News

The Department of Physical Therapy is hosting an Open House on Saturday, April 23rd from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Physical Therapy Center.  Prospective students and their families are invited to this come and go event to meet and greet DPT students and faculty.  Save the date!

 

 

Check out our newest logo for UCA Physical Therapy!!  This summer we will be celebrating the 50th graduating class of physical therapists from the University of Central Arkansas.  The Department is planning events later in the year to commemorate this milestone.  More information to come!

The University of Central Arkansas is hosting the 8th Annual Day of Giving on Thursday, March 10th.  This 24 hour fund raiser can impact so many in the UCA community.  The Department of Physical Therapy is focusing on PT students.  So many alumni, faculty, and friends have invested in the amazing UCA Physical Therapy Program for over 50 years.  Giving can make a difference – please join us in the campaign on March 10 at http://uca.edu/DayofGiving .

The Department is continually striving to improve physical therapy education at UCA and across the nation. Support of the program by its alumni is at the foundation of this effort.  Thank you!!

Sandy Quillen, UCA PT class of 1977, was recognized by the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy for his distinguished contribution to the specialty of sports physical therapy. Dr. Quillen is pictured on the left receiving the Ronald G. Peyton Award at the APTA Combined Section Meeting on February 5th in San Antonio, TX. In addition to his professional contributions, Dr. Quillen has been a generous donor to the UCA PT Foundation Fund that supports student research dissemination and special Department initiatives.

Dr. Mize recently presented two educational sessions at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association held on February 2 – 5, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. On February 5^th from 8:00-10:00 Dr. Mize and colleagues presented an educational session for clinicians entitled, “When Sex Hurts:  Why Christian Women Experience Higher Rates of Pain and What to Do,” which was co-authored by Gregoire SW, and Sawtsky J. On February 4, Dr. Mize presented to 600 students.  Her presentation with colleage Shannon Walker was entitled “Career Transitions:  Watch out here I come! From SPT to DPT”.

UCA DPT students and faculty recently presented their research nationally at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association held on February 2-5, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. Eleven students were able to attend the meeting and present their poster presentations for research projects that they worked on with faculty including Dr. Lowe, Dr. Yates, Dr. Forbush and Dr. Bandy. This was a great opportunity for students to participate in the dissemination of their research. The poster presentations titles and authors are:

The effects of experiential learning on perceived clinical reasoning and self-efficacy of DPT students. Dr. Lowe, Helena Cichy, Hayley Dingler, Collin Gage, Emily Kaelin, Maddie Stout, Caressa Wilson, and Dr. Yates.

Survey on knowledge of, use, and diagnostic applicability of rotator cuff tests in clinical practice. Dr. Forbush, Dr. Bandy, Mollie Elliott, Gabrielle Kremers, Marc Corker, Will Hurst, Alexia Sharp, Amber Winberry, Connor English, Tiffany Westin, and Kelly Green.

Spatiotemporal parameters of gait when performing a visuospatial memory task in adolescents with concussion. Dr. Lowe, Hannah Aviles, Zac Cole, Kursten Jaime, Tyler Futrell, Melissa Miller, Josh Wise, and Dr. Yates.

Dr. Leah Lowe and Dr. Charlotte Yates, recently presented educational sessions at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association held on February 2 – 5, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.  On February 5th, Drs. Lowe and Yates presented an educational session for CSM participants from 11:00-1:00 entitled, “Experiential Learning: How to, how much, what it, and why?”  UCA DPT students were also in attendance.  What a great experience for UCA students!

Dr. Lori Mize recently presented two educational sessions at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association held on February 2 – 5, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.  The first was held on February 4^th from 11:00 – 1:00 entitled “Career Transitions: Watch out here I come! SPT to DPT – Now What?” which was co-authored with Shannon Walker Fox and attended by over 600 students including UCA students.  Students pictured with Dr. Mize.  So happy they could attend!

Many UCA Doctor of Physical Therapy Students were able to attend the professional meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Combined Sections Meeting recently held in San Antonio, Texas.  Virtual options for attendance were also available.  The in person meeting was well attended and we are pleased that UCA students took advantage of the close proximity of the meeting and were able to travel to San Antonio.  Eleven DPT students were able to present research that they have completed with faculty mentors during the poster presentations.  Students were able to attend several days of educational sessions including three educational sessions presented by UCA Faculty!  Dr. Mize, Dr. Lowe and Dr. Yates presented sessions on February 4^th and 5^th.  Students and faculty enjoyed a fantastic meeting and a great educational and professional opportunity!

Dr. Charlotte Yates will serve as a member of the Onsite Review Team for the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) beginning in 2022.  This is a first for a UCA faculty member and it reflects Dr. Yates’ expertise in physical therapy education, physical therapist residency education, and recognized expertise in an ABPTRFE-approved area of practice/concentration (pediatrics).  Dr. Yates has worked with the UCA accredited Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency program since it began in 2009.  As a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and professor in the department, she is active in neuroscience, pediatric neurology, and wound care. Dr. Yates received her PhD degree in Neurobiology and Developmental Science from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), a MS degree in Physical Therapy from UCA, and a BA in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas. Her research interests include neonatal pain, concussion management and pediatric physical therapy educational research. She has been a member of several multi-disciplinary teams at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS through research at the Center for Translational Neuroscience.  Her clinical interests include pediatrics, adolescent orthopedics, and acute care. She is active clinically at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.   Dr. Yates is the 2016 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Arkansas Outstanding Physical Therapist Award, 2017 recipient of the University of Central Arkansas Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award and the 2021 recipient of the Eleanor J. Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching, a national award from the APTA.