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 ranked 3rd in Nation for PT
“The 2016 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.
Anatomy Course Planned for UCA Homecoming October 22
Dr. Bruce Mendelson will present “A Cadaver Anatomy based Approach to the Clinical Anatomy of Sports Injury Rehabilitation” for PT Alumni Weekend and UCA Homecoming on Saturday, October 22. The course will be held from 8:30 – 3:00 in the UCA Gross Anatomy Lab and is approved by the AR State Board for 5 contact hours. Dr. Mendelson is a former UCA PT faculty member and physical therapist currently practicing in Oregon. In recent years, he has taught the Advanced Anatomy course in the UCA DPT program. Click here for course brochure and registration information for this course.
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.
APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP) -November 4 & 5
The UCA Department of Physical Therapy will host the Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program on November 4-5, 2016 (Friday/Saturday) at the UCA Physical Therapy Center. See November 2016 Brochure & Registration. Contact Stacey Stephens at 510-450-5549 or staceys@uca.edu for more information.
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
Charlotte Fant
The Charlotte Mills Fant Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established in her memory. If you wish to make a donation you may click here.
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