News
DPT Open House April 12
The Department of Physical Therapy will host an Open House on Saturday, April 12th for prospective students to visit the Physical Therapy Center and learn more about the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at UCA. Guests will tour the PT Center, visit with DPT students and faculty as well as the Program Advisor. This event is drop-in (come and go) between 10 AM and 12 PM at the PT Center on campus. We will be happy to talk with you about your interest in applying to the DPT Program or choosing UCA for your undergraduate degree.
The PT Center is located on Bruce Street near Farris Rd, East of the Estes Football stadium.
Dr. Prati – Platform Presentation at CSM Houston
Dr. Victor Prati presented a Platform Presentation of his research at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting on February 14, 2025, in Houston. Victor Prati, PT, DPT, is a student in the UCA PhD in Physical Therapy program. Dr. Prati is an alumnus of the DPT Class of 2008 at UCA and currently practices at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. His PhD mentors are Dr. Kevin Garrison and Dr. Bill Bandy.
Exploration of Knee Extension Torque Steadiness in Adolescent Athletes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Victor Valentin Prati, PT, DPT, Kevin Garrison, PT, PhD, Jacqueline Rainey, BSE, MS, Dr.P.H., MCHES, Brant Sachleben and William D. Bandy, PT, PhD, FAPTA. Platform Presentation, Friday, February 14, 2025, River Oaks (Level Three, Marriott Marquis).
Seeking Nominations Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Award
SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2025 JOE FINNELL DISTIGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
The UCA Department of Physical Therapy is seeking nominations for the Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes graduates who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in their professional careers. The honoree(s) will be recognized in August at the DPT Convocation Ceremony. The 2025 DPT Convocation will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025, in Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA.
Past Recipients:
Susan Appling, Kim Dunleavy, Nat Grubbs, Mary Anne Hart, James A. Hoyme, Cecile W. Kimmer, Barbara J. Lovett, Twala Maresh, William S. Quillen, Nancy Reese, Chris Throneberry, Lisa VanHoose, Mala H. Waller, Glenda Winborn
Criteria for Selection:
The award is open to any alumna or alumnus of the UCA Physical Therapy program who graduated 10 or more years ago. This individual is or was a licensed physical therapist (PT) or physical therapist assistant (PTA) and has earned a PTA or PT degree from UCA (ie. AS, BS, MS, DPT, or PhD degree).
Recipients of the award will have made exceptional contributions and impact to the profession or community. Award recipients will be determined based their contributions and achievements in one or more of the following:
- Clinical practice
- Education, academic or clinical
- Leadership, service and advocacy in the profession
- Leadership, service and advocacy in the community, including distinguished service to the UCA Department of Physical Therapy or the University
- Scholarship & research
- Greater consideration will be given to nominees whose contributions and accomplishments directly support the mission and goals of the UCA Physical Therapy Department.
Nomination Process and Deadline:
Nominations are made by sending an e-mail to pt@uca.edu with the subject line: Alumni Award Nomination. The email should include the name and contact information of the nominator and the following attachments:
- Detailed resume or curriculum vitae for the nominee; OR a detailed biographical sketch of the nominee in the form of a cover letter.
- Two letters of recommendations for the nominee focusing on the nominee’s contributions and achievements in the areas of the award criteria listed above.
Deadline for submission is April 30, 2025.
Research Presentations by Faculty & Students at CSM 2025 in Houston
Congratulations to faculty and students presenting research at the 2025 American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting to be held in Houston, Texas on February 13-14th. UCA Department of Physical Therapy faculty and DPT students conducted six research projects that have been accepted for poster presentations at the national meeting in the sections of acute care, education, clinical electrophysiology & wound management, research, and geriatrics.
Presentations Thursday, February 13:
Enhancing Dementia Care Competence through Experiential Learning: An Examination of DPT Student Attitudes and Self-Efficacy. Dr. Melissa Allen, Dr. Mieke Corbitt, Emily Adkins (DPT2025), Grace Loftin (DPt2025), Reagan Reed (DPT2025), Jordan Martin (DPT2025), and Keely Tucker (DPT2025). SECTION: Geriatrics.
Effect of Student-Led Wellness Program on Mobility and Fall Risk in Older Adults with Dementia. Dr. Melissa Allen, Hannah Kobayashi (DPT2025), Jacob Luther (DPT2025), Mary Grace Dupuy (DPT2025), Elysian Majeske (DPT2025), Robert Hogue (DPT2025), and Kerry Jordan. SECTION: Geriatrics.
Effect of Blood Flow Restriction on Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels. Dr. Joshua Landers (DPT 2003, PhD 2023), Dr. Melissa Allen, Dr. Leah Lowe, and Dr. James Fletcher. SECTION: Research.
Presentations Friday, February 14:
The Effects of Experiential Learning with Simulation in Wound Care Management on Confidence and Self-Efficacy. Dr. Brian Odom, Dr. Leah Lowe, Taylor Phillips (DPT2025), Cayla Bass (DPT2025), Julianne Futrell (DPT2026), and Dr. Charlotte Yates. PRESENTER: Dr. Brian Odom. SECTION: Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management.
Implementing Anatomy Outreach with Physical Therapy-Based Activities to High School Students in Arkansas. Dr. Lara Davis, Ciana Diaz (DPT2025), Kyler Hulsey (DPT2025), Kaylee Miller (DPT2025), and Jaqueline Mondragon (DPT2025). PRESENTER: Dr. Lara Davis. SECTION: Education.
Impact of Simulation Experiences on Physical Therapy Student Confidence in the Acute Care Setting.
AUTHORS: Dr. Lara Davis, Dr. Margaret McGee, Nami Ikawa (DPT2025), Madeline Morgan (DPT2025), and Peyton Vowels (DPT2025). PRESENTER: Dr. Lara Davis. SECTION: Acute Care.
Exploration of Knee Extension Torque Steadiness in Adolescent Athletes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Victor Valentin Prati, PT, DPT, Kevin Garrison, PT, PhD, Jacqueline Rainey, BSE, MS, Dr.P.H., MCHES, Brant Sachleben and William D. Bandy, PT, PhD, FAPTA. Platform Presentation, Friday, February 14, 2025, River Oaks (Level Three, Marriott Marquis)
Faculty Present Educational Sessions at APTA CSM Houston
UCA Physical Therapy faculty will present two educational sessions at the 2025 American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting to be held in Houston, Texas on February 13-15, 2025. Both presentations will be held on Saturday, February 15th at 8:00 AM.
Dr. Leah Lowe, Dr. Mieke Corbitt and Dr. Charlotte Yates will present an educational session entitled: “Strategies for Integration of Health Informatics Instruction in DPT Education”.
Dr. Melissa Allen and team will present an educational session entitled: “Assimilation of ANPT Essential Competencies for Neurologic Entry-Level Education: Early Experiences of Faculty”. Presenters: Melissa Allen, Michael Furtado, Elissa Bradford-Held, Sue Perry.
Dr. Josh Landers and Austin Fortinberry (DPT2025) Publish Article
DPT student Austin Fortinberry (DPT2025), has an article published with UCA DPT and PhD alumnus Dr. Josh Landers (DPT2003, PhD 2023). On January 17, 2025, their article entitled “Bilateral medial malleolar fractures in a young athlete: the role of biomechanics in non-contact injuries” was published in the Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy (2025) 30:3. This clinical case describes physical therapy treatment provided by Dr. Landers for a young athlete with a non-contact injury. Austin Fortinberry is from Summit, Mississippi and is currently in his third year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UCA and will graduate in August 2025. During the DPT program, Austin has served as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Kevin Garrison and the Gross Anatomy course. Dr. Landers is currently Associate Professor and Chair of Biomedical Sciences at Lyon College Institute of Health Sciences, Lyon College School of Dental Medicine in Batesville, Arkansas. Previously, Dr. Landers practiced physical therapy at D1 Sports Training in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Amanda Bennett & Cassady Rankin Receive Top Score on National PT Exam
Amanda Bennett
Cassady Rankin
UCA Physical Therapy is happy to announce Dr. Amanda Bennett and Dr. Cassady Rankin each received a score of 800 on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), the top score available. Both received their Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees from UCA in August of 2024. Dr. Bennett and Dr. Rankin are both working as physical therapists at Access Early Childhood Center in Little Rock. During the DPT program, Bennett and Rankin completed the Advanced Pediatrics Elective with Dr. Charlotte Yates and Dr. Leah Lowe. Cassady Rankin is an alumnus of UCA completing her undergraduate degree in Chemistry with a minor in Math. Amanda Bennett completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Louisiana Monroe with major in Kinesiology. Amanda Bennett received the DPT Academic Excellence Award, the Research Excellence Award, was a finalist for the Clinical Excellence Award, and served as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Melissa Allen in the Department of Physical Therapy. Cassady Rankin also received the DPT Academic Excellence Award, was inducted into the Physical Therapy National Student Honors Society, and served as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Bill Bandy in the Department of Physical Therapy.
DPT Applications Available at PTCAS
PTCAS is Open
Prospective DPT students, please know that Physical Therapist Central Application Service (PTCAS) is now open for DPT applications. UCA utilizes PTCAS for DPT admissions and our application deadline is October 1st.
Visit PTCAS to learn more and login here to begin.
Best Wishes to Mike Hawkinson, Program Advisor
Dr. G and Mike
Mike Hawkinson, Program Advisor 2016-2024
Mike Hawkinson has served as the Academic Advisor for Pre-Physical Therapy students as well as the mentor for the UCA Pre-PT Club for the past 8 years. Mike and his wife are moving to Minnesota this June; relocating for his wife’s new job opportunity. He joined the Department of Physical Therapy at UCA in May of 2016 from South Dakota brand new to Arkansas. He immediately became a great friend and colleague and even became at home with the fabulous Arkansas weather. We are so grateful for his years of service advising hundreds of students from UCA and all over the region as well as hosting many Bear Facts Days, open houses, tours and visits during his tenure as the advisor. He has been a great asset to the Department of Physical Therapy contributing to the mission of educating leaders in physical therapy.
During the transition, please direct questions regarding DPT admission, application and/or advising to pt@uca.edu or (501) 450-3611.