Educational Session, February 4, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.

UCA DPT students at Educational Session with Dr. Mize.

Dr. Lori Mize recently presented two educational sessions at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association held on February 2 – 5, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.  The first was held on February 4^th from 11:00 – 1:00 entitled “Career Transitions: Watch out here I come! SPT to DPT – Now What?” which was co-authored with Shannon Walker Fox and attended by over 600 students including UCA students.  Students pictured with Dr. Mize.  So happy they could attend!

Many UCA Doctor of Physical Therapy Students were able to attend the professional meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Combined Sections Meeting recently held in San Antonio, Texas.  Virtual options for attendance were also available.  The in person meeting was well attended and we are pleased that UCA students took advantage of the close proximity of the meeting and were able to travel to San Antonio.  Eleven DPT students were able to present research that they have completed with faculty mentors during the poster presentations.  Students were able to attend several days of educational sessions including three educational sessions presented by UCA Faculty!  Dr. Mize, Dr. Lowe and Dr. Yates presented sessions on February 4^th and 5^th.  Students and faculty enjoyed a fantastic meeting and a great educational and professional opportunity!

Dr. Charlotte Yates

Dr. Charlotte Yates will serve as a member of the Onsite Review Team for the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) beginning in 2022.  This is a first for a UCA faculty member and it reflects Dr. Yates’ expertise in physical therapy education, physical therapist residency education, and recognized expertise in an ABPTRFE-approved area of practice/concentration (pediatrics).  Dr. Yates has worked with the UCA accredited Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency program since it began in 2009.  As a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and professor in the department, she is active in neuroscience, pediatric neurology, and wound care. Dr. Yates received her PhD degree in Neurobiology and Developmental Science from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), a MS degree in Physical Therapy from UCA, and a BA in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas. Her research interests include neonatal pain, concussion management and pediatric physical therapy educational research. She has been a member of several multi-disciplinary teams at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS through research at the Center for Translational Neuroscience.  Her clinical interests include pediatrics, adolescent orthopedics, and acute care. She is active clinically at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.   Dr. Yates is the 2016 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Arkansas Outstanding Physical Therapist Award, 2017 recipient of the University of Central Arkansas Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award and the 2021 recipient of the Eleanor J. Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching, a national award from the APTA.

Gary Merriweather is a student in UCA DPT year class of 2022 from Little Rock, Arkansas.  He is currently in his third and final year of the program and has just begun his final clinical experiences working with patients under the mentorship of our clinical partners in the community.  Gary was recently featured in the UCA Publication called My UCA Story.  The article can be viewed at News – My UCA Story: Gaining Strength, Building Rapport.  In the article Gary describes why he chose UCA, what drew him to physical therapy, his goals with his career, favorite classes,  and advice that he would give to new students or someone who is thinking about a career in physical therapy. Gary will graduate in August of 2022.

Dr. Bobby Gragston is a UCA graduate of the DPT Class of 2015.  He was recently featured in the UCA Magazine in an article written by Donna Lampkin Stephens.  The article can be viewed at Bobby Gragston: Alumnus Achieves Dream of Training Olympics – UCA Magazine and details Dr. Gragston’s work with the  United States Paralympic Committee.   After joining the USOPC in October 2020, Gragston has worked with athletes at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center near San Diego. The 155-acre facility is home to USA Track & Field, USA Paralympic Track & Field, USA Rugby, USA Archery, USA Cycling’s Bicycle Motocross and USA Paralympic Tennis.  He worked at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo and is slated to be in Beijing for the 2022 Paralympic Games in February and March.

Position Opening: The Assistant/Associate Professor is a core faculty member who engages in teaching, research and service in the Department of Physical Therapy, which offers the DPT and PhD degrees and a pediatric residency program. Teaching responsibilities include DPT-level critical care and cardiopulmonary courses, or orthopedic physical therapy (including manual therapy), and other clinical science areas commensurate with education and experience. For more information: https://jobs.uca.edu/postings/9667

Congratulations to Fernando Castillo.  Dr. Castillo, a student in the UCA PhD in Physical Therapy Program, successfully defended his dissertation on November 1, 2021 entitled “Assessment of Balance and Gait for Adolescent Athletes with Sport-Related Concussion”.  His dissertation committee is comprised of Dr. Charlotte Yates, co-chair, Dr. Leah Lowe, co-chair, Dr. Melissa Allen, of the Department of Physical Therapy as well as Dr. Jacqueline Rainey, Associate Dean, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and Nathaniel Grubbs, PT, owner of South Arkansas Rehabilitation in Monticello, Arkansas.  Drs. Rainey, Lowe, Yates and Allen are pictured here with Fernando.  Dr. Castillo is an alumnus of the UCA DPT Class of 2020 and enrolled in the dual DPT/PhD program at the University of Central Arkansas.  He is currently clinically active in northwest Arkansas at Everest Rehabilitation Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas as an outpatient therapist.

UCA physical therapy alumnus,  Dr. Lisa VanHoose, was recently named a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Therapy.  Dr. VanHoose is a member of the UCA MS in Physical Therapy Class of 1996, former UCA PT faculty member, and currently the Director of the DPT Program at the University of Louisiana, Monroe.  Established in 1989, the AAPT Seeks to promote innovative programs in healthcare, perform clinical research and promote and support physical therapy careers for minorities.  https://www.aaptnet.org

First year students recently completed a 48 hour wheelchair experience for Dr. Maresh in their Clinical Foundation course.  Each student spent 48 hours in a manual chair, completed two outings, and completed a written assignment in reflection.  In preparation, students worked on transfers to the car during lab.  Brining lab to life and a meaningful learning opportunity.  First semester is hands-on!

Many thanks to the PT Club and Dr. Maresh for hosting a great DPT Family Day on September 25th at the PT Center.  PT Club and class officers were happy to welcome families IN PERSON for a fun day at the PTC.   UCA Family Day hosted several events including a brunch, entertainment and inflatables, and a picnic with the President before the football game against Sam Houston State and a soccer match against Bellarmine University.  For this come and go event, students gave their families a personal tour of the PT Center and DPT students and families had refreshments and games on the lawn.  Great time to see families and relax a bit!

DPT Family Day – UCA 2021