Heather David PT, MPT, EdD

Graduate College of Health Sciences - Department of Physical Therapy

Education:

B.S. in Food, Nutrition, and Exercise Science, Florida State University

M.P.T. in Physical Therapy, University of Florida

Ed.D. in Education, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Dr. David lives in San Diego, CA and works remotely as full-time faculty in the DPT program at Hawai’i Pacific University. Prior to HPU, Dr. David served as full-time faculty in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of St. Augustine in San Marcos, CA, and additionally, as adjunct faculty in the PhD in Health Sciences program at Rocky Mountain University.

During her nearly 20 years of clinical practice, Dr. David has worked primarily in the area of adult neurologic rehabilitation in a variety of practice settings and currently works with adult neurologic patients in an outpatient setting. Dr. David is also an international medical classifier for para surfing and a Board Certified Neurologic Physical Therapist.

Dr. David currently serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion liaison for the Adaptive Sports Special Interest Group in the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy. She also currently serves on the Continuing Education Review Committee for the California Physical Therapy Association. She has served on the Regional Program Committee of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. She volunteers with adaptive sports organizations including Stoke for Life, Life Rolls On, San Diego Junior Adaptive Sports Camp, and Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Her main research interest is in the area of participation in adaptive sports and medical classification for para surfing. She has served as a presenter at national and international conferences and her work appears in peer-reviewed journals including Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Dr. David has also co-authored chapters in multiple textbooks.