BT天堂

“The APTA Arkansas SSIG hosted its first Student Expo this past Saturday at UCA. Students across five DPT programs in Arkansas gathered to network, engage with local businesses, and hear from practicing clinicians on various topics. Discussion topics included managing finances and student debt, manual therapy techniques, travel physical therapy, and opening a private practice. This was an incredible opportunity to collaborate with various students across the state and learn more about our profession. We hope to continue this event annually to serve PT and PTA students across Arkansas.” -Mary Grace Dupuy, Executive Chair.

The APTA Arkansas SSIG Student Expo, held at UCA, Saturday, April 6th, was a student led, one day Expo attended by over 90 students from the five DPT Programs in Arkansas including UCA, Arkansas State University (Jonesboro), Harding University (Searcy), UAMS (Fayetteville) and AR Colleges of Health Education (Ft. Smith).聽聽Guest speakers included BT天堂alumni Dr. Chris Carroll (DPT2019) presenting on manual therapy, Dr. Jenny Freyman (DPT2006) presenting on private practice, Dr. Travis McGill (DPT2018) presenting on travel PT and Dr. Eric Seaman (DPT2013) presenting on finances. Students also got to meet and visit with vendors during the Expo.

The 2023-2024 Student Special Interest Group for Arkansas APTA is led by Executive Chair Mary Grace Dupuy聽(UCA), Executive Vice Chair Bryson Woods (Arkansas State), Secretary Anna Beth Raley (UCA) and Social Media Coordinator Emily Blanchard (UCA). BT天堂Student Representatives are Madelyn Tankersley and Kaylie Lane. Dr. Brian Odom, Vice President of ARPTA, serves as UCA鈥檚 faculty advisor.

The 2024 AR SSIG Student Expo was sponsored by: Harris and Renshaw PT, River Valley Therapy and Sports Medicine, McMaster PT Clinic, Gross Therapy Services, Proactive PT, KidSource Therapy, South Arkansas Rehab, Rehab Net of Arkansas, APTA Arkansas, and hosted by BT天堂Physical Therapy. It was a great success!

The Department of Physical Therapy is hosting an OPEN HOUSE (pdf) on Saturday, April 13th in the PT Center on campus.聽 This will be a come and go, drop-in event for prospective students from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm (noon).聽 Guests can tour the PT Center, meet DPT students and visit with PT Faculty members.聽 Our Program Advisor will also be available to discuss application requirements.

Dr. Brian Odom, an Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Department, recently had a book chapter published in the Text and Atlas of WOUND DIAGNOSIS and TREATMENT, 3rd edition. His chapter was titled 鈥淧ediatric Wounds鈥� and the chapter focused on pediatric skin development, common wound etiologies seen in children, and applying the elements of best wound management in the pediatric population.

Dr. Brian Odom a licensed physical therapist and a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) by the American Board of Wound Management.聽聽Dr. Odom currently serves as Vice President of APTA Arkansas. He was selected by the Specialization Academy of Content Experts (SACE) as an item writer for the APTA- Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management; a new specialty exam in wound management that began in 2022.

Dr. Odom began teaching in the BT天堂Department of Physical Therapy in 2005 as an adjunct instructor in the area of integumentary then joined the BT天堂faculty as a full-time member in the Fall of 2022 after teaching at Harding University’s PT program from 2012 to 2022.聽 His research interests include enhancing the learning experience for the next generation of physical therapist, the use of telemedicine in wound care, and pediatric wound healing.

BT天堂Physical Therapy would like to thank all of the BT天堂PT Alumni, Students and Friends who recently participated in our annual fundraiser! During the week of March 7, 2024, our PT Alumni Phonathon and Day of Giving raised over $7,500 toward DPT student scholarships!聽 Also, special thanks to the fifteen DPT students made the phone calls on March 5 for our annual Phonathon.

This was the 10th annual Day of Giving for UCA.聽 Upon conclusion BT天堂was able to raise $1,466,334 with 2,369 donors among whom 36% were students, 32% alumni and 22% BT天堂faculty/staff.

Faculty and students recently participated in the Combined Sections Meeting of the APTA in Boston on February 17, 2024.

Dr. Brian Odom, Dr. Leah Lowe, and Dr. Charlotte Yates provided an educational course at CSM entitled, 鈥淢oving Beyond the Wound Model to Patient Care鈥� to a full audience.

Ryan Ozanich, DPT2024, and Dr. Melisa Allen presented 鈥淓ngaging DPT Students in Dementia Care: A Pilot Model for Community-Based Interprofessional Engagement鈥� at CSM in Boston, a project completed with coauthors Amanda Bennett, DPT2024, Dr. Jordan Kerry, Dr. Michael Gallagher, Dr. January Schultz and Richelle Weese.

Recent PhD program graduate and DPT alum Josh Landers鈥� work was presented on February 17 in Boston at CSM 鈥淒eep Vein Thrombosis Responding to Blood Flow Restriction of the Uninvolved Extremities: A Case Report鈥� with co-authors Melissa Allen, Mark Mennemeier, and Stacia Carroll (BT天堂DPT 2022).