Chelsea C. Whatley

Chelsea C. Whatley, OTR, C/NDT is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Health Professions. Her work focuses on neurological rehabilitation, motor recovery, and vision rehabilitation.

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Sciences (University of Tennessee), Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (Tennessee State University), and Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (University of Alabama at Birmingham) with a certificate in low vision assessment/treatment.

Research Interests: Her research spans neurological injury rehabilitation, compensatory movement analysis, low vision therapies, and prehabilitation strategies for lung transplant candidates. She has over a decade of clinical experience in adult and pediatric rehabilitation, specializing in brain/spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy.

Professional Contributions: She has developed clinician competencies, educational series on handling techniques, and core interest groups focused on low vision rehabilitation. She is affiliated with the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association.