Biography

Dr. Anna Y. Len, PT, DPT, EdD, PCS, is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Hofstra University. A Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy, Dr. Len brings more than 20 years of pediatric clinical experience and a longstanding commitment to advancing sensory health, inclusive care, and interprofessional practice for children and adults with disabilities.

Dr. Len earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from New York University and her Doctor of Education in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership, with a concentration in Learning Design and Leadership, from the University of Illinois. Her areas of scholarship and professional expertise span pediatric physical therapy and sensory health, interprofessional and inclusive health education, clinical education, and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

Sensory Integration & Clinical Expertise

Sensory integration has been a central focus of Dr. Len’s clinical, educational, and scholarly work for nearly two decades. She completed advanced training in sensory integration and holds Level 4 Expert status in Ayres Sensory Integration through the International Council for Education in Ayres Sensory Integration (ICEASI). She is also certified in the Ayres Sensory Integration Fidelity Measure.

Her research has examined sensory processing and motor function in children, including published work on idiopathic toe walking and sensory processing dysfunction. She also participated in pilot testing and normative data collection for the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI).

Dr. Len has taught the Ayres Sensory Integration framework to interdisciplinary audiences nationally and internationally. Her work emphasizes the application of sensory integration principles within physical therapy and across professional disciplines, with particular attention to movement, participation, motor planning, and the translation of sensory health concepts into collaborative practice.

Research & Community Engagement

Her current scholarly agenda focuses on advancing sensory health across diverse populations through interprofessional, experiential, and community-engaged approaches.

She has contributed to national initiatives in developmental coordination disorder and sensory health, including participation in the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Community Roundtable on Addressing Sensory Health.

As Clinical Director of Special Olympics New York’s Healthy Athletes® FUNfitness Program, Dr. Len integrates this work with interprofessional education and community-based learning, engaging future health professionals in promoting participation, reducing health disparities, and improving access to care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Professional Recognition

Her contributions to physical therapy education and professional service have been recognized nationally and regionally, including the 2024 APTA Signe Brunnström Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching and the 2025 APTA New York Tracy Sawyer Public Relations Award.

Across her clinical practice, scholarship, teaching, and service, Dr. Len’s work is grounded in a commitment to advancing sensory health through interdisciplinary collaboration and translating evidence into meaningful participation in everyday life.