Biography
After earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, Dr. Hyatt 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. Hyatt established a program for individuals with spinal cord injuries and assisted
in the development of a program for individuals with cerebral vascular accidents.<br><br>Dr.
Hyatt joined the Department of Physical Therapy in the Fall of 2013 with the primary
role of teaching Neuroscience and Clinical Reasoning. She serves as the chair of the
Student Affairs Committee in the Department and the primary advisor for the physical
therapy graduate assistant program. Dr. Hyatt is also the founder and director of
the student run Mountain Area Pro Bono Health Services (MAPHealth), formerly Mountain
Area Pro Bono Physical Therapy (MAPPT). She continues to practice in an outpatient
setting and in inpatient rehab.<br><br>Dr. Hyatt resides in Waynesville, NC with her
family on a farm that has been in her husband's family for five generations. Outside
of work, she enjoys playing basketball, working out, running trails, hiking, and traveling
to see her family (in Hawaii and Pennsylvania) and friends.<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.
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<br><br><br><br>
Research Interests
Dr. Hyatt has developed a line of research, along with Dr. Sue McPherson, focused
on the effects of various types of attentional focus on motor learning for seated
trunk control 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, 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>
