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Joy Williams

Asst. Professor
Stockton
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Joy Williams, PT, DPT, NCS, earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry in 2012 and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Azusa Pacific University. She brings extensive clinical experience as a physical therapist working with individuals with neurologic disorders across the care continuum from acute care to the outpatient therapy setting. She has completed a clinical residency in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo and a clinical residency in neurologic physical therapy at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA. Her interest in discovering new rehabilitation methods for individuals with neurodegenerative disease led her to complete a clinical research fellowship in multiple sclerosis/neurodegenerative disease.

Dr. Williams earned board certification as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). She is also a Credentialed Clinical Instructor Certification from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She is a member of the APTA and the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.

As a faculty member, Dr. Williams’ goal is to help students establish a solid framework and understanding of the unique ways our profession helps patients, develop confidence in problem-solving strategies, and spark an interest in the pursuit of knowledge, discovery, and learning. She is passionate about engaging students and collaborating with colleagues and community stakeholders in clinical research to contribute to the growing body of knowledge within the profession.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Azusa Pacific University, 2012

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Azusa Pacific University, 2015

Clinical Residency in Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation for Physical Therapy, Kaiser Permanente at Vallejo, CA 2016

Clinical Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy, Shepherd Center-Mercer University, Atlanta, GA, 2017

Clinical Research Fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis, Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA, 2019

Teaching Interests
  • Rehabilitation strategies to improve quality of life in individuals with neurodegenerative disease
  • Scholarship and the lifelong learner – strategies to develop and enhance clinical reasoning in the adult learner from entry-level student to expert clinician.
  • Clinical evaluation of muscle fatigability, contributions of muscle fatigue to disability accumulation in progressive neurologic conditions
Research Focus

I am interested in investigating how physical therapists evaluate muscle endurance in individuals with progressive neurologic conditions to optimize the design and implementation of rehabilitation strategies for these individuals. Also, I am interested in the ways adult learners engage with instructional material, interact in the clinical setting, and integrate those experiences to develop clinical reasoning.