Physical Therapy
WELCOME
The Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Central Arkansas offers a PhD in Physical Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and an accredited Residency in Pediatric Physical Therapy Program. The UCA Department of Physical Therapy began graduating students in 1972 as the first PT Program in the state of Arkansas. As a member of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the Department of Physical Therapy is chaired by Nancy B. Reese, PhD, PT. The Department of Physical Therapy web site provides resources for prospective students, clinical faculty, and physical therapy alumni.
UCA President Davis, Dr. Yates and Provost Runge
Dr. Yates Receives UCA Faculty Research Excellence Award
Dr. Charlotte Yates, PhD, PT, PCS, Associate Professor in the UCA Department of Physical Therapy, is the winner of the 2017 UCA Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Award. Dr. Yates was recognized by the university for her research excellence at the UCA Employee Service Awards ceremony held on Tuesday, April 18. See news and events.
UCA DPT Students Participate in Reach 100, an APTA Membership Drive
DPT Students recently participated in the American Physical Therapy Associations 2017 APTA Student Membership Challenge, a national membership drive initiative. UCA students were awarded Honorable Mention.
UCA DPT Students Receive Award of Excellence
The University of Central Arkansas has won the Award of Excellence in the 2016-2017 VCU–Marquette Challenge. UCA physical therapy students raised a total of $11,002 in this year’s Challenge. The University of Central Arkansas DPT students have also won the Biggest Stretch Award in the 2016-2017 VCU–Marquette Challenge. UCA stretched its fundraising base for the greatest increase in funds raised over last year, raising $10,499 more than their total for the 2015-2016 Marquette Challenge. The Marquette Challenge is an annual grassroots fundraising effort coordinated and carried out by physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students across the country to support new investigators in the field of physical therapy research. The Challenge is the Foundation’s signature annual fundraising initiative raising more funds each year than any other Foundation activity. Since its inception, 264 schools have participated in the Challenge, raising over $3.3 million for physical therapy research.
NPTE Item-Writer’s Workshop Planned for July 7-8
UCA will host the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) Item-Writer’s Workshop on July 7 – 8, 2017 at the PT Center in Conway. If you are a practicing physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, apply online today at www.fsbpt.org. Previous item-writing experience not necessary; PT or PTA license plus two years experience is required. The course is free and meals are provided. See Regional Item Writer Flyer – Central Arkansas for more information or contact Dr. Chad Lairamore at chadl@uca.edu.
UCA Ranked #11 in Most Affordable DPT Programs
BestMedicalDegrees.com has published a listing of the most affordable in tuition cost for the Most Affordable Doctor of Physical Therapy degree ranking. UCA has been ranked #11 in the most affordable Doctor of Physical Therapy programs in the U.S. – see the link. Programs are programs evaluated based on publicly available information regarding accreditation, academic quality, student satisfaction, cost and estimated
length of study.
Mr. Joe Finnell (1927-2017)
It is with sadness that we share the news that Mr. Joe Finnell, the founding chairperson of the UCA Department of Physical Therapy, passed away on February 18, 2017. He was 90 years old. Graveside services were held on Saturday, February 25 in El Dorado, AR, by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home; see on-line guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal. Mr. Finnell was preceded in death by his wife Mary Isabel Hanna Finnell and son Charles Albert Finnell. He is survived by his son Fergus Finnell and his wife and extended family. Memorials may be made to the Joe C. Finnell Physical Therapy Scholarship Fund at UCA, PO Box 4986, 2490 Bruce St, Conway, AR 72035 or at http://uca.edu/giving/.
UCA ranked 3rd in Nation for PT
“The 2017 Top Graduate Program rankings represent graduate schools and programs all across the nation and are based on student reviews. Due to extremely high student satisfaction ratings, the University of Central Arkansas made the rankings at #3 in Physical Therapy degrees! The full rankings are available here: http://www.graduateprograms.com/school-rankings/physical-therapy”
Log Cabin Article Regarding UCA PT Program Ranked 3rd
Dr. Reese was interviewed by the local paper regarding the recent ranking of the UCA Physical Therapy program. The article (UCA Physical Therapy Department receives top ranking _ TheCabin) is also available at on-line at this link.
Faculty Honored by Arkansas PT Association
The Arkansas Physical Therapy Association (ArPTA) presented their annual awards on September 24 at an event in Little Rock.
The 2016 ArPTA Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. Leah Lowe and the 2016 ArPTA Outstanding Physical Therapist Award was presented to Dr. Charlotte Yates. See more on News and Events
UCA Wins Most Creative Fundraiser Award for Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge
UCA Students at APTA’s NEXT Conference, June 9
UCA PT Students recently received the Most Creative Fundraiser Award for the 2015-2016 Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge by the Foundation of Physical Therapy. UCA DPT students decorated secondhand sweaters for Christmas and sold them in a a surprise brown bag. In a news release dated 6-21-2016, the Foundation for Physical Therapy announced the UCA student’s award and reported that students from 150 schools raised a record $354,320 to support physical therapy research. UCA students were recognized on June 9th at the APTA’s NEXT Conference and Exposition in Nashville, TN.
UCA Commercial Features Robyn Everson
Recent UCA commercial features 2013 DPT graduate, Robyn (Smith) Everson. Dr. Everson attended UCA for her undergraduate degree and played volleyball, in addition to earning her bachelor’s degree, she earned her DPT degree from UCA in 2013. After graduation, Robyn was selected for the UCA’s Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program which she completed in 2014. She is currently practicing in Little Rock and is married to Dr. Eric Everson, also a 2013 UCA DPT graduate.
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Department Newsletter Spring 2016 
Department news is now available in the first edition of the PT Pulse published in February 2016. Please contact Dr. Cathcart at dcathcart@uca.edu with Subject Line: “The Pulse” with news if you would like to share in the next edition. UCA PT Newsletter 2016 Spring
DPT Students Experience Hands-on Learning in Pediatrics
A recent UCA Bear Tales features DPT students participating in lab for their Neurological Rehabilitation in Pediatrics course presented in the Fall 2015 semester by Dr. Charlotte Yates, PhD, PT, PCS and Dr. Leah Lowe, PhD, PT. The course has historically included a lab experience allowing students to interact and experience hands-on time with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Dr. Yates and second year students Matthew DeGroot and Nick Lensing are interviewed as well as Dr. Carly Hood from the DPT Class of 2015. Many PT alums and friends in the community graciously share their beautiful children with the class each year.
View our UCA PT Slideshow to learn more about the UCA Physical Therapy program including pictures of the Physical Therapy Center, the Gross Anatomy and Neuroscience lab, DPT Students in lab, presenting research and attending community outings as well as pictures of the UCA campus.
Mission
The mission of the UCA Department of Physical Therapy is to develop autonomous physical therapist professionals and scholars who are practicing collaboratively in the global clinical and research communities and to model excellence in education, research, and service.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Central Arkansas is accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email:accreditation@apta.org; website:http://www.capteonline.org. Filing a complaint with CAPTE: If you have a question about the department’s accreditation status or wish to express a concern about accreditation, you are encouraged to contact CAPTE.
 
Location
The Department of Physical Therapy is a member of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences where programs in psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, dietetics, and athletic training are also provided. The Department is housed in the Physical Therapy Center, which includes over 40,000 square feet of teaching, lab and research space. The PT Center is located on Bruce Street across from the Farris Center between the Prince Center and Estes Stadium (see campus map below). The building emergency plan (PTC Emergency Procedures) is provided below.
UCA Physical Therapy Article: A Brief History
“A brief history of physical therapy at UCA” by UCA Archivist Jimmy Bryant appears in the October 29, 2012 edition of the Log Cabin Democrat. The article can be viewed at the following link.
Links
“You Can Be Me” Video and Information for Prospective Students: www.beapt.org
Arkansas Physical Therapy Association (ArPTA)
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Department of Physical Therapy Physical Therapy Center, Suite 300 201 Donaghey Avenue, Conway, AR 72035 Phone 501-450-3611 FAX 501-450-5822 Email: pt@uca.edu Web: uca.edu/pt