Dr. Willoughby holds B.S. and M.Ed. degrees in Physical Education from Tarleton State University and a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology with sub-emphases in Nutritional Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Texas A&M University. He also possesses a graduate certificate in Clinical Anatomy from Hardin-Simmons University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), International Society of Sport Nutrition (ISSN), American College of Nutrition (ACN), and American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP). He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a Certified Sports Nutritionist through ISSN, and a Certified Exercise Physiologist through ASEP. He is also a Past-President of the ISSN. He has also been presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society of Weight Training Injury Specialists.

At UMHB, Dr. Willoughby is a Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the Physician Assistant (PA) Program where he teaches human gross anatomy and human physiology to the first-year medical students. He also teaches applied research and evidence-based research to the PA students. He is also a Professor of Exercise Physiology and Nutrition in the School of Exercise and Sport Science where he teaches undergradute exercise physiology and graduate clinical exercise physiology and advanced exercise physiology, and is also involved in research in the Human Performance Laboratory. Presently he holds graduate faculty appointments at Baylor University, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and the University of Central Florida.

Prior to UMHB, Dr. Willoughby was a Professor of Exercise and Nutritional Biochemistry and Molecular Physiology at Baylor University in Waco, TX where he taught graduate level, nutritional biochemistry, exercise physiology, exercise biochemistry, muscle physiology, and exercise endocrinology classes. He was also the founder and director of the Exercise and Biochemical Nutrition Laboratory. At Baylor, he also held secondary faculty appointments in the Department of Biology and Department of Biomedical Science.

Dr. Willoughby has over 150 publications in scientific peer-reviewed research journals such as Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, Nutrition Research, and the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. He has also authored and co-authored several book chapters on issues related to exercise and sports nutrition. He also has over 100 research-related presentations. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Nutrition and Food Engineering and the International Journal of Kinesiology and Sport Science. He is also an Associate Editor for the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Nutrients, and Fronteirs in Nutrition.

Dr. Willoughby is internationally renowned for being an active scientific contributor to the field of resistance training and exercise/sports nutrition. In addition to being highly sought for national and international speaking engagements relative to resistance training and sports nutrition, Dr. Willoughby has previously contributed to Muscle and Fitness, Flex, The Sports Nutrition Insider, Men’s Health, and has been featured on many podcasts and radio programs such as the Performance Nutrition Show. He has served as a nutrition and supplementation consultant for many nutrition/sport supplement companies.

Dr. Willoughby has previously worked as a collegiate strength and condition coach and presently serves as a resistance training and conditioning consultant for high school, collegiate, and professional athletes. In addition, he also consults with amateur and professional bodybuilders relative to their training and nutritional program.

Personally, Dr. Willoughby played college and semi-pro football and semi-pro baseball. He is currently a competitive Masters’ level bodybuilder and serves as a bodybuilding judge for the International Federation of Body Building (IFBB).