Carolynn Patten, PhD, PT, FAPTA
Dr. Patten is a neuroscientist and physical therapist who specializes in assessment and treatment of motor dysfunction associated with aging and adult neuropathologies, such as stroke. In October 2025 she joined the University of Washington School of Medicine faculty where she is a professor and Division Head | Physical Therapy in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Dr. Patten’s research addresses fundamental questions regarding the neural control of human movement from a perspective of neuromechanics with the overriding goals of understanding the capacity for motor adaptation in adults as they age and motor recovery following CNS injury. Current projects investigate: development of biomarkers to predict motor recovery following stroke; identification of critical factors that contribute to rehabilitation efficacy; novel means to induce neuroplasticity and motor recovery; and individual differences in the natural history of motor recovery and response to rehabilitation interventions.
Dr. Patten’s research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIBIB, NIA, NINDS), National Science Foundation, Dept. of Veterans Affairs (Rehabilitation R&D), Healthy Aging in a Digital World –a UC Davis Big Idea, and the University of California CITRIS (Center for IT Research in the Interest of Society). She is a graduate of the VA Health Professions Scholarship Program and the first non-MD clinician to be awarded a Career Development Award by VA Rehabilitation R&D. She has continuously held federal, peer-reviewed grant funding as Principal Investigator since 1998.
Education and Training
- University of Washington, Kinesiology, 1980
- Boston University, MS, Physical Therapy, 1992
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, PhD, Motor Neuroscience, 1998
- Stanford University | VA Palo Alto Rehabilitation R&D Center, Post-doctoral Fellow | Career Development Awards, 1998 - 2005
Notable Awards and Honors
- Research Career Scientist, VA Rehabilitation R&D - 2010-2025
- 2010-Catherine Worthingham Fellow, American Physical Therapy Association, 2016
- Chair, NIH Musculoskeletal and Rehabilitation Sciences Study Section, 2018-2021
- University of Florida Foundation Research Professor, 2015-2018
Clinical Interests
- Adult neurorehabilitation
- Recovery of function
- Mobility
Research Interests
Development of biomarkers that predict motor recovery following stroke; identification of critical factors that contribute to rehabilitation efficacy; novel means to induce neuroplasticity and motor recovery; and individual differences in the natural history of motor recovery and response to rehabilitation interventions.
Labs/Centers
- Neural Control of Movement Lab
- AMP Lab
Recent Publications
For recent publications, visit Dr. Patten's NIH bibliography.