Don Lewis, OTD, MBA-HCM, MS, OTR
SCS Interim Director and OTD Program Director
Dr. Don Lewis joined East Tennessee State University in July 2023 and currently serves as the Interim Director for the School of Clinical Sciences and the Program Director and Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy in the newly developed OTD Program. He has over fifteen years of previous graduate-level academic experience as an associate program director, assistant program director, director of clinical education, core faculty member, and adjunct faculty member for institutions in both Tennessee and Florida. Before joining academia, Dr. Lewis served as the Occupational Therapy Manager and Hand & Upper Extremity Clinical Coordinator for a large physician-owned medical practice in Northeast Tennessee. He has practiced primarily in upper extremity orthopedics since 2007. In addition to orthopedics, Dr. Lewis worked in industrial rehabilitation conducting both Functional Capacity Evaluations, pre-employment job screening, and work hardening. He is retired from the U.S. Army and is married with two children.
Dr. Lewis is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Education program at Lincoln Memorial University with a concentration in higher education. He earned his post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with an emphasis in orthopedics in 2008. Additionally, he has a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Liberty University and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Milligan University. While at Milligan University, Dr. Lewis conducted an individual thesis on the utilization of Tae Kwon Do as an adjunct treatment for children with ADHD. His bachelor’s degree is in Political Science with an emphasis in legal studies.
Professional memberships include the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association.
EDUCATION
Doctor of Education in Higher Education, Lincoln Memorial University (ABD)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy with Emphasis in Orthopedics, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management, Liberty University
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Milligan University
Bachelor of Science in Political Science, East Tennessee State University
COURSES TAUGHT
Anatomy
Pathophysiology & Conditions
Administration & Leadership
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Leadership & Management
Upper Extremity Orthopedics
Interprofessional Education
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Lewis, D. (2018). Tendon rehabilitation: Factors affecting outcomes and current concepts. Current Orthopaedic Practice, (29)2, 100-104.