News

The Department of Physical Therapy awards four privately funded student scholarships to Doctor of Physical Therapy Students each year.  These scholarships are made possible each year by the generous contributions received by many alumni of the UCA Physical Therapy program.  Their gifts not only impact students currently in the program, but positively  impacts the programs in physical therapy at UCA as well as the future of the profession.  These scholarships each honor a person who is special to the alumni, students and faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Central Arkansas.

Thomas Meadows PT Scholarships 

The 2020 recipient of the Thomas Meadows Memorial Scholarship is second year student Alexia Sharp.  Thomas Meadows was a UCA PTA student at the time of his death in 1999, and this scholarship honors his legacy.

Congratulations to the 2020 recipients of the Madeline Ann Grubbs Memorial PT Scholarship third year students Hannah Nelson, Matt Lim, Treslyn Fletcher, Justin Johnson, and Beth Justice, recipients of the Madeline Ann Grubbs Memorial Scholarship for this academic year.  This scholarship honors the late Madeline Ann Grubbs, daughter of University of Central Arkansas Physical Therapy Alumnus and former instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy Nat Grubbs (wife Traci), sister of Emily Grubbs and UCA DPT alum Meredith Grubbs McKelvy, Class of 2016.

 

 

 

 

Join us in congratulating two of our first year students, Sarah Sparks & Becca Mize, the recipients of the Charlotte Mills Fant Memorial Scholarship for the 2020-2021 academic year. This scholarship honors the legacy of the late Charlotte Fant, a beloved staff member & pre-Physical Therapy advisor at UCA.  This scholarship is awarded each year to a student in their first year of the DPT program.

 

Congratulations to the 2020 recipients of the Joe C. Finnell Physical Therapy Scholarship.  This scholarship is named after Mr. Finnell who founded physical therapy program at the University of Central Arkansas in 1969 and served as its first chairperson beginning in 1970  The first class of PT Students graduated in August of 1972.  The 2020 recipients of the Joe Finnell PT Scholarship are Justin Johnson, Lindsey Trussell, Mathew Lim and Treslyn Fletcher each of the Class of 2021 as well as Alexia Sharp of the Class of 2022.

The Arkansas Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, APTA Arkansas, recently held statewide elections and two UCA PT faculty were elected to serve.  Dr. Steve Forbush, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, was elected as Chief Delegate to serve a three-year term.  Dr. Kevin Garrison, Interim Chairperson and Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, was elected as Delegate to serve a two-year term. They will represent Arkansas Physical Therapists in the APTA House of Delegates held annually in June.

Congratulations to Dr. David Taylor and his research team on a recent publication in the Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine.

Sipe CL, Mathis RA, Killins A, and Taylor JD. Physical and cognitive evaluation of a neuroplasticity exercise program: a pilot study. Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine. 2020. Published Ahead of Print.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jansen Stein recently graduated from the UCA Doctor of Physical Therapy program on August7, 2020.  We congratulate Dr. Stein for receiving a perfect score on the National Physical Therapy Exam(NPTE).  He plans to begin his career as a physical therapist at Ortho Rehab and Specialty Center in Cabot,Arkansas.  Dr. Stein states, “Thank you to the faculty and staff of the UCA DPT program for equipping me with the skills I need to begin my career as a physical therapist. I am grateful that the Lord provided me with the opportunity to attend this program.  I feel confident in my abilities to assist mypatients achieve their goals in the future! UCA DPT is truly the best!!”   He recently received the DPT Program’s Academic Excellence Award during Convocation ceremonies.  He was also one of eleven members of the UCA Class of 2020 to be inducted into the Physical Therapy National Student Honors Society.  Dr. Stein served as the President of the DPT Class of 2020 as well.

The University of Central Arkansas Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2020 will be honored during the Physical Therapy Convocation

Ceremonies on Friday, August 7, 2020 at Reynolds.  The University will conduct Commencement Ceremonies as well on at 7:30 PM at Estes Stadium.  Both ceremonies are not open to the public due to social distancing.  The Convocation ceremony will be available via LiveStream at the following link https://livestream.com/accounts/5134699/events/9243354

Congratulations to the Graduates!

 

 

On May 28, 2020, Dr. Maresh received news from Provost Poulter that she is a finalist for the 2019-2020 UCA Public Service Award. Dr. Twala Maresh, PT, DPT is a Senior Clinical Instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy and a certified specialist in neurology. This award recognizes individuals whose service contributions to the UCA community, professional community, and other communities outside the university have been outstanding. The winner of the 2019-2020 Public Service Award will be announced during the convocation ceremony for the Fall semester in late August. Congratulations to Dr. Maresh for recognition of her outstanding service to UCA, the community and the profession of physical therapy!

Ms. Bond received the 2020 University of Central Arkansas Employee of the Year Award. President Houston Davis announced the news on May 21 via video.  As Administrative Assistant to the Chairperson and Registrar for the Department of Physical Therapy, Ms. Bond has been an invaluable asset to the Department for eleven years and is very much admired by her co-works and students alike. Such a well-deserved honor for a great person and wonderful co-worker.  In the nomination packet, her nominators said, “Her interactions with staff, students, and faculty, both inside and outside the department, always include a helpful and positive attitude. Ms. Bond is the epitome of a team player and her contributions to the work of the department are indispensable. Quite simply, she is outstanding at her job.”