Charlotte Yates, PT, PhD, PCS, CBIS

Dr. Yates

Dr. Charlotte Yates, Professor with tenure in the Department of Physical Therapy, is a licensed physical therapist, a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (2004-2034), and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist. Dr. Yates received her PhD degree in Neurobiology and Developmental Science from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), a MS degree in Physical Therapy from UCA, and a BA in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Her research interests include neonatal pain, concussion management and pediatric physical therapy educational research. She has been a member of several multi-disciplinary teams at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS.

As a professor in the department, she is currently teaching neuroscience, pediatric neurology, and clinical reasoning and reflection. She is active clinically at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She currently serves on the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Research committee and serves as an onsite reviewer for the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education.  Additionally, Dr. Yates is Program Director of the UCA Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program.

Dr. Yates was the recipient of the 2016 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Arkansas Outstanding Physical Therapist Award and the 2017 University of Central Arkansas Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award. Dr. Yates was the 2021 recipient of the Eleanor J. Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching, a national award from the APTA. She was the 2025 recipient of the Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Award for outstanding contributions and impact to the profession of physical therapy.