Katelyn Whitlock is a Board-Certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist and currently practices as an ICU physical therapist specializing in the care of patients with advanced cardiopulmonary conditions, including those requiring heart and lung transplants, LVADs, and ECMO support. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Emory University in 2018 and completed a post-professional residency in acute care physical therapy at Emory in 2019. Prior to her DPT, she obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Virginia.
At Brenau University, Dr. Whitlock teaches in the areas of cardiopulmonary disorders, pharmacology, acute care, complex medical conditions, and exercise physiology. Dr. Whitlock is actively involved in research and has presented at local and national conferences on topics including ICU physical therapy, ECMO, advanced mechanical support, and COVID-19. She is an active member of PTAG and APTA and has served in the APTA House of Delegates. Dr. Whitlock is passionate about optimizing the student learning experience to develop creative, passionate, and patient-first physical therapists.
Published work
Lower AM-PAC ‘6-Clicks’ Basic Mobility Score Predicts Discharge Destination to a Post Acute Care Facility among Patients in Cardiac Intensive Care Units, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal, 2022.
Beyond waking and walking. Intensive rehabilitation in patients requiring extended durations of advanced mechanical circulatory support: A Case Series. Perfusion, 2024.
Physical therapy across the care continuum for a patient post-LVAD with right ventricular failure and critical illness polyneuropathy. Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, 2025.