SUMMARY
Alexandra Watral, Ph.D., is a cognitive scientist and data science analyst whose work integrates cognitive engineering, human factors and healthcare delivery to improve diagnostic accuracy, system efficiency and patient well-being. Her early research focused on neurodegenerative conditions, particularly Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. In this work, Dr. Watral evaluated motor learning-based assessments designed to detect subtle cognitive changes earlier than traditional neuropsychological tests can. Using quantitative behavioral metrics derived from motor adaptation and memory processes, she aims to develop more-sensitive and more-accessible diagnostic approaches that support earlier detection, timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Watral's current work extends to healthcare systems and applied data science. She examines how clinical environments, workflows and patient-level data influence healthcare professional workload, well-being and quality of care. Her research emphasizes human-centered, data-driven approaches, including modeling health professional burden, evaluating clinical settings such as operating rooms, and integrating social and clinical risk factors. Her goal is to advance healthcare systems that are efficient, accessible and high quality, reducing burden and improving care for patients and clinicians.
Focus areas
- Healthcare systems and human factors. Dr. Watral studies how clinical environments, workflows and system design affect healthcare professional workload, burnout and well-being and the efficiency of care delivery. She applies human-centered design principles to improve healthcare settings.
- Cognitive engineering and behavioral measurement. She designs and applies quantitative, task-based measures of cognition, with an emphasis on objective, scalable and data-driven assessment tools.
- Motor learning and cognitive decline. Dr. Watral has led several projects examining motor learning and memory in healthy aging, including how motor learning can serve as a sensitive behavioral marker of early cognitive decline.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Watral's research looks at how healthcare systems can better support patients and the teams that care for them. She studies how factors such as workload, care environment and system design affect the quality and safety of care. By finding areas that cause delays or stress, her work helps improve processes so healthcare professionals can spend more time with patients.
She uses data and real-world observations to understand how care is delivered and where it can be improved. Her goal is to help ensure patients receive timely, reliable care in settings that reduce errors, support clear communication and lead to better outcomes.