2014 News and Events
Dr. Cathcart Teaches Women’s Health Course in Santiago, Chile
Dr. Darla Cathcart of the Department of Physical Therapy taught the course “Fundamentals of Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Therapy” to Chilean physical therapists in Santiago, Chile, on Oct 4-6. The course, sponsored through the Section on Women’s Health of the American Physical Therapy Association, had a full cohort of 40 participants.
In addition, Physical Therapy faculty members at Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile, for the second year in a row, expressed interest in establishing a physical therapy student exchange with the University of Central Arkansas.
Physical Therapy Alumni Weekend 2014
UCA Physical Therapy Alumni Weekend was recently held on October 25, 2014. Dr. Booth presented a continuing education course regarding clinical education that was free for current clinical instructors. The PT Department also hosted a Tailgate Lunch on Saturday at the PT Center.
DPT Family Day 2014
The PT Club and the Department of Physical Therapy recently hosted Family Day at UCA on Saturday, September 20, 2014. Students currently enrolled in the DPT program and their families visited the Department, toured the PT Center and enjoyed a cookout provided by PT Club. More than 200 people attended the annual event.
DPT Convocation August , 2014
The DPT Class of 2014 celebrated their graduation on Friday, August 8 during the Physical Therapy Convocation held in Reynolds Performance Hall. Dr. James Fletcher, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy was the keynote speaker for the class of 52 graduates as well as student speaker Dana Bledsoe from the class of 2014. Alicia Austin was announced as the recipient of the class selected Outstanding DPT Student for 2014. Also during the Convocation ceremony, eighteen Student Excellence Awards were presented. Alicia Austin was presented the Leadership Excellence Award while Monique Pridgin received the Service Excellence Award. Four students were presented the Research Excellence Award including Alicia Austin, Lauren Floyd, Nick Garza and Monique Pridgin. Three students received the Clinical Excellence Award,which is nominated by clinicians, including Jonathan Curry, Logan Dockery, and Deborah Sanders. In addition, eight students received the Academic Excellence Award for achieving a 3.90 or above GPA and one student, John “Tyler” Floyd received a 4.0 GPA for the DPT program. Students, family, guests, and faculty attended a reception immediately following. UCA Commencement ceremonies were later held in the Farris Center.
2014 PT Student Scholarships Awarded
The Department of Physical Therapy has awarded six physical therapy student scholarships for 2014. Each scholarship is a result of gifts made generously by alumni of the physical therapy program. Recipients were recognized during the 2014 Physical Therapy Convocation ceremony held on August 8 at Reynolds Auditorium at UCA. Dr. Nancy Reese, Chairperson of the Department, presented the Joe Finnell Physical Therapy Scholarship to Cortney Barnhill and Laura Claussen, both 3rd year DPT students and to Christopher Rigsby and Taylor Wood, both second year DPT students. Dr. Margaret McGee, Associate Professor, presented the Thomas Meadows Memorial Scholarship to Taylor Wood. Nat Grubbs and his family presented the Madeline Ann Grubbs Scholarship to Laura Claussen.
Christina Mayne-Nicholls, Pediatric Resident, Develops Sports Camp
A sports Camp for children with special needs was developed at Allied Therapy and Consulting Services one of the clinical partners in the UCA Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program. The week-long sports camp, which began Summer 2014, was initiated by residency graduate Christina Mayne-Nicholls, PT, DPT while enrolled in the residency. Residents in the program select and are provided mentorship to complete administrative projects to enhance awareness of foundational elements needed for successful provision of pediatric physical therapy services in varied settings. Link: http://www.katv.com/story/26177082/summer-sports-camp-created-for-kids-with-special-needs
UCA Physical Therapy Assists Local Storm Victims
Students from the Physical Therapy Club volunteered in Vilonia, AR on May 1, 2014 to assist families devastated by the tornado that struck central Arkansas on April 27. Students spent the day assisting families and listening to their stories. The service minded students of the PT Club were more than willing to assist their community during this time of need. Several faculty and staff members were also able to volunteer during UCA’s week-long disaster relief effort, “Bear Boots on the Ground”, on May 5 – 9 in Mayflower and Vilonia.
Dr. Cathcart and Dr. Mize Featured in Article
Dr. Darla Cathcart, faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy and Dr. Lori Mize, alum, adjunct faculty member and guest lecturer, were recently interviewed for an article published in PT in Motion, May 2014, featuring Women’s Health. The article discusses women’s health PTs use of evidence-based research to take the pelvic floor out of isolation.
UCA PT Faculty and Students at CSM 2014
Faculty and students of the Department of Physical Therapy recently attended the 2014 Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) of the American Physical Therapy Association on February 3-6 in Las Vegas, NV. Forty-one students in the Doctor of Physical program including 19 third-year students, 21 second-year students and one first-year student as well as three PhD in Physical Therapy students attended along with eight members of the PT Faculty who presented programming and research. The four-day meeting set a new record in attendance for the annual event with over 11,000 attendees, speakers and guests. Highlights included two faculty members providing educational programming, one platform presentation and eight students presenting research.
Maresh and Cathcart Provide Programming at CSM 2014
Dr. Twala Maresh, DPT, PT, NCS, ATP, Senior Clinical Instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy, is a board certified neurology physical therapy specialist and an Assistive Technology Professional. Dr. Maresh presented an educational program for the Neurology Section entitled Assistive Technology to Promote Optimal Aging for People with Spinal Cord Injuries. Dr. Darla Cathcart, DPT, PT, WCS, Clinical Instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy, is a board certified women’s health physical therapy specialist. Dr. Cathcart presented an educational program for the Women’s Health Section entitled Perinatal Psychosocial Considerations. Dr. Cathcart recently joined the Department in 2013.
Huitt and Killins Present Platform Presentations at CSM 2014
Dr. Tiffany Huitt, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, provided a research platform presentation completed entitled A Team-Based Learning (TBL) Experience In Gross Anatomy Laboratory Improves Physical Therapy Student Perceptions of Teamwork for the Education Section with Dr. Anita Killins, DPT, PT, C/NDT who is a PhD in Physical Therapy Student at UCA.
Research Poster Presentations CSM 2014
Dr. Kevin Garrision, PhD, PT, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, presented a research poster with second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students Julie Forester, Kristian Foster, Taylor Frix, Eric Goldberg and Bobby Gragston entitled Accuracy of The Simi Aktisys 2-D Motion Analysis System During Over Ground, Sagittal Plane Gain Analysis Varies By Joint and Distance From Camera.
Dr. Leah Lowe, PhD, DPT, PT, a 2013 PhD in Physical Therapy graduate and Dr. Charlotte Yates, PhD, PT, PCS, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, and third-year DPT Students Alicia Austin, Lauren Floyd, and Monique St. Pierre Pridgin presented a research poster entitled Safety of Noninvasive Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Points (NESAP) During a Routine Heel Stick with with .
Drs. Lowe and Yates also presented a poster entitled Functional Progression In A Child With TBI After Initiation of Early Mobility In The PICU: A Case Report as well as a research poster entitled Treadmill Training With Partial Body Weight Support In Ambulatory Children With Developmental Delay: A Pilot Study with J. Ferguson.
Dr. Steven Forbush, PhD, PT, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, presented a research poster entitled EMG of Deltoid Activity in Various Standard Tests of the Supraspinatus compared with a New Diagonal Horizontal Adduction Test.
Jennifer Long, PT, a student in the PhD in Physical Therapy program at UCA presented a research poster with co-investigators Jim Hoyme, PT, a UCA Physical Therapy Alumnus, and Dr. Nancy Reese, PhD, PT, Professor and Chairperson in the Department of Physical Therapy, entitled A Retrospective Analysis of Functional Outcomes Comparing Two Physical Therapy Models: Traditional Physical Therapy Only vs. Physical Therapy and Personal Training Collaborative Care.
Dr. Misty Booth, DPT, PT, PCS, Clinical Instructor II in the Department of Physical Therapy , Dr. Leah Lowe, PhD, DPT, PT, a 2013 PhD in Physical Therapy graduate, and Dr. Charlotte Yates, PhD, PT, PCS, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, presented a research poster entitled Can massage therapy be used to induce sleep in preterm infants? with co-investigators S Shephard and RW Hall.