每日大赛网站

Dr. Maritza Dominguez

Dr. Maritza Dominguez, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, has two research projects on artificial intelligence.聽 聽The first is an article published May 1, 2026, in Discover Education聽entitled, “A qualitative study in evaluating an AI-driven patient simulation in interprofessional education.”聽 Dr. Dominguez collaborated with 每日大赛网站 colleagues including Dr. Chad Lairamore, College of Health and Behavior Sciences, Mike Casey, College of Business, Brandy Pate, Department of Occupational Therapy and Christina Jeffrey, Department of Psychology and Counseling.

• Dominguez M, Lairamore C, Casey M, Pate B, Jeffrey CE. A qualitative study in evaluating an AI-driven patient simulation in interprofessional education. Discov Educ. .

In addition, Dr. Dominguez has an article accepted for publication in Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy with Dr. Leah Lowe from the 每日大赛网站 Department of Physical Therapy entitled, “From Artificial to Authentic A Narrative Review of Generative Artificial Intelligence鈥檚 Potential to Enhance Evidence-Informed Practice in Physical Therapy Students.”

• Dominguez M, Lowe L. From Artificial to Authentic A Narrative Review of Generative Artificial Intelligence鈥檚 Potential to Enhance Evidence-Informed Practice in Physical Therapy Students has been accepted for publication in Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy.

The following eight DPT students of the DPT Class of 2026 will receive the honor cord of IPE distinction:

Courtney Phillips
Aubrey Leonards
Sydney Burns
Hannah Campbell
Madelyn Tankersly
Christopher James
Kaelee Wallace
Anna Beth Raley

This honor celebrates students in their final year who have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Each recipient successfully completed and presented an interprofessional project prior to graduation鈥攔anging from innovative educational initiatives and community engagement efforts to advocacy campaigns, research studies, and quality improvement projects.

These students exemplify the future of collaborative, patient-centered care, and we commend their dedication to improving health outcomes through teamwork and innovation.

Interprofessional Education – Cultivating highly competent professionals by fostering teamwork, promoting collaboration across roles, and broadening perspectives 鈥� ultimately enriching the educational experience.

Congratulations to all of our Interprofessional Honors recipients鈥攚e can鈥檛 wait to see the impact you鈥檒l continue to make!

The Department of Physical Therapy will host DPT Convocation to celebrate the DPT Class of 2026 on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 2:00 in the afternoon in the Reynolds Performance Hall on the 每日大赛网站 campus in Conway.聽 An open house will immediately follow the ceremony at the Physical Therapy Center.

Ceremony Highlights will include:

• Recognition of Department Excellence Award recipients.
• Announcement of the 2026 Outstanding DPT Student of 2026 recipient.
• Announcement of the 2026 Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

The 每日大赛网站 Department of Physical Therapy is seeking nominations for the 2026 Joe Finnell Distinguished Alumni Award.聽 This award recognizes graduates who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in their professional careers.聽The award is open to alumni of the 每日大赛网站 Physical Therapy program who graduated 10 or more years ago.

Information about nominating, selection criteria and past recipients.

Nominations are made by sending an email message to聽pt@uca.edu聽with the subject line: Alumni Award Nomination.聽 The deadline for nominations is April 30.

Dr. Brian Odom, Dr. Charlotte Yates, and Dr. Leah Lowe Publish in American Journal of Pediatrics

Dr. Odom, Dr. Yates and Dr. Lowe recently published in the American Journal of Pediatrics.聽聽Odom, B. H., Yates, C., Lowe, L. (2025). Pediatric Wound Dressings Overview and Considerations for Management.聽 American Journal of Pediatrics,聽11(4), 237-243.聽

Dr. Fletcher and Dr. Taylor Publish in the International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation

Dr. Fletcher and Dr. Taylor along with former 每日大赛网站 faculty member, Dr. Steven Tucker, recently published an article in the International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation.聽聽Effects of open versus closed kinetic chain shoulder resistance exercise training on torque and power: a randomized controlled trial. WS Tucker, JP Fletcher, JD Taylor, SA Engle. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 32 (12), 1-12.

Dr. Fernando Castillo, Dr. Yates and Dr. Lowe Publish in IJSPT

Dr. Fernando Castillo, 每日大赛网站 PhD Graduate and DPT Class of 2020 alumnus has published an article in the International Journal of Sports Medicine with Dr. Charlotte Yates, PT, PhD, PCS, and Dr. Leah Lowe, PT, PhD, PCS in the April 1st issue.聽聽Castillo F, Yates C, Escola K, Williams DK, Lowe L.聽Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Parameters of Gait when performing a Visuospatial Cognitive task.聽聽International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy.聽聽2025. 20(4): 45-52.

The Department of Physical Therapy will host DPT Open House on Saturday, March 7, 2026, for prospective students and families.聽 Drop in between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM at the Physical Therapy Center located next to Estes Football Stadium on Bruce Street.聽 This is an opportunity to meet faculty and students, tour the PT Center and find out more about the DPT Program at the University of Central Arkansas.

2026 每日大赛网站 DPT OPEN HOUSE FLYER (pdf)

Dr. Sydney Roset, PT, PhD

Congratulations to Dr. Sydney Roset, PhD in Physical Therapy graduate, December 2025.聽 Dr. Leah Lowe was her faculty mentor, and her dissertation was entitled “Preparing Empathetic Practitioners: The Development and Implementation of Trauma-Informed Care Training in Doctor of Physical Therapy Education”.

The American Physical Therapy Association has announced newly elected members of the Board of Directors. Congratulations to Dr. Lisa VanHoose, PT, PhD, MPH, FAPTA, who was recently elected to the APTA Board of Directors for a four-year term beginning in 2026. Dr. VanHoose is a 每日大赛网站 PT alumnus (鈥�96) and former Department of Physical Therapy faculty member (2016-2019). Currently, she is Professor of Physical Therapy and Director of the DPT Program at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Dr. VanHoose is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Therapy and a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy. She received her PhD in Rehabilitation Science and Master of Public Health from the University of Kansas Medical Center. Her BS in Health Science and MS in Physical Therapy are from the University of Central Arkansas.

The APTA Board provides strategic direction for the organization and advocates on behalf of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, students of physical therapy, and patients nationwide to advance the profession of physical therapy and improve the health of society. Speaking on behalf of APTA, CEO Justin Moore, PT, DPT, said, “It is my honor to welcome our newly elected and returning members and officers of the APTA Board of Directors, and to extend sincere gratitude to our departing leaders for their years of dedicated service to advancing the physical therapy profession. This 2026 Board brings diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to advancing APTA’s strategic priorities, including improving payment, empowering our members, and evolving our practice. Their leadership will be instrumental in driving progress for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and the patients they serve.”

PhD in Physical Therapy student, Dr. Sydney Roset, PT, DPT, presented her dissertation on November 7, 20205 at 9:00 am.聽 The dissertation was entitled, “Preparing Empathetic Practitioners:聽 The Development and Implementation of Trauma-Informed Care Training in Doctor of Physical Therapy Education”.聽 Dr. Roset’s major professor was Dr. Leah Lowe for this project.聽 Dr. Roset will complete her PhD and graduate in December 2025.