Focusing on Fatigue

Liana Wooten has hung up her soccer cleats – three torn ACLs will do that – but her love of physical activity is now played out in her research. Wooten, who joined HS as assistant professor in the Department of Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences (HHFR) last summer, is eager to continue her research in applied physiology. “I want to get my own research agenda up and running in clinical exercise and applied physiology,” she said. She’s especially interested in excessive fatigue – fatigue that’s not relieved by rest or napping. “You see it in older adults, autoimmune compromised patients and in patients with cancer. We’re not sure where the origin is.” In addition to research, Wooten is keen to improve her teaching skills through experience and working with mentors. GW is her first full-time faculty position. “The faculty here is just excellent in a lot of ways,” she said. “I knew that by coming here I would have good mentorship. I also like that there’s the exercise physiology lab that bridges my clinical degree and my research degree.” Next semester, she’ll teach Applied Physiology, followed by Clinical Medicine and Pharmacology in the summer. A native of Fairfax, Va., Wooten will defend her dissertation for her PhD in rehabilitation science at George Mason University in January. Before joining GW, she was a clinical instructor in the outpatient setting and an adjunct professor at Marymount University and George Mason. Away from work, Wooten is all about the beach and her dog, Nike, a miniature golden doodle. “Anytime I can be near the water, I’m happy.” Her torn ACL ended her soccer career (she doesn’t usually mention that she played professionally), so now hiking and swimming are her workouts. “I used to be more exciting, but now I just hang out with my dog.” Wooten has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond and earned her DPT from Duke University’s School of Medicine.