Erik Watkins
Physical Therapist
Erik is a Licensed Physical therapist and has worked in an outpatient orthopedic setting since 2014 treating both orthopedic and neurological conditions.
Erik is a former Active duty infantry Marine and served from 2001-2005. After his honorable Discharge he returned to school and earned a B.S. in Forensic Anthropology in 2009 and was part of the inaugural DPT program at WCU receiving a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2014.
Prior to physical therapy school, he worked as a personal trainer and received his Level 1 powerlifting coach certification through Powerlift Australia in 2010. Erik is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He earned his orthopedic certification (OCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, and is certified in dry needling (Cert. DN). Erik is an APTA credentialed clinical instructor and has served as a clinical instructor for WCU’s Physical Therapy and Athletic Training Programs. Along with other therapists in the clinic Erik assists with proctoring WCU physical therapy program practical exams for musculoskeletal course work in the fall semesters. He enjoys all aspects of Orthopedic and sports rehab from movement dysfunction to joint-specific injury and rehab. He is passionate about helping patients improve their quality of life, achieve more than they thought possible in their rehab and returning to what they love doing the most.
Erik was born and raised in Hendersonville, NC and has lived in Jackson county since 2008 and Moved to Haywood county in 2021. Outside of the clinic he is involved in his Church and enjoys spending time with his wife and Children. He remains an active member of Jackson county Veteran support group and participating in PTSD awareness and in past years has been one of the panelists of “Unseen Scars”, a roundtable discussion and presentation of combat veterans that has been held at WCU campus around Veterans day.
