Natalie Michaels, PT, EdD, GCS Emeritus is a Professor with a shared appointment in the School of Occupational Therapy and School of Physical Therapy. Her professional experiences include older adult rehabilitation, prosthetics, pediatrics, pathology, kinesiology, cognition, reflective critical thinking, and statistical analysis.
Dr. Michaels received her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College, a Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology from Fairfield University, and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Central Florida. She taught as an adjunct professor at Edison College in Fort Myers, Florida and as an adjunct at Trevecca Nazarene. In 2006, she began teaching at Tennessee State University in the Department of Physical Therapy where she served 6 years as an associate professor, followed by 2 years as a full tenured professor. While at TSU, Dr. Michaels earned the Professor of the year Award in 2007, the Faculty Research Award in 2008, the President’s Fellowship in 2010, and the Faculty Service Learning Award in 2012.
Dr. Michaels is a certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist (GCS) Emeritus with the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She is also a Credentialed Clinical Instructor with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a Certified Aquatic Therapist with the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute (ATRI), and she completed her Aquatic Clinical Competency from the APTA in 2015. She serves as an item writer for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), and as a reviewer for multiple journals. She has also been active in the community working with the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk, and the development and implementation of Aquatic Exercise Programs for Older Adults, the Health Uncovered for Guidance Series (H.U.G.S.), music venues for fundraising, and weight loss studies for high school students.
Dr. Michaels has over 20 peer-reviewed publications since 2008, with two papers recently accepted but not yet in print on topics such as: fall prevention, scoliosis, social justice, deep vein thrombosis, and ethics.
Publications and Presentations
Blash, A., Schneller, B., Hunt, J., Michaels, N., Thorndile, J. (2018 in Press). There’s got to be a better way: Introducing faculty to mid-course formative reviews as a constructive tool for growth and development. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, In Press.
Dagnan, E., Michaels, N., DeKupier, B., Lazzaro, J., Morabbi, C., Zerwic, T., Bernard, A.M., Byland, A. (2018). Motivation and habit formation: An exploration of rock climbing and its implication for exercise participation. Research & Investigations in Sports Medicine, 2(4): RISM.000542.2018. DOI: 10.31031/RISM.2018.02.000542.
Michaels, N. (2017). An Electric Triumph. International Journal of Innovative Trends in Engineering, 56(36): 1-5.
Ferrigan, K. Hice, J. Leemkuil, K., Singer, S., Charles, C., Michaels, N.N, Jones, T. (2017). Aquatic exercise for weight reduction in middle aged adults: A pilot study. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy, 25(2): 16-21.
Michaels, N. N., Jones, T. Stevens, S., Raynes, E. Charles, D. (2017). Aquatic exercise in the community as a tool for the instruction of higher order thinking in a doctoral physical therapist program. Journal of Applied Global Research, 10 (24): 52-63.
Murabito, S. Michaels, N., Jones, T. (2017). The effect of exercise on the systolic and diastolic bood pressure in adolescents. Journal of Applied Global Research, 10 (24): 88-95.
Espiritu, E., Allen, A., Graham, J., Blades, P., Elder, M., Callicoat, M., Miner, K., Michaels, N. N. (2017). Changing attitudes and actions about action planning with education: A pilot study with an acute inpatient rehabilitation team. Journal of Applied Global Research, 10 (24): 1-17.
Michaels, N. (2017). The Efficacy of a Skill-Building Workshop for Reflective Critical Thinking with Graduate Students: Effect-Size Differences Based on Race. Journal of Interdisciplinary Education, 15(1):198-215.
Trent, D., Hays, N., Kmieciak, N., Mathew, D. Mellow, M., Michaels, N. (2016). Identifying Perceived Occupations in Adolescents with and without Down Syndrome, utilizing the Pediatric Activity Card Sort (PACS): A Pilot Study. Journal of Applied Global Research, 9(22): 8-22.
Michaels, N., Barrredo, R., Raynes, E., Edmondson, D., Kunnu, E. (2016). A Diagnostic Tool to Predict Performance on High-Stakes Multiple Choice Tests: An Attempt to Recognize Potential Discrepancies Due to Diversity Before the Test is Taken. Journal of Interdisciplinary Education,15(1):51-68.
Brolsma, N., Gilbert, H. , Marshall, R., McBrayer, K., McClain, S., Webreck, L., Michaels, N., Garvey, T. (2016). Down Syndrome and Parental Perceptions Related to Participation and Obesity: A Study Conducted in Middle Tennessee. The International Journal of Social Health Information Management, 9(17):110-124.
Michaels N, Jones T, Hughes E, Starks E, Rosedale, S (2015). Weight Change in High School Students During a Competitive Pedometer Study. Review of Higher Education and Self-Learning,8(27):27-33.
Stover A, Smith C, Maloney J, Mitchell C, Michaels N, Jones T, Raynes, E (2015). Aquatic Exercise for Pain Reduction in the Active Older Adult with Osteoarthritis. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy, 23 (2): 13-19.