Abigail “Abby” Wilson always knew that she wanted to help people. She wanted to have more than a successful career – she wanted to have a purpose that made her feel fulfilled.
Originally, Wilson worked in business, but the more she learned about healthcare, and specifically physical therapy, the more her heart was drawn to the field.
“It’s so rewarding to help people improve their movement and quality of life,” Wilson says. “To be a part of that process as a physical therapist is so satisfying to me.”
Wilson, who graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences, decided to return to school, this time enrolling at Mercer University to earn her doctorate in physical therapy.
After earning her DPT, Wilson treated patients in a variety of clinical settings, ranging from the cardiovascular intensive care unit to outpatient orthopedics, to broaden her experience.
During her clinical work, she became intrigued by the science of pain, inspiring her to return to UF to earn her Ph.D. and fueling her research interest on mechanisms of rehabilitation treatments for pain.
“All of these experiences are helpful as I focus on building the next generation of physical therapists and researchers here at UCF,” Wilson says.
Wilson started her current position as an assistant professor in the Division of Physical Therapy at UCF in spring 2022. She is proud to be a faculty member at UCF as she digs deeper into her research focus on pain management.
“I am excited to continue my pain research and collaborate with other researchers within the Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science at UCF to find innovative treatments that can be applied in clinical settings. Research makes me a better teacher and teaching makes me a better researcher.”
