Submitted by: Stacey Stephens, staceys@uca.edu on 08/13/2025
Dr. Charlotte Yates is the recipient of the Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Award (JFDAA). This award recognizes and honors UCA Physical Therapy alumni for outstanding contributions and impact to the profession or community. Dr. Brian Odom, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and member of the JFDAA Committee, presented the award to Dr. Yates at the 2025 DPT Convocation on August 8th at Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA. Dr. Yates is a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at UCA. She is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy and has practiced clinically as a pediatric physical therapist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for more than 25 years. Dr. Yates is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, the University of Central Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Within the last decade, she has received the Outstanding Physical Therapist Award from the Arkansas chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, the UCA faculty Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award, AND the Eleanor Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching, which is a national award from the American Physical Therapy Association. Dr. Yate’s research has made a significant impact in advancing the field of neurobiology and pediatric physical therapy, particularly in neurodevelopmental science, where she continues to contribute to our understanding of pediatric neurological rehabilitation. Through her tireless dedication to improving patient care, advancing the education of future PTs, contributing to the mission, vision and core values of the UCA Department of Physical Therapy, and leading initiatives to improve the profession and the community, Dr. Yates exemplifies the qualities celebrated by the Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Award. We congratulate Dr. Yates!
