News

• The UCA DPT program will accept all pass/fail courses that are passed at an accredited 2 or 4 year institution.
• The GRE and TOEFL exams are offering at home tests and have increased availability and accessibility -click to see recent updates for GRE and for TOEFL.

The UCA Physical Therapy program was ranked #42 of 237 DPT programs in the U.S. by US News and World Report for 2020. See article at https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/physical-therapy-rankings.  Part of the Best Graduate School, Best Health School rankings.  Fully accredited DPT programs were surveyed.  Those schools with the highest average scores appear in the rankings sorted in descending order based on their average peer assessment score.

The PT Department raised nearly $9,000 this week during the Annual Phonathon and UCA Day of Giving!  Thank you all of the UCA Physical Therapy Alumni and Friends and Students who supported the Department this year including the UCA PT Club and PrePT Club who each made donations!  UCA raised over one million dollars, a state record, with $1,126,580.00 for the 24 hour fundraiser!

 

Dr. Leah Lowe is the 2020 recipient of the Margaret Moore Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member award from the American Physical Therapy Association.  Dr. Lowe will be honored at the APTA Awards and Recognition Ceremony at the NEXT Conference in Phoenix, AZ in June.  This award is given to one faculty member annually in their first 5 years of teaching who demonstrates distinct expertise and knowledge through scholarly activities, teaching excellence, and commitment to the physical therapy profession.  We are very proud of Dr. Lowe for winning this national award.

 

 

Dr. William D. Bandy has been named a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association.  This is APTA’s highest honor.  Catherine Worthingham Fellows are individuals whose work has resulted in lasting and significant advances in the science, education, and practice of the profession of physical therapy.   Dr. Bandy is one of less than 250 individuals who have been honored with this designation nationally in an organization of over 100,000 members.  Dr. Bandy will be honored at the APTA’s NEXT 2020 Conference and Exposition to be held in Phoenix, AZ during June 3 – 6, 2020.

The UCA students of the Pre Physical Therapy Club have donated $300 to the Physical Therapy Department Day of Giving Campgain on February 26 in advance of Day of Giving planned for March 5!  This year the PT Department is focusing on improving students spaces in the PT Center. The Pre PT Club has 105 undergraduate UCA student members.  Thank you Pre PT Club!

The UCA Pre PT Club also donated $200 to the Charlotte Mills Fant Memorial Scholarship Fund.  This fund provides a scholarship for a first year UCA physical therapy student each year. The scholarship is in honor of Ms. Fant who served as the Academic Advisor for Pre PT students for twelve years.  Their contribution honors a cherished member of our Department. Ms. Fant was dedicated to the success of physical therapy students, and she will be missed greatly by many.

Dr. Lindsey Wade, a 2019 UCA DPT graduate, was presented the Outstanding Student Award from the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy (AASPT) at the AASPT Awards event on February 14, 2020 held at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Denver, Colorado.  Dr. Bandy and Dr. Reese attended the event as well.  Congratulations Lindsey! Dr. Wade currently works in Bentonville, Arkansas and is also a Certified Athletic Trainer.  The American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy (AASPT) provides a common forum for members of the Association with an interest in sports physical therapy. The mission of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy, as a component of the American Physical Therapy Association, is to promote excellence in sports physical therapy practice, research, education, and professional development. Our vision is to be the leader in sports physical therapy. “About AASPT.” https://spts.org/about-aaspt, 2-19-2020.

 

Existing Outcome Measures May be Useful in Understanding Lifting Capabilities in Young Adults with Disabilities.  Presented by Dr. Sean McInerney, Dr. Margaret McGee, Dr. Beth Stamp, Dr. Meredith Flowers, Dr. Amanda DiGangi.

Educational Sessions
Saturday- 11-1 Odom BH, Managing Pediatric Cases Complicated by Open Wounds Friday 8:00-10:00 Mize L. “Career Transitions: Watch out, Here I come…SPT to DPT in a Pelvic Health Setting.” Academy of Pelvic Health PT
Friday 3:00-5:00 Mize L. “I don’t want to treat clinically anymore, now what? Academy of Pelvic Health PT
Saturday 6:30-7:45 am Mize L (and panel) “Coffee and Cases” Academy of Pelvic Health PT

Platform Presentations
Saturday- 8:40- Wound Platforms
Odom BH, Lowe L, Vanhoose L, Yates C. “Retrospective Cohort Study of Pediatric Tracheostomy Wound Healing.”

Pediatric Platforms- Thursday 11-1 and Thursday 3-5 Yates C. to moderate

Poster Presentations
(2202)- Friday 1-3
Flowers M, Norris E, Clenin T, Fletcher J, Yates C, Lowe L. Pediatric experiential learning: dosing impact on DPT students self-efficacy, clinical reasoning, and critical thinking. Poster session presented at: American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting: February 12-15, 2020; Denver, CO.

(3047)- Saturday 1-3
Lowe L, Castillo F, Petrisin L, Yates C. Exploration of two clinical postural control assessments in adolescents with concussion. Poster session presented at: American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting: February 12-15, 2020; Denver, CO.

(3071)- Saturday 1-3
Lowe L, Castillo F, Hill K, Sawyer M, Fletcher T, Yates C. Spatiotemporal parameters of adolescent gait while performing a visuospatial memory task. Poster session presented at: American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting: February 12-15, 2020; Denver, CO.

Alumni Presentations
Friday 3:00 pm- Laura Argetsinger “Trunk Control in Children with Neuromotor Deficits: Assessment and Intervention”