Bernadette R. Williams, PT, DSc, GCS
Associate Professor & Chair
Department of Physical Therapy

Phone: 757-727-5157
E-Mail: bernadette.williams@hamptonu.edu

Dr. Williams joined the faculty of the Hampton University Department of Physical Therapy in January 2009 as Associate Professor and Chairperson. Her responsibilities as chairperson include; serving as the administrative officer of the department, recruiting and hiring faculty, engaging in and promoting research and other scholarly activities, developing and administering department budget, and evaluating faculty for promotion and tenure.

Dr. Williams’ specialty area and research focus is health disparities and health promotion related to physical activity in African Americans, particularly women & older adults. She is a published author in the area of health disparities and health promotion and has presented nationally and internationally on these topics. Dr. Williams has also received funding to support her research agenda

Education

• Doctor of Science, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, 2005
• Master of Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1985
• Bachelor of Science, Tulane University, 1983

Professional Associations

• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
• Education Section of the APTA
• Geriatric Section of the APTA
• Health, Policy & Administration Section of the APTA
• Geronotological Society of America (GSA)
• National HBCU Research Network for Health Services & Health Disparities
• National Society of Allied Health (NSAH)

Honors & Awards

• BIRCWH Scholar, NIH K12, UNC, Chapel Hill, 2006- 2008
• Simmons Scholar, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, 2006 – 2008
• Summer Research Career Development Institute Fellow, Graduate School of Public Health, Center for Minority Health, University of Pittsburgh, 2006
• 1st recipient of the Jules M. Rothstein Minority Research Fellowship Award American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), 2007- 2008

Licensure & Certifications

• Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatrics
• Physical Therapist Licensure Virginia
• Physical Therapist Licensure North Carolina

Publications

• Williams B, Bezner J, Chesbro S, Leavitt R. The Relationship between Achievement of Walking Goals and Exercise Self-efficacy. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. 2008; 24(4): 305-314.
• Reicherter EA, Boissonault WG, Williams B, Chesbro S, Hallisy K, Steinkamp L, Wilson S. Enhancing cultural competence of physical therapy students: a shared diversity project between Howard University and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Journal of Best Practices in Health Care Diversity. 2007; 1(1): 13-25.
• Williams B, Bezner J, Chesbro S, Leavitt R The Effect of a Walking Program on Perceived Benefits and Barriers to Exercise in Postmenopausal African American Women. The Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy. 2006; 29(2): 43-49.
• Williams BR, Bezner J, Chesbro SB, Leavitt R. The Effect of a Behavioral Contract on Adherence to a Walking Program in Postmenopausal African American Women. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. 2005, 21(4): 332-342.
• Chesbro SB, Conti GJ, Williams BR. Using the Assessing the Learning Strategies of Adults Tool with Older Adults. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. 2005, 21(4): 323-331.
• Manuel-Williams BR. Older African Americans and Calcium-Deficient Diets: What Health Care Specialists Need to Know. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. 2005, 21(1), 88-92.
• Reicherter EA, Manuel-Williams BR. Service Learning in Physical Therapy: Enhancing Healthy Lifestyles of Older African Americans in Washington, D.C. Creative College Teaching Journal, 2005; 2(1): 65-77.
• Chesbro SB, Manuel BR. Learning-how-to-learn: Preparing Students to Meet the Health Promotion Needs of Older African-Americans. Journal of the National Society of Allied Health, 2004, 2(3), 32-38.
• Reicherter EA, Wilson SH, Chesbro SB, Manuel BR. The Historical Significance of Minority Serving Institutions in Physical Therapist Education. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 2004,17(3), 62-69.
  
  

Abstracts

• Reicherter EA, Boissonnault WG., Williams BR, Chesbro SB, Hallisy K, Steinkamp L, Wilson SH. (2007). Creating Culturally Competent Practitioners: The Howard University and University of Wisconsin-Madison Partnership [Abstract].
• Reicherter, E.. A., Boissonnault, W. G., Williams, B. R., Chesbro, S. B., Hallisy, K., Steinkamp, L., Wilson, S. H. (2006). Enhancing cultural competence of physical therapy students: A shared diversity project between Howard University And University of Wisconsin-Madison [Abstract]. Physical Therapy. [APTA Abstract Award for Special Interest]
• Reicherter EA, Williams BR, Tavakol K. Use of Portfolio Assessment in an Advanced Spinal Manual Therapy Module for Professional Physical Therapy Students. [Abstract] Journal of Orthopedic Sport Physical Therapy, 2005, 35(1): A68-69.
• Williams BR, Bezner J, Chesbro SB, Leavitt R. The effect of a behavioral contract on adherence to a walking program in postmenopausal African American women [Abstract]. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 2004, 27(3), 68.
• Reicherter EA, Manuel BR. Exercise Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors of African American Adults.[Abstract] Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2004, 34(1):A39.
• Chesbro SB & Manuel BR. Using the Assessing the Learning Strategies ofAdults (ATLAS) tool with older adults: Comparisons based on age and functional ability [Abstract]. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 2003, 26(3), 40.
• Reicherter EA, Manuel BR. Impact of an Older Adult Service Learning Project on Second Year Master of Physical Therapy Students.[Abstract] Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, 2003, Publication No. PO-RR-15-TH

Presentations

• Williams B. Reducing Barriers and Increasing Utilization of Exercise Programs by Older African Americans. A platform presentation at the National Society of Allied Health Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 20 23, 2009.
• Williams B. Health disparities and barriers to exercise for older adults attending an urban senior center. A platform presentation at the 2nd International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, April 13-16, 2008.
• Williams B, Dimetros E, Pembleton C. Promoting Primary and Secondary Prevention of Osteoporosis in African American Women. A poster presentation at the 2008 CSM Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Nashville, TN, Feb. 6-9, 2008.
• Williams B, Hahn M, Mitchell L, Watson VB, Weston S. Health disparities and barriers to exercise for older adults attending an urban senior center. A platform presentation at the 2007 UNC MPT Student Research Day. Chapel Hill, NC, April 26, 2007.
• Reicherter EA, Boissonault WG, Williams B, Chesbro S, Hallisy K, Steinkamp L, Wilson S. Enhancing cultural competence of physical therapy students: a shared diversity project between Howard University and University of Wisconsin-Madison. A platform presentation at the 2007 CSM Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. Boston, MA, Feb. 17, 2007
• Williams BR, Bezner J, Chesbro SB, Leavitt R. The Relationship between Achievement of Walking Goals and Exercise Self-efficacy in Postmenopausal African American Women. A poster presentation at the 2006 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. February 3, 2006.
• Williams BR, Bezner J, Chesbro SB, Leavitt R. The Effect of a Walking Program on Perceived Benefits and Barriers to Exercise in Postmenopausal African American Women. A poster presentation at the 2006 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. February 3, 2006.
• Williams BR. The effect of a physical activity contract on adherence to a walking program in postmenopausal African American women. A platform presentation presented at the 2005 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. February 23-27, 2005, New Orleans, LA.
• Williams BR. The effect of a physical activity contract on adherence to a walking program in postmenopausal African American women. A platform presentation presented at the Howard University CPNAHS Faculty Research Conference: Reducing Health Disparities and Factors Influencing Minority Health. December 3, 2004.
• Chesbro SB & Manuel BR. Using the Assessing the Learning Strategies of Adults (ATLAS) with older adults: Comparisons based on age and functional ability. A poster presented at the 2004 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. February 3-6 in Nashville, TN.
• Reicherter EA. & Manuel BR. Impact of an older adult service learning project on second year master of physical therapy students. A poster presented at the 2003 Annual Conference Exposition of the American Physical Therapy Association. Washington, DC, June 18-21, 2003.
• Reicherter EA. & Manuel BR. Impact of an older adult service learning project on second year master of physical therapy students. A paper presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the National Society of Allied Health. West Palm Beach, Florida. March 19-23, 2003.
• Chesbro SB. & Manuel BR. Learning how to learn: Preparing students to meet the community-based health promotion needs of older African-American adults. A poster presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the National Society of Allied Health. West Palm Beach, FL. March 19 – 23, 2003.
• Chesbro SB. & Manuel BR. Learning how to learn: Preparing students to meet the community-based health promotion needs of older African-American adults. A poster presented at the 2003 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. Tampa, FL, February 5-8, 2003.
• Reicherter EA. & Manuel BR. Impact of an older adult service learning project on second year master of physical therapy students. A paper presented at the Ninth National HBCU Faculty Development Symposium. Nashville, TN. October 12-15, 2002.