Rosemarie Bigsby, Sc.D., OTR, FAO
Rosemarie Bigsby, Sc.D., OTR, FAOTA, earned a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University in 1974, an advanced master of science degree in occupational therapy from Boston University in 1980, and a doctor of science degree from Boston University in 1994. She holds a Board Certification in Pediatrics from the American Occupational Therapy Association and in 1993 was named a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association for her contributions to the practice of occupational therapy with infants and children. Dr. Bigsby's experience as a pediatric occupational therapist spans three decades, during which she has worked in a variety of settings as a clinician, supervisor, and consultant. When she began her career, sensory integration and early intervention were emerging practice arenas. The potential for applying principles of sensory integrative theory to practice in early intervention captured her interest, prompting her to advance her education and to eventually engage in research with preterm infants and their families. In the 1980s, following her graduate studies, she became Chief Occupational Therapist at Meeting Street School (now called Meeting Street Center), a center in East Providence, Rhode Island, for school-age children with multiple disabilities. She participated on the multidisciplinary diagnostic team as well as the Parent Program for Developmental Management, one of the first early intervention programs in the country, which was founded by the late Dr. Eric Denhoff. In 1990, she began her doctoral research under the mentorship of Dr. Barry Lester, focusing on physiologic and behavioral indicators of self-regulation in preterm infants. Since that time, she has contributed to a number of grant-funded research studies as a trainer and consultant. Dr. Bigsby has practiced in the NICU at Women & Infants' Hospital since 1992 in the combined roles of therapist, educator, and researcher. She was instrumental in translating the model for psychosocial and developmental support to NICU infants and their families—first described by Dr. Elaine C. Meyer, Dr. Lester, and colleagues — from a research protocol to a clinical service that is provided by the Infant Development Center team. Dr. Bigsby has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters and coauthored the American Occupational Therapy Association guidelines for NICU practice and the Posture and Fine Motor Assessment of Infants (The Psychological Corporation, 2000). She also has served as a contributor to the Neonatal Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) (Lester & Tronick, forthcoming from Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.). Dr. Bigsby's research focuses on motor development, behavioral cues, physiologic regulation, and feeding in early infancy. She has been invited to speak both nationally and internationally, and each year, she teaches several 2-day multidisciplinary workshops on assessment and intervention in the NICU.