2013 News and Events
Dr. Mathis and Dr. Lowe, 2013 PhD in PT Graduates
Dr. Leah Lowe and Dr. Ruth Ann Mathis each recently earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physical Therapy from UCA and were recognized during Winter Commencement exercises held on December 14, 2013. Dr. Mathis is a 1998 MS in PT graduate from UCA. Dr. Mathis received her undergraduate degree from UCA and was a member of the UCA Honors College. Dr. Mathis’s major professor in the Department of Physical Therapy was Dr. David Taylor. She currently teaches in the Department of Physical Therapy at Harding University. Dr. Mathis successfully defended her dissertation on October 8 entitled “The Effect of Exercise Training Intensity on Physical Fitness and Physical Function in People with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial” . Dr. Lowe is a 2006 DPT graduate from UCA. Dr. Lowe also received her undergraduate degree from UCA and was a member of the UCA Honors College as well. She currently practices pediatric physical therapy in Conway. Dr. Lowe’s major professor in the Department of Physical Therapy was Dr. Charlotte Yates. Dr. Lowe successfully defended her dissertation on November 4 entitled “Treadmill Training with Partial Body Weight Support in Ambulating Children with Developmental Delay”.
UCA celebrates 10 years of DPT Graduates in 2013
The UCA Doctor of Physical Therapy Program first admitted students in 2003 to begin the 36 month program. Thirty-four students graduated in August of 2003. In 2013, the first Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2003 celebrated their 10th anniversary with a class reunion dinner held during PT Alumni Weekend on October 26. Half of the 34 member class attended the event.
Class of 1973 Reunion Success
The physical therapy class of 1973 recently celebrated their 40th anniversary at a reunion dinner held October 25 during PT Alumni Weekend . Eleven of the 15 member class were reunited – some for the first time since 1973- since departing State College of Arkansas when the PT school was located at the “old” Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. Alumni and Guests were able to tour of the UCA Physical Therapy Center and Gross Anatomy lab during an open house and reception held earlier that evening.
2013 Alumni Weekend Continuing Education Course
The Department of Physical Therapy hosted a CEU course regarding healthcare reform presented by Jim Hoyme entitled “Some Will Win…Some Will Lose. I Prefer to Win. Do You View Healthcare Reform as a Threat or an Opportunity?” The course was held as a part of PT Alumni Weekend on Saturday, October 26 and provided 4 hours of continuing education. Participants enjoyed a breakfast followed by the Physical Therapy cookout celebrating PT Alumni Weekend during UCA Homecoming. Kickoff for the game is 3:00 p.m. Click here for registration UCA Alumni Course Brochure 2013 .
2013 DPT Family Day – October 12
Students, family and staff celebrated the second annual DPT Family day on October 12, 2013. The PT Club hosted a luncheon and baggo tournament. Students had the opportunity for their families to meet their classmates, faculty and tour the PT Center as well as enjoy tailgating prior to the UCA football game. Students from the class of 2014, 2015 and 2016 attended.
PT Student Scholarships Awarded
The Department of Physical Therapy has awarded six physical therapy student scholarships for 2013-2014. Each scholarship is a result of gifts made generously by alumni of the physical therapy program. Recipients were recognized during the 2013 Physical Therapy Convocation ceremony held on August 9 at Reynolds Auditorium at UCA. Dr. Nancy Reese, Chairperson of the Department, presented the Joe Finnell Physical Therapy Scholarship to Tyler Floyd and Brittany Zielstra, both third year DPT students and to Cortney Barnhill and Carly Hood, both second year DPT students. Dr. Margaret McGee, Associate Professor, presented the Thomas Meadows Memorial Scholarship to Brittany Zielstra. Nat Grubbs and his family presented the Madeline Ann Grubbs Scholarship to Tyler Floyd.
DPT Convocation August 9, 2013
The DPT Class of 2013 celebrated their graduation on Friday, August 9 during the Physical Therapy Convocation held in Reynolds Performance Hall. Dr. Bill Bandy was the keynote speaker for the class of 55 graduates as well as student speaker Gabe Harris from the class of 2013. Hunter Platt received the outstanding DPT Student Award for 2013. Seventeen students received the Academic Excellence Award for achieving a 3.90 or above GPA, seven of whom received a 4.0 GPA. Seven students received the Research Excellence Award, three received the Clinical Excellence Award, three received the Service Excellence Award and 2 received the Leadership Excellence Award. Students, family, guests, and faculty attended a reception immediately following. UCA Commencement ceremonies were later held in the Farris Center.
Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program September 2013
The APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program hosted by UCA Physical Therapy was held on September 20-21, 2013. Dr. Misty Booth presented the course.
Yates Present Platform at CSM 2013
Dr. Charlotte Yates, Assistant Professor, presented a platform presentation entitled “Benefits of Kanagroo Care in Preterm Infants for Pain, Stress, and Cardiorespiratory Parameters” at the 2013 Combined Sections Meeting of the APTA . DPT students Eric Everson, Robin Smith and Anna Drinkwitz were co-authors and also attended the meeting held on January 23 in San Diego.
Faculty and Students Present Posters at CSM 2013
Dr. Chad Lairamore, Assistant Professor, presented a poster entitled “Functional Electrical Stimulation Increases Tibialis Anterior Muscle Activity for Patients With Neurological Injury”.
Third year DPT Student Ashley Roughton presented a poster entitled “The Effect of Peripheral Electrical Stimulation on Reaction Time and Cortical Excitability” with co-author Laura Argetsinger and faculty members Dr. Chad Lairamore and Dr. Tiffany Huitt, Assistant Professor.
Dr. Steve Forbush, Assistant Professor, presented a poster entitled “Comparison of Contractions Between a New Technique of Supraspinatus Muscle Testing and Commonly Used Techniques of Testing Through the Use of Ultrasound Imaging” with co-authors D White, W Smith and third year DPT Students Vada Harrell, Dustin Howard, Josh Huffman, Divine Kuja and Eric Seaman.
PhD Student Presents Poster at CSM 2013
Dr. Leah Lowe, DPT Alumnus of 2006 and current PhD student, presented a poster entitled “Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Neonatal Swine: A Safety Study to Assess Skin Integrity and Cardiorespiratory Parameters” with Dr. Charlotte Yates and co-authors A. Mitchell and RW Hall. Dr. Lowe is currently employed at Pediatrics Plus Therapy in Conway.
PhD Alumni Present at CSM 2013
Also, Yasser Salem, an alumnus of the PhD program and current Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center in Fort Worth, presented two platform presentations entitled ” A Multi-Year Observational Study of Community-based Exercise Programming for People With Parkinson Disease” and “Effects of Aquatic Exercises on Mobility Function and Quality of Life in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial”.
Recent Grads Ayers and Davis Publish Article
Two of UCA’s recent DPT graduates, Dr. Shannon Ayers and Dr. Karee Davis have had an article accepted for publication in the Journal of Student Physical Therapy Research. The article is titled Comparison of Lower Extremity Anterior Compartment Muscle EMG When Using the Nintendo Wii Fit™ and BAPS Board™: a Repeated Measure Trial.