The Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes and honors University of Central Arkansas Physical Therapy program alumni for outstanding contributions and impact to the profession or community. This year, we have the distinct honor of recognizing 2 distinguished alumni, Lisa VanHoose and Nathaniel Grubbs.
Lisa earned a BS in Health Science from UCA in 1995 and a MS in PT from UCA in 1996. She went on to receive a Masters in Public Health and a PhD in Rehab Science from UK Medical Center. She is ABPTS certified in Oncologic Physical Therapy and has numerous clinical certifications and credentials. She is currently a clinical professor of physical therapy at Baylor University in Waco, TX. Among her previously held faculty positions was 4 years a faculty member in UCA’s DPT and PhD programs, where she has continued to have an adjunct role. She has been a contributing author to 25 peer-reviewed publications, received numerous external grant awards, and given many national-level scientific, continuing education and professional presentations, including the 2022 Lynda D Woodruff Lecture on Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in Physical Therapy. Lisa is a former president of the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy, and she served as a charter member of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy Leadership Academy. Lisa was honored as a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Therapy in 2021, and was honored as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association in 2022. Lisa’s passion is community engagement and service through advocacy and research. In 2018, she founded the Ujima Institute, an organization dedicated “to facilitating collaborative efforts to address health and wellness disparities within Black communities” and has more recently established the Ujima Center in Monroe, LA, which we encourage you to personally learn more about online. In 2021 Lisa was honored with the Societal Impact Award from the APTA. Those who nominated Lisa for our distinguished alumni award say this about her… “Lisa’s purpose is always to find ways to empower others and to increase inclusion of all in the profession of physical therapy.” “She embodies both the APTA’s vision of physical therapy as a force that transforms society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience, and the UCA Department of Physical Therapy vision of moving individuals and communities toward optimal health.” Lisa’s contributions to the PT profession nationally and to UCA will ripple for generations. She has made us all better in some way, and for this we are grateful.”
Lisa was presented the award on April 29, 2023 by Dr. Brian Odom, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and member of the Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Committee at the UCA Physical Therapy 50th Celebration Banquet. The award was part of the 50th Anniversary celebration in honor of the first graduating class of physical therapists in 1972 from the University of Central Arkansas.