Miriam E Pearman Leary, PhD

Associate Professor, Assistant Chairperson

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Department:

Human Performance - Exercise Physiology

Classification:

Faculty

Member

Organization:

West Virginia University WVU Cancer Institute

Department:

WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs

Classification:

Faculty

• BS, University of California Davis, 2009
• MS, West Virginia University, 2013
• PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2016

Publications

1. Lim J, Pearman M, Park W, Alkatan M, Machin DR, Tanaka H. Impact of Blood Pressure Perturbations on Arterial Stiffness. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology. 2015 Dec; 309(12). DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00368.2015;  PMID: 26468262
2. Lim J, Pearman M, Park W, Alkatan M, Tanaka H. Interrelationships Among Various Measures of Central Artery Stiffness. American Journal of Hypertension. 2016 Sep; 29(9). DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpw045; PMID: 27143395
3. Machin D, Leary M, He Y, Shiu Y, Tanaka H, Donato A. Ultrasound Assessment of Flow-mediated Dilation of the Brachial and Superficial Femoral Arteries in Rats. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 2016 Nov; 3(117). DOI: 10.3791/54762; PMID: 27842366
4. Pearman Leary M, Roy S, Lim J, Park W, Ferrari R, Eaves J, Machin D, Tanaka H. Non-fat Milk and Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Individuals with Android Obesity: A randomized Control Trial. Food Science and Nutrition. 2018; 6: 2104-2112. DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.767; PMID: 30510711
5. Pearman Leary M, Roy S, Lim J, Ferrari R, Eaves J, Machin D, Tanaka H. Non-fat Milk and Postprandial Hypertriglyceridemia in Individuals Who Consume a High Fat Diet. Journal of Nutrition and Intermediary Metabolism. 2018 May; 8(13). DOI: 10.1016/j.jnim.2018.05.003
6. Olfert M, Famodu O, Flanagan S, Smith E, Leary M, White J, Koenings M, Colby S, Kattelmann K, Franzen-Castle L, White A. The effect of iCook 4-H, a Childhood Obesity Prevention Program, on Blood Pressure and Quality of Life in Youth and Adults. Journal of Childhood Obesity. Vol No 3 Iss 1:4, 2018. DOI:10.21767/2572-5394.100044
7. Famodu O, Barr M, Colby S, Zhou W, Leary M, Byrd-Bredbenner C, Mathews A, Olfert M. Neck circumference positively relates to cardiovascular risk factors in college students.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018 Jul; 15(7). DOI:10.3390/ijerph15071480; PMID: 30011785
8. Eck KM, Delaney, CL, Leary MP, Famodu OA, Olfert MD, Shelnutt KP, Byrd-Bredbenner. My tummy tells me: cognitions, barriers, and supports of parents and school-age children for appropriate portion sizes. Nutrients. 2018 Aug; 10(1040). DOI: 10.339/nu10081040
9. Leary MP, Clegg EN, Santella ME, Murray PJ, Downs JS, Olfert MD. Adolescent females’ consumerism of social media’s health-related content: a mixed methods pilot study. JMIR Formative Research. 2019; 3(1):e11404. DOI:10.2195/11404; PMID: 30821696
10. Eck K, Delaney C, Clark RL, Leary MP, Shelnutt KP, Olfert MD, Byrd-Bredbenner C. The motor of the day: parent and school-age children’s cognitions, barriers, and support for breakfast. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019, 16(18):3238. DOI:10.3390/ijerph16183238; PMID: 31487827 
11. Eck KM, Delaney CL, Spaccarotella K, Olfert MD, Hagedorn RL, Dinesen A, Leary MP, Shelnutt KP, Byrd-Bredbenner C. Go Outside and play! Qualitative investigation of the cognitions, barriers, and supports for recommended active play and screentime behaviors of parents and school-age children. Journal of Childhood Obesity. 2018; 3:S1-004. DOI: 10.21767/2572-5394.100060
12. Olfert MD, Hagedorn RL, Leary MP, Eck KM, Shelnutt KP, Byrd-Bredbenner C. Parent and school-age children’s food preparation cognitions and behaviors. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2019; 51(6): 684-692. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.20192012022; PMID: 30853563
13. Eck KM, Delaney CL, Olfert MD, Hagedorn RL, Leary MP, Santella ME, Clark RL, Famodu OA, Shelnutt KP, Byrd-Bredbenner C. Parents’ and kids’ eating away from home cognitions. British Food Journal. 2019 Apr; 121(5) 1168-1182. DOI:10.1108/BFJ-07-2018-0431
14. Hayashi K, Leary M, Tanaka H. Recovery from strenuous downhill running in young and older physically active adults. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019; 40(11): 696-703. DOI: 10.1055/a-0951-0017; PMID: 31445504
15. Leary MP, Thomas JM, Hayes RA, Sherlock LA. Evaluation of an occupational exercise training program for firefighter: mixed methods pilot study. JMIR Formative Research. 2020; 4(9):e17835. DOI:10.2196/17835
16. Leary MP and Sherlock LA. Service-Learning or Internship: a mixed-methods evaluation of experiential learning pedagogies. Education Research International. Volume 2020, Article ID 1683270, 9 pages, 2020. DOI:10.1155/2020/1683270.
17. Hayes RA, Sherlock LA, Leary MP. The role of experiential learning on self-efficacy of undergraduate exercise physiology students: a pilot study. International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology. 2020; 15(2): 1-13.
18. Leary MP, Morewood A, and Bryner RW. A controlled intervention to improve freshman retention in a STEM-based physiology major. Advances in Physiology Education. 2020; 44: 334-343. DOI: 10.1152/advan.00038.2020
19. Leary MP and Tanaka H. The role of fluid milk in attenuating postprandial hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Nutrients. 2020; 12(12): 3806. DOI: 10.339/nu12123806
20. Leary MP and Bryner RW. An exploratory study of freshman attrition from an Appalachian physiology program. Advances in Physiology Education. 2021; 45: 501-510. DOI:10.1152/advan.00036.2020
21. Leary MP, Alexander Tylka, Victoria Corsi, and Bryner RW. The effect of first-year seminar classroom design on social integration and retention of STEM first-time, full-time college freshman. Education Research International, vol. 2021, Article ID 4262905, 9 pages, 2021. DOI:10.1155/2021/4262905
22. Leary, M, Bryner, R, & Eddo, O. Lessons Learned During the Pandemic: Recommendations for Kinesiology Programs’ Emerging Future. Kinesiology Review. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2021-0050.
23. Leary M, Leary B, Sherlock L. Evaluating 5% Healthier: an e-service learning teleexercise program for undergraduate and graduate students in exercise physiology. Education Research International. 2022. DOI:10.1155/2022/2889945
24. Leary M, Donley D, Watson S, Hewitt L, Bryner R, Leary B. First-generation college freshmen's perceptions of academic prepared for physiology-related major informs academic development strategy recommendations. Advances in Physiology Education. 47: 159-165, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/advan.00152.2022
25. Leary M, DiDio L, Bonner D, Bryner R, Leary B. Peer-supported physical activity intervention for academic probation freshmen in a physiology-related major: a feasibility study. Advances in Physiology Education. 47:657-664, 2023. DOI:10.1152/advan.00021.2023
26. Sherlock L, Leary B, Naylor O, Ryan E, Leary M. Comparing an aquatic and land reduced exertion high intensity interval training in young, sedentary adults. Int J Res Ex Phys. 19(1):19-31, 2023.
27. Leary B, Bryner R, Leary M. Experimental evidence on a light-touch personalized email intervention on physiology undergraduate students. Advances in Physiology Education. 47:865-870, 2023.  DOI:10.1152/advan.00124.2023 
28. Dewig H, Au J, Cohen J, Renaghan E, Leary M, Leary B, Tenan M. Are wearable photoplethysmogram-based heart rate variability measures equivalent to an electrocardiogram? Sports Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02066-5 
29. Sherlock L, Rice M, Leary M. A scoping review of arthritis foundation exercise programming. Actividad Aquatico. 8(14), 2024.
30. Leary M, Wei F, Layne A, Nardella E, Sherlock L, Ryan E, Thomas J, Leary B, Maynor M. Freshman cohort scheduling improves social integration and perceptions of faculty. Adv Physiol Educ 48: 603–608, 2024.
31. Sherlock L, Ryan E, Leary M. Examining exercise habits and stress management strategies among incoming STEM freshmen. Educational Practices in Kinesiology. 4(1):5, 2024.
32. Ryan, E. J., Sherlock, L., Ryan, E., & Leary, M. Qualitative assessment of the views of academic honesty among freshmen in a physiology-based program. Advances in Physiology Education, 49(2), 291-296 (2025).
33. Leary B and Leary M. A framework for workplace health programs in public safety. TSAC Report (76), 14-19. (2025)
34. Walker J, Campbell I, Leary M. Undergraduate student perceptions of course-based mental wellness trainings. Academia Mental Health and Well-Being 2025;2. https://doi.org/10.20935/MHealthWellB7631
35. Campbell I, Walker J, Bryner R, Leary M. “That’s all I do, is school”: A mixed methods evaluation of undergraduate physiology students’ perceptions of stress. Advances in Physiology Education, 49: 550-557, 2025.doi:10.1152/advan.00187.2024
36. Baker K, Thomas J, Fang W, Leary M. Cadaveric dissection improves anatomy lecture grades and advanced assessment in undergraduate physiology students. HAPS Educator, 29:30-37, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21692/haps.2025.011

Awards

• Advances in Physiology Education 2025 Best Research Article Award, 2025  
• Abstract of Distinction, American Physiological Society, 2025, 2025, 2024 
• West Virginia University Nick Evans Faculty Advising Excellence Award Meritorious Recognition, 2025 
• West Virginian University First Year Seminar Instructor of the Year Award Meritorious Recognition, 2025  
• WVU School of Medicine Distinguished Teacher Award for the Professional Junior Category, 2022 
• Award for Excellence in Service-Learning Instruction from WVU Center for Service and Learning, 2020 
• University of Texas at Austin Office of Graduate Studies Dissertation Writing Fellowship, 2016 
• Texas New Scholar Award, University of Texas at Austin, 2013 – 2016 
• West Virginia University School of Medicine Outstanding Clinical Masters Student Award, 2012 

Funding

• American Physiology Society Dependent Care Award $500, 2026
• Provost’s Transform This! Challenge 2020. Awarded $1500 for Exercise is Medicine on Campus
• Community Engagement Grant 2020. Awarded $5,000 for rural community Exercise is Medicine initiative.
• Office of Health Promotion and Wellness 2021. Awarded $18,000 for Mountaineers Move.

Biography

Dr. Miriam Leary is Associate Professor and Assistant Chair in the Division of Exercise Physiology within the West Virginia University School of Medicine. She serves as a faculty leader for the undergraduate Exercise Physiology program, one of the largest academic programs at WVU, where she oversees initiatives related to curriculum development, student success, professional preparation, assessment, and program improvement.

Her teaching and administrative work centers on preparing students for careers in health professions. Dr. Leary has led numerous curricular innovations, including the development of a four-year professional development framework, implementation of competency-based assessment strategies, and the evaluation and implementation of women’s health curriculum. She also plays a central role in academic advising and student retention initiatives, with a particular interest in supporting first-generation and academically vulnerable students during the transition to college.

Dr. Leary's educational scholarship focuses on student success, retention, professional development, experiential learning, mental wellness, and evidence-based teaching practices in higher education. Her work has examined factors influencing undergraduate retention, interventions designed to improve student engagement and academic performance, and strategies to prepare students for success in health professions programs.

In addition to her departmental leadership, Dr. Leary serves in numerous university and professional service roles. She chaired the West Virginia University Faculty Senate Recruitment and Retention Committee and serves on national committees within the American Physiological Society. She is actively involved in developing international educational partnerships and study abroad experiences that provide students with global perspectives on health, exercise, nutrition, and healthcare systems.

Dr. Leary's scholarly work spans both educational research and applied exercise science. Her publications include studies examining undergraduate retention and student success, experiential learning, service-learning, occupational wellness programs, and physical activity interventions for at-risk college students.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Human Nutrition and Foods
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cardiovascular Aging

The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Ph.D., Exercise Science
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

M.S., Exercise Science
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

B.S., Exercise Physiology
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP)
American College of Sports Medicine

Exercise Physiology

Research Program

Dr. Leary's research program spans both exercise physiology and higher education. Her work seeks to improve health outcomes through exercise while also advancing evidence-based approaches to student success and professional preparation in the health professions.  Her primary area of scholarship focuses on undergraduate education and student success. This work examines factors influencing student retention, academic achievement, mental wellness, professional identity formation, experiential learning, and preparation for careers in healthcare. Through collaborations across the university, Dr. Leary studies innovative approaches to advising, curriculum design, competency development, and student support with the goal of improving outcomes for future healthcare professionals. Her physiological research has focused on cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, vascular function, nutrition, and the role of exercise in disease prevention.

Grants and Research

• Undergraduate Student Retention and Success
• Professional Identity Formation in Health Professions Education
• Mental Wellness and Student Well-Being
• Experiential and Interprofessional Education
• Curriculum Development and Competency-Based Education
• Academic Advising and Student Support Initiatives
• Cardiovascular Physiology and Vascular Function
• Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Wave Analysis
• Clinical Exercise Physiology

Teaching

EXPH 191 First Year Seminar, 2018-2024 

EXPH 365 Exercise Physiology, 2018-2021 

EXPH 491 Professional Field Experience, 2018-2023 

EXPH 496 Senior Thesis, 2019-2024 

PT 731 Professional Development 2, 2019-2022 

EXPH 670 Lab Techniques & Methods 2, 2019-2022 

EXPH 101 Introduction to Exercise Physiology, 2020 

PA 515 Pathophysiology for Physicians Assistants, 2020-2022 

EXPH 567 Graduate Exercise Physiology, 2020 

EXPH 681 Clinical Exercise Prescription, 2020-2026 

EXPH 367 Exercise Nutrition, 2021-2026 

EXPH 667 Graduate Exercise Nutrition, 2021- 2026 

EXPH 493B Honors Add on Exercise Nutrition, 2022-2023, 2025 

EXPH 661 Clinical Research methods 1, 2021- 2026 

EXPH 662 Clinical Research methods 2, 2021-2026 

EXPH 386 Advanced Exercise Physiology, 2023-2026 

EXPH 387 Advanced Exercise Physiology, 2020, 2025-2026 

EXPH 461 Exercise is Medicine, 2024-206 

EXPH 493B Study Abroad – Performance Nutrition in France, 2024 

EXPH 493B Study Abroad – Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiwan, 2025 

EXPH 388 Advanced Exercise Physiology Labs, 2024 - 2025 

EXPH 477 Professional Development for Exercise Physiologists, 2025, 2026