platform presentation at the ACAPT Education Leadership Conference, October 2022.

    Lewis S., Folkins E., Lesser M. Clinical instructor and student perspectives comparing in-person, phone call and video call clinical education site visits. ACAPT Educational Leadership Conference, October 2022.

    Lewis S., Folkins E., Lesser M. Student and clinical instructor perspectives of clinical education site visits and phone calls. Poster presentation at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting [virtual], 2021.

    Borst J., Dekerlegand J., Lesser M. Use of the postural assessment scale for stroke patients in determining acute care discharge recommendations. Poster presentation at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Indianapolis, IN, February 2015.

    Burklow K., Dekerlegand J., Journey B., Leary M., Lesser M., Schaffner L. Outcomes of an acute care patient mobility program for trauma and orthopedic patients. Poster presentation at the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference in Lancaster, PA, October 2014.

    Goodstadt N., Hirsch D., Lesser (Hunter), M. Barriers, attitudes and perceptions to the development of physical therapy residency education: a pilot study. Platform presentation at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in New Orleans, LA, February 2011.