Assistant Professor

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Department:

Human Performance - Occupational Therapy

Classification:

Faculty

• PhD, University of Pittsburgh, 2015
• MSOT, Shenandoah University, 1999

Toyos, A., Cadena, M. A. R., Livengood, H., Lee, T., Hu, J., Sabel, B., Matayev, R., Wollstein, G., & Schuman, J. S. (2023). The functional effect of repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS) in a double-masked randomized clinical trial. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 64(8).

Sohn, A., Cadena, M. A. R., Lee, T., Hu, J., Sabel, B., Matayev, R., Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., & Schuman, J. S. (2023). Effect of repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS) on vision-related quality of life (QoL) in subjects with glaucoma. Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science, 64(8).

Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Wu, M., Liu, M., Achanta, P., Al-Aswad, L. A., Panarelli, J., Misra, P., Do, A., Sabel, B. A., & Schuman, J. S. (2021). Preliminary results of repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation in optic neuropathies. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 62(8).

Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Wu, M., & Schuman, J. S. (2020). Social roles in addition to daily activities are factors associated with function in glaucoma. Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science, 61(7).

Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Wu, M., & Schuman, J. S. (2019). Function and not structure in glaucoma is associated with Rasch-calibrated VFQ-25 scales. Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science, 60(9).

Baker, N. A., Livengood, H., Nau, A. C., Owens, G., Chambers, A. J., Trout, J., & Cham, R. (2017) Effects of central and peripheral vision occlusion on motor performance during hand coordination tasks. IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, 5(3-4), 148-157. https://doi.org/10/1080/24725838.2017.1398691

Bove, A. M., Baker, N. A., Livengood, H., King, V., Mancino, J., Popchak, A., & Fitzgerald, K. (2017). Task-specific training for adults with chronic knee pain: A case series. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 47(8), 548-556. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2017.7349

Livengood, H. M. (2015). Exploring participation in individuals with glaucoma (Publication No. 3725616) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh]. ProQuest.

Livengood, H., & Baker, N. (2015). Exploring participation in individuals with glaucoma. Visibility, 8(4), 18-19.

Livengood, H. M., & Baker, N. (2015). The role of occupational therapy in vision rehabilitation of individuals with glaucoma. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(13), 1202-1208. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2014.961651

Baker, N. A. & Livengood, H. M. (2014). Symptom severity and conservative treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome in association with eventual carpal tunnel release. Journal of Hand Surgery, 39(9), 1792-1798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.04.034

Baker, N. A., Livengood, H., & Jacobs, K. (2013). The reliability and validity of the Computer Workstation Checklist. Work, 45(2), 213-221. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-131603

Livengood, H. M., Skidmore, E. R., Huber, L. M., Cox, S. C., Bleakley, S. M., & Boninger, M. J. (2011). Applying robotics in a clinical rehabilitation setting for upper limb neurological impairment. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, 17(1), 60-65. https://doi.org/10.1310/sci1701-60

BIOGRAPHY

About Heather Livengood

Narrative:

Dr. Livengood joined the WVU Division of Occupational Therapy in 2021. She earned her MSOT from Shenandoah University in 1999, Low Vision Graduate Certificate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2009, and her PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015. Her postdoctoral training was conducted in an ophthalmology program with a focus on the application of neuro-stimulation to the eye to improve visual function in people with glaucoma.

Dr. Livengood has been involved in clinical occupational therapy practice with a focus on neurorehabilitation (stroke, brain injury). Her passion for working with individuals with changes in their visual function that affect their occupational performance is the reason she has pursued specialty training in vision rehabilitation.

She has presented at state, national, and international conferences. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association, Phi Theta Epsilon National Occupational Therapy Honor Society, International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation, and The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Meaningful occupations: daughter, sister, aunt; lifelong learning; refinishing furniture and other creative projects; outdoor activities.

Occupational Therapy

RESEARCH-RELATED PRESENTATIONS:

Livengood, H. M. (2023, July). Transorbital alternating current stimulation in a double-masked RCT: Functional effect [Paper presentation]. International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation 14^th International Conference on Low Vision Rehabilitation, Denver, CO.

Livengood, H. (2021, June). Is glaucoma a brain disease? [Research presentation]. NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Papers-to-Practice, New York, NY.

Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Wu, M., Liu, M., Achanta, P., Al-Aswad, L. A., Panarelli, J., Misra, P., Do, A., Sabel, B. A., & Schuman, J. S. (2021, May). Preliminary results of repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation in optic neuropathies [Poster presentation]. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference (virtual).

Livengood, H. (2021, January). Preliminary review: Repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS) in glaucoma [Research presentation]. NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Data Club, New York, NY.

Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Wu, M., & Schuman, J. S. (2020, May). Social roles in addition to daily activities are factors associated with function in glaucoma [Poster presentation]. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference (virtual).

Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Wu, M., & Schuman, J. S. (2020, February). Function and not structure in glaucoma is associated with Rasch-calibrated VFQ-25 scales [Poster presentation]. NYU Department of Ophthalmology 2020 Vision: Eye to Brain Research Retreat, New York, NY.

Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Wu, M., & Schuman, J. S. (2019, May). Function and not structure in glaucoma is associated with Rasch-calibrated VFQ-25 scales [Poster presentation]. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference, Vancouver, Canada.

Livengood, H. (2018, December). Preliminary results of subjects with glaucoma treated with transorbital alternating current stimulation [Research presentation]. 5^th International Conference Low Vision and the Brain, Berlin, Germany.

Livengood, H., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., & Schuman, J. S. (2018, May). Association between task performance and structure-function in glaucoma [Poster presentation]. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference, Honolulu, HI.

Livengood, H., Baker, N., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Liu, M., & Schuman, J. S. (2017, September). Glaucoma severity associated with difficulty performing daily life tasks [Poster presentation]. Emerging Vision Scientists Day on Capitol Hill Research Exhibition, Washington, DC.

Livengood, H., Baker, N., Wollstein, G., Ishikawa, H., Liu, M., & Schuman, J. S. (2017, May). Glaucoma severity associated with difficulty performing daily life tasks [Poster presentation]. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Livengood, H., Baker, N. A., & Schuman, J. S. (2017, April). Exploring participation in people with glaucoma [Research presentation]. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Livengood, H., Baker, N., & Schuman, J.S. (2016, September). Exploring the use of compensatory strategies for functional ability in people with glaucoma [Research presentation]. Envision Conference, Denver, CO.

Livengood, H. M., Baker, N., Skidmore, E., Bilonick, R. A., Conner, I. A., McCue, M., & Schuman, J. S. (2016, May). Examining functional ability and vision-specific quality of life in people with glaucoma [Poster presentation]. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.

Livengood, H. & Baker, N. (2014, September). Exploring participation in individuals with glaucoma [Research presentation]. Envision Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Livengood, H. & Baker, N. A. (2014, June). Low vision rehabilitation: Exploring participation and strategies for intervention [Poster presentation]. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Rehabilitation Institute Research Day, Pittsburgh, PA.

Owens, G., Livengood, H., Chambers, A., Trout, J., Baker, N., Nau, A., & Cham, R. (2014, June). Effect of vision loss on performance of standard peg tests [Poster presentation]. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Rehabilitation Institute Research Day, Pittsburgh, PA.

Livengood, H. & Baker, N. (2014, April). Exploration of the indicators for carpal tunnel release surgery [Poster presentation]. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Livengood, H. & Baker, N. (2014, April). Low vision rehabilitation: Exploring participation and strategies for intervention [Poster presentation]. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Livengood, H. (2013, November). Glaucoma research: Exploring quality of life and participation [Short session presentation]. Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association 2013 Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

Livengood, H. & Baker, N. (2012, June). Exploration of the indicators for carpal tunnel release surgery [Poster presentation]. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Rehabilitation Institute Research Day, Pittsburgh, PA.

Cox, S., Schomburg, N., Livengood, H., & Shumaker, M. (2009, February). Rehabilitation organization and intensity: A guideline for stroke rehabilitation at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center [Research presentation]. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, Clinical Connections, Pittsburgh, PA.

Medical Specialties

• Rehabilitation

Patient Care Information

Medical Specialties:

• Neurological rehabilitation, low vision rehabilitation (aging eye diseases and visual impairments post stroke/brain injury)

Specialized Training and Certifications:

• Postdoctoral research training on accomplishment of roles/routines in people with vision loss with a focus on people with glaucoma
• Low Vision Rehabilitation Graduate Certificate

Dr. Livengood has expertise in neurological rehabilitation, specifically addressing occupational performance needs of clients with neurological and/or neurodegenerative decline.  This includes extensive work with brain injury and stroke survivors.  She also works with clients whose visual function affects their occupational performance and ability to engage with meaning occupations.