Dr. Bob Walker, coauthor, of Personal Finance: Building your Future, visited UCA on Monday, March 4, 2013 to meet with students and faculty in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Cowritten with his wife, Christy Walker, the text is in its first edition and being used by all students in the Family and Consumer Sciences department for their Personal and Family Finance course.

Walker spoke to three different groups throughout the day. Students submitted questions about why he wrote the book, how it was writing with his wife, and what he thinks is most important in personal finance for college students to know.

They also met with him after his lecture for more specific questions before Walker made the road trip back to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Walker is the chair of the Department of Business at Mt. Mercy University.

Yates Present Platform at 2013 Combined Sections Meeting(CSM) of the American Physical Therapy Association
Dr. Charlotte Yates, Assistant Professor, presented a platform presentation entitled “Benefits of Kanagroo Care in Preterm Infants for Pain, Stress, and Cardiorespiratory Parameters” at the 2013 Combined Sections Meeting of the APTA . DPT students Eric Everson, Robin Smith and Anna Drinkwitz were co-authors and also attended the meeting held on January 23 in San Diego.

Faculty and Students Present Posters at CSM 2013
Dr. Chad Lairamore, Assistant Professor, presented a poster entitled “Functional Electrical Stimulation Increases Tibialis Anterior Muscle Activity for Patients With Neurological Injury”.

Third year DPT Student Ashley Roughton presented a poster entitled “The Effect of Peripheral Electrical Stimulation on Reaction Time and Cortical Excitability” with co-author Laura Argetsinger and faculty members Dr. Chad Lairamore and Dr. Tiffany Huitt, Assistant Professor.

Dr. Steve Forbush, Assistant Professor, presented a poster entitled “Comparison of Contractions Between a New Technique of Supraspinatus Muscle Testing and Commonly Used Techniques of Testing Through the Use of Ultrasound Imaging” with co-authors D White, W Smith and third year DPT Students Vada Harrell, Dustin Howard, Josh Huffman, Divine Kuja and Eric Seaman.

PhD Student Presents Poster at CSM 2013

Dr. Leah Lowe, DPT Alumnus of 2006 and current PhD student, presented a poster entitled “Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Neonatal Swine: A Safety Study to Assess Skin Integrity and Cardiorespiratory Parameters” with Dr. Charlotte Yates and co-authors A. Mitchell and RW Hall. Dr. Lowe is currently employed at Pediatrics Plus Therapy in Conway.

Dr. John Murphy, professor of psychology at the University of Central Arkansas, has published a new book entitled, Conducting Student-Driven Interviews: Practical Strategies for Increasing Student Involvement and Addressing Behavior Problems (Routledge Press, 2013). The book helps school psychologists, counselors, and others talk with struggling students in respectful ways that build on their strengths, resilience, and other resources. Student-driven interviews are therapeutic conversations that invite students take charge of school behavior problems and participate in every aspect of their care from forming goals to evaluating the usefulness of services.

“Sometimes the very person everyone is concerned about is excluded from having a voice in his or her own care,” says Murphy. “This book encourages counselors to offer children and teens the same things that we all want when we consult a helping professional about a problem—to be heard, respected, and treated with dignity. The skills and strategies in this book provide a practical blueprint for doing that.” Helping professionals aren’t the only ones who will benefit from the ideas and techniques in this book—parents and teachers will also find the book useful in their efforts to connect with children and teens in positive and productive ways.

Dr. Murphy, who has been at UCA for 17 years, is an internationally recognized trainer and author on using strength-based therapy approaches with young people, families, and school problems. He has written two other books, both of which are in their second editions and have been translated into multiple languages. Dr. Murphy’s work has been featured in the New York Times bestseller Switch and the training series Child Therapy with the Experts. He continues to work with young people, families and schools, and is a sought-after workshop presenter who has taught thousands of mental health professionals, teachers, and parents in Arkansas, the United States, and overseas. Refer to www.drjohnmurphy.com for more information on Dr. Murphy’s books and other work.

Dr. Adam Bruenger presented two papers at the 2012 International Society of Sports Biomechanics (ISBS) Conference in Melbourne, Australia this past summer. The papers, “Comparison of Muscle Activity During Step Ups and Single Leg Squats” and “Comparison of Moments and Shear Forces of the Hip and Knee During Step Ups and Single Leg Squats” were co-authored by fellow KPED faculty member Dr. Steven Tucker and Jason Carruth, a former KPED master’s student. The research that was presented was supported by a URC grant awarded him by UCA. The ISBS has membership of biomechanists from over 50 different countries and represents the only biomechanics organization whose focus is sports performance.

Dr. Bruenger has been an integral part of the Kinesiology department since 2008.

Athletic training student, Weston Vickers, was one of three Arkansas students selected for the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) iLEAD Leadership program. The inaugural iLEAD student leadership seminar in 2009 brought together 150+ students from 43 states, all focused on learning to lead the profession of athletic training.

Weston attended the NATA seminar in Dallas, Texas on January 11 and 12, 2013. This program is conducted for junior and senior students who are interested in learning more about leadership and in preparing to transition to the professional world of athletic training. Students have the opportunity to speak with their peers and with athletic training leaders regarding ethics, interviewing, networking and a variety of other topics.

Weston joins six previous UCA ATEP students who have been selected for the NATA iLEAD Program.

Weston will graduate in May 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training.

UCA Athletic Trainer awarded National Athletic Trainers’ Association Service Award

Head Athletic Trainer David Strickland was recently awarded a 2012 NATA Service Award. This is a national honor which recognizes athletic trainers for their contributions to the profession of athletic training and the association through local, state and district service.  Strickland exemplifies the mission statement of the NATA and the NATA Code of Ethics by his conduct and advancement of the profession.

Strickland  has been a certified athletic trainer for 18 years. In this role, he has always strived to not only provide the best possible health care for his athletes, but has exhibited great passion for teaching of young people. From the very beginning of his career he has been actively involved with sharing his knowledge, experience and desire to educate students about athletic training.

Strickland has been instrumental in promoting the Athletic Training Education Program at UCA into the premier program in the state of Arkansas. He recently served as a member on the committee that prepared the UCA ATEP program for the Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training on-site review. The result was the ATEP program was recently approved for 10 year re-accreditation status. It goes without saying that David loves to teach. He instructs all levels of our athletic training students from Emergency Care with our Level I’s, to Head, Neck and Spine with our seniors.

A quote from Strickland reflects his passion: “Watching these students grow from introductory students to seniors to licensed/BOC professionals in athletic training is something I will cherish forever. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing my students apply what they have been taught in our program and save a life of a student-athlete. I am grateful to know I have the opportunity to help these students grow into professionals.”

Strickland has also served selflessly in our state and district associations. One of the more prominent highlights includes serving the Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association (AATA) as its President. During his tenure as President-Elect, President and Past-President he was involved with the passing of (HB 1743 ,Act 1214) in 2011- A bill to promote the health and safety of students in public school athletic activities through the use of athletic trainers and professional development for coaches. Also during his presidency, the AATA was successful in placing “Athletic Trainer” on the third party reimbursement payer list and assisted with the establishment of the Arkansas Board Of Athletic Training(HB 1084, Act 1124). Strickland testified at the state capital in committee on behalf of licensed athletic trainers and the role we play as health care providers in the state of Arkansas.

In 2008, Strickland was appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe to serve as a member of the Governor’s Council on Fitness for the State of Arkansas and is currently still serving.

“David is a consummate professional and is an outstanding ambassador for the discipline and profession of athletic training,” said Dr. Howell, chair of the Kinesiology and Physical Education Department. “I truly believe his most significant contribution is his daily commitment to athletic training manifested in every interaction with students, peers, coaches, student-athletes, administrators and the public in general. David embodies the meaning of professional service.”

UCA ATEP Student Receives Prestigious Who’s Who Among Students Award

Blair Sipes, a senior in the Athletic Training Education Program recently received the Who’s Who Among Students award.

Since 1934, the National Who’s Who program has recognized outstanding campus leaders for their achievements. Through years of serving higher education, Who’s Who Among Students exists as one of the most highly regarded and longstanding honors programs in the nation, having earned the over-whelming respect of college faculties and administrations. For the students, recognition by the Who’s Who program marks a pinnacle of scholastic achievement. This exclusive honor is conferred by more than 1,900 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Selections are based on academic achievement, student leadership and contributions to the community.

Blair is a senior in the Athletic Training Education Program, has maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.2 while pursuing her career objective of becoming a certified athletic trainer. The ATEP program has a strenuous academic curriculum along with multiple clinical experience opportunities that require a student to commit to many hours outside the classroom setting. Blair assisted with the medical coverage of volleyball, softball and football specifically and volunteered many other times with other sports. She has also volunteered medical coverage several times for the AAA All-Star week in Fayetteville each summer.

Blair has been very involved with the Central Arkansas Athletic Training Student Association (CAATSA) that performs university and community service. CAATSA is involved with many activities such as Christmas food drives and Adopt-a-Highway. She is a sorority member in Zeta Phi Beta and has served as their secretary. She is a member of the Minority Mentorship Program and Big Brother/Big Sister program and role models to a 7 year old. Blair is active in her church and recently has become a tutor for young adults in grades 5-12 in math and science on a weekly basis.

Blair has been an exemplary student and the Kinesiology Department and ATEP program are very proud of her accomplishments.

Publications and Presentations

Veronica T. Rowe, MS, OTR/L, clinical instructor in the Occupational Therapy Department, gave a continuing education course entitled, “Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) – Applying Evidence Based Research in the Clinic” to 40 physical and occupational therapists and students in El Dorado, AR, on March 20, 2012. The course was sponsored by the Arkansas Physical Therapy Association and South Arkansas Community College.

 

 

 

Steve Tucker, PhD, ATC, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, had a manuscript entitled “Reliability and validity of measuring scapular upward rotation using an electrical inclinometer” accepted for publication in the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. Co-author on the manuscript is former undergraduate athletic training student Lyndsey Ingram, ATC.

 

 

Drs. Shawn Charlton and Bill Lammers in the Department of Psychology & Counseling received a $1, 000 grant from the Psi Chi International Honor Society to support the Arkansas Symposium for Psychology Students. The symposium will be held April 21 and will provide a venue for psychology students in Arkansas to present their research.

 

Van der Toorn, J., Nail, P. R., Liviatan, I., & Jost, J. (2012, March). My country, right or wrong: System threat eliminates the liberal-conservative gap in patriotism. Invited address, 5th Annual Conference on Experimental Political Science, New York University, New York.

Mitchell, C., & Simon, J. (2012, February). Seeking interventions: Development of the Website Investigation Model. Poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists, Philadelphia, PA. C. Mitchell is doctoral student in school psychology program.

John Murphy, Psychology & Counseling Department, presented a two-day Advanced Professional Training (APT) Workshop, entitled “Brief Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools” in February at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Conference in Philadelphia, PA.

Simon, J.B. (2012, March). Enhancing hospital-to-school transition success: How YOU can contribute. Arkansas Mental Health in Education Association, Little Rock, Arkansas.