Patti Noritake Matsuda

Patti Noritake Matsuda is an Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She serves as Director of Service Learning and Community Engagement for the Division of Physical Therapy and Co-Director of the UW-EvergreenHealth Physical Therapy Neurologic Residency Program, focusing on neurorehabilitation and community-based education initiatives.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (1982) and PhD in Rehabilitation Science (2010) from the University of Washington, and a Transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy (2006) from AT Still University.

Dr. Matsuda's research centers on falls and fall prevention in older adults and neurological populations, with emphasis on multiple sclerosis, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. She investigates motor/non-motor factors of fear of falling, balance disorders, and the relationship between physical activity and disability, developing patient-centered assessment tools to improve rehabilitation outcomes.

Her 2020-2024 publications reveal a concentrated focus on multiple sclerosis rehabilitation, particularly examining falls, fear of falling, and fatigue through psychometric scale development, systematic reviews, and patient perspective studies. This body of work demonstrates consistent methodology in patient-reported outcomes and neurorehabilitation assessment.

As an educator, she teaches Neurologic and Lifespan tracks in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and leads the didactic curriculum for the Neurologic Residency. Her service learning initiatives create interprofessional community engagement opportunities, reflecting her commitment to practical, community-integrated physical therapy education.