Kristen Metzler-Wilson is an associate professor of physical therapy. She earned a bachelor of arts in natural science with a minor in music at Goshen College and a master of science in physical therapy from Texas Woman’s University.

After practicing as an inpatient hospital physical therapist for several years, she returned to academia and earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Thomas Jefferson University. Since then, Dr. Metzler-Wilson has served on the faculty in doctor of physical therapy and doctor of osteopathic medicine programs.

Educational Focus

Dr. Metzler-Wilson’s teaching interests include integrating foundational sciences such as pharmacology, neuroscience, and pathophysiology into clinical practice.

Research/Scholarship

Dr. Metzler-Wilson’s research interests relate to the autonomic nervous system and peripheral neuropharmacology. Her dissertation focused on interactions between voltage-gated calcium channels and calcium binding proteins. She obtained additional translational research training at the Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute where she worked on transdermal drug delivery, functional effects of local anesthesia, and agonist dose-response relations in the skin. She now combines her bench science work with human-based studies in her peripheral neuropharmacology investigations.

Selected Publications

Clark J, Metzler-Wilson K, Rompolski K, Kule C, Anako C, Johnson SN. Learning Outcomes, Competencies, Learning Goals, and Core Concepts. Oh My! HAPS Educator. 2026 Apr; 30(1).

Stout JA, Clegg PC, Gerow DE, Metzler-Wilson K, & Wilson TE. Alternate quantification approaches for cold induced vasodilation in human glabrous skin. Front. Physiol. 2025 Jun 10; 16:1575764.

Ungureanu CI, Kube MJ, Wilson TE, & Metzler-Wilson K. The altered vascular endothelial control of facial cutaneous blood flow in rosacea. Acta Derm Venereol. 2025 Apr 27; 105: adv42800.

McDowell JM, Addington G, Metzler-Wilson K, & Wilson TE. Autonomic responses to cold pain: Effect of type, duration, and habituation in cryotherapy. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025 Apr 1;57(4):832-839.

Wilson TE & Metzler-Wilson K. Physiological adaptation/phenotypic plasticity: a vital core concept from the medical and health care perspective. Adv Physiol Educ. 2024 Mar 1;48(1):112-113. 2024.

Metzler-Wilson K,^ Fang MM^, Alibegovic K, Daggett JW, Narra SC, Dazé RP, Miller OG, & Wilson TE. Effect of reflex and mechanical decreases in skin perfusion on thermal- and agonist-induced eccrine sweating in humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2024 Mar 1; 324(3):R271-R280. (^: share first authorship)

Metzler-Wilson K, Wilson TE, Ausmus SM, & Sventeckis AM. Effect of sensory blockade and rate of sensory stimulation on local heating induced axon reflex response in facial skin. Auton Neurosci. 2021 Jul 1; 233:102809.

Metzler-Wilson K, Vrable A, Schaub A, Schmale TK, Rodimel BV, Krause BA, & Wilson TE.  Effect of suboccipital release on pain perception and autonomic reflex responses to ischemic and cold pain. Pain Med. 2020 Nov 1; 21(11):3024-33.

Wilson TE & Metzler-Wilson K. Autonomic thermoregulation. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, Oxford University Press, 2018.

Hutchinson D, Hines S, Vijayaraghavan N, Sammond A, Metzler-Wilson K, & Kuchera ML. Interexaminer reliability study of a standardized myofascial protocol for diagnosis of the superior thoracic inlet. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2017 Jul; 21(3):658-63.

Metzler-Wilson K^, Toma K^, Sammons DL, Mann S, Jurovcik AJ, Demidova O, & Wilson TE. Augmented supraorbital skin sympathetic nerve activity responses to symptom trigger events in rosacea patients. J Neurophysiol. 2015 Sept; 114(3):1530-7.  (^: share first authorship)

Metzler-Wilson K, Sammons DL, Ossim MA, Metzger NR, Jurovcik AJ, Krause BA, & Wilson TE. Extracellular calcium chelation and attenuation of calcium entry decrease in vivo cholinergic-induced eccrine sweating sensitivity in humans. Exp Physiol. 2014 Feb; 99(2):393-402.

Metzler-Wilson K, Kellie L, Tomc C, Simpson C, Sammons D, & Wilson TE. Differential vasodilatory responses to local heating in facial, glabrous and hairy skin. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2012 Sept; 32(5):361-6.  

Toma K, Walkowski S, Metzler-Wilson K, & Wilson TE. Acupuncture attenuates exercise-induced increases in skin sympathetic nerve activity. Auton Neurosci. 2011 Jul 5; 162(1-2): 84-8.