Rate My Professor Haley Worst

Dr. Haley Worst serves as NTT Associate Professor and Program Director for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in the Department of Clinical Sciences within the Waters College of Health Professions at Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus. She joined the institution in 2014 after accumulating twenty years of clinical experience across various orthopedic and sports physical therapy settings. Dr. Worst earned her Doctor of Education from the University of North Georgia, Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from Northeastern University, and Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of North Georgia. She holds ABPTS Board Certification as a Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. As an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Academy of Education, Academy of Sports, and Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Dr. Worst has undertaken leadership roles and committee service at both state and national levels within the APTA. She maintains ongoing clinical practice while fostering independent critical thinkers among students through high academic standards and a commitment to lifelong learning, inspired by her own mentors.

Dr. Worst's research specializations encompass injury prevention, educational methods, physical therapy interventions, and mental health support for DPT students, aligning with sustainable development goal 3 on good health and well-being. Her scholarly contributions include 26 research outputs, such as the article 'Establishing Normative Values and Clinician Assessment Accuracy for the Single Leg Bridge Endurance Test' published in 2026 in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 'Comparison of a Low Load Eccentric Training Protocol and a Static Stretching Protocol on Hamstring Muscle Flexibility' in 2025 in the International Journal of Exercise Science, and 'Addressing Anxiety, Perfectionism, and Coping in Healthcare Students: A Call for Integrated Mental Health Interventions' in 2024 in Archives of Psychiatry. Additional works feature conference presentations like 'The Retiring Tactical Athlete: Health and Rehab Considerations for End-of-Career and Post-Career' (2025), 'The Effects of Eccentric Loading on Hamstring Flexibility' (2020), 'Computerized Testing and Training of Mobilization Techniques Using Shoulder and Knee Models' (2019), and 'The Effects of Fatigue on Foot Strike in Recreational Runners' (2019), often in collaboration with colleagues including Nancy Henderson and George J. Davies. These efforts advance rehabilitation sciences and clinical education in physical therapy.