Dana Wild, PhD, BSAssociate Professor, Physical Therapy
School of Health Professions
Dr. Dana Wild is an Associate professor in the Physical Therapy Department in the School of Health Professions (SHP). She graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical therapy in 1986 and PhD in Preventative
Medicine and Community Health with an emphasis on Rehabilitation Sciences in 2009.
Dr. Wild has over 30 years of experience as a physical therapist, having worked as a therapist variety of clinical settings: acute care, outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation units, early childhood intervention, and home health. She served as a clinical instructor to physical therapy students while in these settings. She has been a faculty member at UTMB since 2001, first as a part time instructor, then joining the faculty full time in fall 2009. She has contributed as an educator to the entry–level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, post-professional DPT program, and the innovative physical therapist assistant ( PTA) to DPT program. She is currently the chair of the departmental and SHP curriculum committee. Dr. Wild has had over 45 presentations at state and national conferences, with a primary focus on curriculum development and educational outcomes. At UTMB, she has been supported on external grants from the US Department of Education, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and UT TeleCampus.
Dr. Wild’s honors include being named the recipient of the SHP 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award, 2015 SHP Leadership Award, and the recipient of the 2007 and 2013 SHP Award for Educational Excellence. She held the Barbara Barton Endowed Professorship in Physical Therapy in 2016-2018. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Texas Physical Therapy Association, and the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association (NDTA). She has served as manuscript reviewer for professional organizations, and is an appointed member of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists, as the Pediatric representative.