Ashley Rae Watamura, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS

Biography

<b>PT, DPT, PhD, NCS</b><br><br>After earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, Dr. Watamura practiced as a clinician in multiple settings including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, long-term acute care, skilled nursing, and home health. She also worked as a travel physical therapist for a year. As a physical therapist at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Charleston, Dr. Watamura established a program for individuals with spinal cord injuries and assisted in the development of a program for individuals with cerebral vascular accidents. She completed her PhD in March 2024 researching the effect of focus of attention on individuals post acute stroke during a sit to stand task.<br><br>Dr. Watamura joined the Department of Physical Therapy in the Fall of 2013 with the primary role of teaching Neuroscience and co-teaching the Neuromuscular courses, and Clinical Care. She also serves as an Integrated Clinical Experience Instructor in Neurologic Physical Therapy. She also serves as the Assistant Department Head, which includes being the primary advisor for the physical therapy graduate assistant program. Dr. Watamura is also the founder and director of the student run Mountain Area Pro Bono Health Services (MAPHealth). She continues to practice in an outpatient setting treating people with neurologic conditions.<br><br>Dr. Watamura resides in Waynesville, NC with her kiddos. Outside of work, she enjoys watching her kids play sports, coaching her daughters basketball team, hanging out with her kids, playing volleyball, basketball, tennis (and every other sport), working out, hiking, and traveling to see her friends and family (in Hawaii and Pennsylvania).<br><br><b>What do you love the most about being a Catamount?</b><br>The students, faculty, and staff are truly a family, and I cannot imagine working in a more supportive environment! I love seeing everyone grow and learn together in this beautiful area in which we are fortunate enough to live. I honestly could not love my job any more than I do.

Education

• DPT, Medical University of South Carolina

Teaching Interests

PT 922 Neuroscience<br>PT 899 Doctoral Project<br>PT 811 Introduction to Clinical Care (co-teach)<br>PT 812 PT interventions (co-teach)<br>PT 923 Neuromuscular Physical Therapy I (co-teach)<br>PT 924 Neuromuscular Physical Therapy II (co-teach)<br>PT 874 and 875 - Integrated Clinical Experience IV and V

Research Interests

Dr. Hyatt has developed a line of research focused on the effects of various types of attentional focus on motor learning in adults post-acute and chronic stroke. The intention of this research is to discover the most effective methods for teaching patients specific skills to improve their motor learning.<br><br><b>Recent Publications and Presentations</b><br>Hyatt A, Beachy D, Demarco C, Escobedo C, Fletcher K, Ford C, Woodmansee A. Effect of focus of attention on affected lower extremity use during sit to stand post stroke. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (Stroke section); San Diego, CA, February 2023.<br><br>Hyatt A, Hudson D, Hudson K, Gallagher A, Murrell A, Reiman C, Steele T, Wright H. Reliability and Validity of Body Align Pro during Seated Lateral Weight Shifting Task. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (Research section); San Antonio, TX, February 2022.<br><br>Hyatt A, Craig A, Haney K, Houston Z, Irsik S, Seyler R, Stevens M. The effect of focus of attention on seated weight shifting in individual post acute stroke. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (Neurology: Stroke SIG section); Virtual, February 2021.<br><br>Hyatt A, Greene L, Lopez J, Parker AM, Suwak M, Waugh E. Shift Your Learning: Does Focus of Attention Strategies Impact Motor Learning in Adults Post Acute Stroke? American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (Neurology: Stroke SIG section); February 2020; Denver, CO,<br><br>Hyatt A, McPherson S, Wilson E, Pollard H, Correll W, Kirkland E, Puchel H, Tresslar N. Impact of focus of attention strategies on performance and learning of seated trunk control in the acute stroke population. To be presented at: American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (Neurology: Stroke SIG section); January 2019; Washington, DC.<br><br>Hyatt A, McPherson S, Franco V, Bowen H, Foil R, Kao E, Linton T. Impact of external vs internal focus of attentional strategies on seated lateral excursion measures in adults with chronic stroke and healthy adults.
Presented at: American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (Neurology: Stroke SIG section); February 2018; New Orleans, LA.<br><br>Hyatt A, McPherson S, Flinchum K, Hongdoxmai C, Kitchen K, Lackey B, Lehr J, Mollica R. Seated trunk control training in adults post stroke: do focus of attention strategies impact lateral excursion performance and learning? Presented at: American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (Neurology: Stroke SIG section); February 2017; San Antonio, TX.<br><br>Pollard H, Parker A, Pace B, Hyatt A. Cultivating a culture of continuous quality improvement. Presented at: Physical Therapy Pro Bono Network Western Regional Conference; April 2018; Phoenix, AZ.<br><br>Pollard H, Parker A, Pace B, Hyatt A. Cultivating a culture of continuous quality improvement. Presented at: Physical Therapy Pro Bono Network Eastern Regional Conference; March 2018; Chester, PA.<b> </b>