Matt Walk

Dr. Matt Walk is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) School of Rehabilitation Sciences, where he has been a full-time faculty member since 2013. Prior to academia, he practiced in urban public health systems in Houston and San Antonio, advocating for physical therapy integration into primary and urgent care. His research emphasizes clinical reasoning, manual therapy, and interprofessional collaboration, with a focus on improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. He holds the FAAOMPT fellowship, recognizing his expertise in orthopedic manual physical therapy.

Dr. Walk earned his Bachelor of Health Sciences (2003) and Master of Physical Therapy (2003) from the University of Missouri. He completed a PNF residency at Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center (2003–2003), an orthopedic manual therapy fellowship at Kaiser Permanente (2003–2013), and a post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy from UIW (2013).

His research interests revolve around advancing clinical reasoning in physical therapy education and fostering interprofessional care models. He has explored conflict resolution in healthcare teams, the role of pro bono services in clinical practice, and cost-effective urgent care pathways. These efforts align with his commitment to global citizenship, reflected in his leadership of annual mission trips to Oaxaca, Mexico, and local community initiatives like the UIW Community Clinic and San Antonio Food Bank programs.

Dr. Walk actively contributes to academic and professional service, including roles on UIW’s Physical Therapy Reasoning Committee and Academic Year 1 Committee. He also sponsors the Student OMT PNF Club and supports interprofessional health fairs. Professionally, he is a member of the APTA and TPTA, and a legislative item writer for the Physical Therapy National Licensure Exam.