Commonwealth Hand and Physical Therapy is an outpatient rehabilitation practice that specializes in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation as well as complete Physical Therapy services. As Physical Therapist we specialize in the treatment of a wide range of diagnoses to ensure restoration of function and quality of life. Our facilities are equipped to offer our patients an excellent opportunity to reach their optimal functional abilities.
To our patients, we commit to providing the most effective, clinically superior occupational therapy humanly possible at a fair price. The measure of our success will be found in the trust we build and in the hearts of those we heal.
To our employees, we commit to providing a positive, respectful, and fair work environment. We will invest in their professional growth to ensure a compassionate and knowledgeable team of professionals. The virtues of integrity, honesty, and loyalty will make up the moral fiber that bonds us.
Physical Therapist
Chad Hamilton, DPT
PT Program Director
Chad is a Physical Therapist and Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist from Owensboro, KY. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Exercise Science in 2010 and received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Kentucky in 2014. He has been practicing in outpatient orthopedics for over 5 years and his clinical interests include injuries of the spine, shoulder, and upper extremity injuries, lower extremities, vestibular dysfunction, TMJ dysfunction, and dry needling. Chad obtained his Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (COMT) in 2019 from the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments (IAMT). Outside of the clinic he enjoys hiking, traveling, watching sports, playing with his dog Leo, and spending time with his family and friends.
Alex Vaughan
PT, DPT
Alex has joined our team as a staff physical therapist. He graduated in 2016 from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor's in Kinesiology and Exercise Science with a business minor and in 2019 graduated from the University of Evansville Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Alex has experience treating musculoskeletal conditions related to the shoulder, spine, hip, knee, foot, and ankle as well as a passion for neurologic conditions, neuroplasticity, and the therapeutic neuroscience of pain. He believes in making meaningful changes by putting people first and looks forward to solving problems from head to toe at Commonwealth Hand and Physical Therapy.
Josh Hayden
PT, DPT
Josh is originally from Owensboro, KY. He received his bachelor's in kinesiology from the University of Kentucky in 2015. He then went on to attend the University of Evansville where he completed his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2019. Josh enjoys treating a wide range of orthopedic conditions and has worked with his professors to publish several research papers in the sports medicine field. Josh is certified in functional dry needling and ASTYM therapy. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys hunting and fishing, as well as cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats in football and basketball.
Isaac Buck
PT, DPT
Isaac is a physical therapist originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He graduated from Centre College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. In 2018, he received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Western Kentucky University. He has three years of experience in both outpatient and school-based physical therapy settings. He treats a variety of musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions and most enjoys seeing pediatric, geriatric, and vestibular patients. He is certified in dry needling. Outside of physical therapy, Isaac enjoys hiking, traveling,
photography, cooking, watching Kentucky basketball and football and playing with his dog Zoe.
John Wright Polk IV
DPT, OCS
John Wright is a Physical Therapist and Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist originally from Somerset, KY. He graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2011 with a degree in Biology and received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Kentucky in 2014. John Wright has also completed an orthopedic residency program to receive his OCS in 2017. He has been practicing for 8 years specializing in orthopedics, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders, pain science, sports rehab, amputee rehabilitation, vestibular dysfunction, and dry needling. John Wright is married to his wife Kaylie, with 2 children, and enjoys spending time with them most of all. In his free time he enjoys cheering on the Cats, hiking, fishing, reading, and serving his Georgetown community.
Tim Uhl
PT, PhD, ATC, FNATA
Tim Uhl, PT, PhD, ATC, FNATA has been practicing physical therapy and athletic training since 1985 in various sport medicine settings. Tim received his Bachelors of Health Science from the University of Kentucky in Physical Therapy. He practiced physical therapy at the Lexington Clinic Sports Medicine Center and served as Head Athletic Trainer at Transylvania University until 1988. He pursued his Masters’ Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan. At Michigan, he worked with the UM Football team under Coach Bo Shembechler, where working toward a team goal is emphasized. Tim served both on the staff and as the director of outpatient physical therapy at the Human Performance and Rehabilitation Centers in Columbus, GA. This rehabilitation center served 18 orthopedic surgeons and the Hughston Sports Medicine Hospital. Founded by Jack Hughston, MD, this was the first sports medicine hospital built in the United States. Under Hall of Fame Athletic Trainer Joe Gieck, and Hall of Fame Orthopedic Upper Extremity surgeon Dr. Frank McCue, Tim completed his Doctorate in Sports Medicine (PhD) from the University of Virginia in 1998. His studies were focused on shoulder motor control theory. Dr. Uhl is currently a Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Athletic Training and Director of the Musculoskeletal Laboratory at The University of Kentucky. He works clinically at Commonwealth Hand Therapy as a physical therapist and athletic trainer. He enjoys treating patients with upper extremity traumatic and overuse injuries.
Tim’s clinical and research interests are in musculoskeletal assessment and rehabilitation, with particular interests in neuromuscular control and shoulder function. He has secured funding for his research in the area of scapular kinematics and shoulder rehabilitation from private industry and non-profit organizations. He has over 120 PubMed peer-reviewed publications.
Here is a link to his publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1TywvgnOhMKkv/bibliography/48571273/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending
Tim is active member of the Sport Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association; he also a past-president of the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists. Tim is one of five physical therapists in the United States that is an affiliate member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society since 2004. He is currently the co-leader in creating Clinical Practice Guideline for Shoulder Instability for The American Physical Therapy Association and was co-author of “Shoulder Pain and Mobility Deficits: Adhesive Capsulitis” J Orthop Sports Phy Ther 43(5):A1-A31, 2013
Tim’s clinical and research interests are in musculoskeletal assessment and rehabilitation, with particular interests in neuromuscular control and shoulder function. He has secured funding for his research in the area of scapular kinematics and shoulder rehabilitation from private industry and non-profit organizations. He has over 120 PubMed peer-reviewed publications.
Here is a link to his publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1TywvgnOhMKkv/bibliography/48571273/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending
Tim is active member of the Sport Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association; he also a past-president of the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists. Tim is one of five physical therapists in the United States that is an affiliate member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society since 2004. He is currently the co-leader in creating Clinical Practice Guideline for Shoulder Instability for The American Physical Therapy Association and was co-author of “Shoulder Pain and Mobility Deficits: Adhesive Capsulitis” J Orthop Sports Phy Ther 43(5):A1-A31, 2013
Brett Lemmons
PT, DPT, COMT, OCS, CDNT
Brett is a physical therapist and clinical educator originally from Henderson, KY. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2007 with a degree in Biology and received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Kentucky in 2010. Brett is a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) through both Maitland Australian Seminars and the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments. He has been a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) since 2015 and a Certified Dry Needling Therapist (CDNT) since 2017. He is a member of the orthopedic section of the American Physical Therapy Association and has been practicing for 12 years living in Nashville, Louisville, and Lexington. Brett is motivated by clinical mentoring and teaching with an emphasis on higher-level clinical reasoning. He specializes in the treatment of all orthopedic conditions including vestibular and craniofacial disorders. Brett is married to his wife Ragan and has 3 children. When he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, listening to podcasts, and cheering on the Cats!
Dan Ryan
PT, DPT
Dan earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY in 2020 where he also received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. Before coming to Commonwealth Hand and Physical Therapy, Dan worked as a therapist in a sports medicine outpatient clinic. He has worked with several musculoskeletal conditions including TMJ, cervical, low back pain, joint replacements, vestibular, and chronic pain, and has worked with athletes of all ages. Dan is also certified in Dry Needling and in SFMA. He believes in providing a custom treatment program to each person based on their needs and goals. In his spare time, Dan enjoys playing ice hockey, kayaking, backpacking, hiking, woodworking, flint knapping, playing guitar, and playing ultimate frisbee.
Eliza Waller
PT, DPT
Eliza is a Physical Therapist from Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated magna cum laude from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science and minors in Psychology and Counseling. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in 2022. Under the expert guidance of her mentors at Commonwealth Hand & Physical Therapy, Eliza is currently pursuing her board certification as a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and sweet pup, Millie.
Lauren Day
PT, DPT, COMT
Lauren is a staff physical therapist and Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist from Louisville, KY. She graduated from Xavier University with a degree in Biology in 2011 and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Kentucky in 2014. She has been practicing in outpatient orthopedics for over 8 years and her clinical interests include orthopedics, vestibular dysfunction, TMJ disorders, and dry needling. Lauren obtained her Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (COMT) in 2017 and her Certified Dry Needling Therapist (CDNT) in 2019 from the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments (IAMT).
She has considerable training in upper and lower extremity conditions, spine disorders, craniofacial pain, dry needling, and vestibular dysfunction. Lauren has a passion for improving the quality of people’s lives by helping them to get out of pain and achieve their goals. Lauren is married to her husband, Chris, with 2 bonus daughters. Outside of the clinic she enjoys traveling, water sports, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
She has considerable training in upper and lower extremity conditions, spine disorders, craniofacial pain, dry needling, and vestibular dysfunction. Lauren has a passion for improving the quality of people’s lives by helping them to get out of pain and achieve their goals. Lauren is married to her husband, Chris, with 2 bonus daughters. Outside of the clinic she enjoys traveling, water sports, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
Whitney McCowan
PT, DPT
Whitney is a Physical Therapist originally from London, KY. She received her bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Eastern Kentucky University in 2019 and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Kentucky in August of 2022. Her clinical interests are orthopedics and geriatrics. She is excited to be a part of a team of dedicated therapists passionate about serving our communities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, baking, and spending time with her fiancé, friends, and family.
