Physical Therapy Department Feature Stories and News Releases
05/06/2007 DPT Graduation Banquet held at Signal Mountain Country Club
02/27/2007 Tennessee Physical Therapy Day on the Hill
01/12/2007 Seventh Annual Physical Therapy Forum
11/21/2006 PT and OT Departments celebrate Thanksgiving
10/17/2006 Community Service Learning Projects
10/13/2006 Wheelchair Basketball
10/10/2006 Softball Champions!
10/09/2006 Alumnus shares experiences in Afghanistan
09/26/2006 Volunteer Medical Clinic
09/24/2006 Komen Chattanooga Race For The Cure®
09/10/2006 Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
08/31/2006 Bodies - The Exhibition in Atlanta
08/18/2006 Alumni Golf Tournament
08/17/2006 Rehabilitation Research Alliance of Chattanooga
08/10/2006 Levine appointed to Walter M. Cline Chair of Excellence
06/10/2006 Wommack Third in NCAA Steeplechase Finals
06/01/2006 Shannon Wommack Named Southern Conference Female Athlete of the Year
05/26/2006 Physical Therapy in Haiti
01/14/2006 UTC Physical Therapy Sponsors 6th Annual Physical Therapy Forum
10/14/2005 Ingram Elected as the Vice-President of the UT National Alumni Association
09/25/2005 Komen Chattanooga Race For The Cure®
Physical Therapy Annual Forum (Past Speakers)
2007 - Scott Ward (APTA President): Direct Access
2006 - Zach Wamp (US House of Representatives) and Bo Watson, PT (TN State Representatives) &
Dave Mason (APTA Government Affairs Staff): Legislative Issues
2005 - Jody Gandy: Professionalism
2004 - Peggy Gleason: Motivating the Generations
2003 - Chris Larson (Vice President of the FSBPT)
2002 - Andrew Guccione: The DPT
2001 - Ben Massey (APTA President): State of the Association - A Town Hall Meeting
1999 - Cheryl Carpenter: Issues of Delegation (PT/PTA role)
DPT class of 2007 Celebrates Graduation
Tennessee Physical Therapy Day on the Hill
Approximately 500 physical therapists and students participated in Tennessee Physical Therapy Day on the Hill on February 27, 2007. The UTC doctoral students and faculty visited the Capitol and attended multiple meetings with the Hamilton County delegation. The morning began with a visit to Anthony Haynes at the UT State Relations office. Anthony discussed state funding issues for higher education and in particular the campuses of the University of Tennessee. State Senator Bo Watson taught an advocacy class to the UTC and UTCHS physical therapy students in the Senate chamber. Representative Gerald McCormick hosted a forum for the students to discuss physical therapy issues. Representative JoAnne Favors introduced the students to the Health & Human Resources Committee during their meeting. Senator Ward Crutchfield talked with the students about the legislative role in creating the physical therapy program. It was a great experience for the students to develop patient advocacy skills and experience opportunities to address the health needs of society.
February 27, 2007
Seventh Annual Physical Therapy Forum
The 7th Annual Physical Therapy Forum, sponsored by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga DPT Program and Chattanooga State Community College PTA Program, was held on January 12, 2007. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) President R. Scott Ward, PT, Ph.D.,spoke to almost 300 participants on “Direct Access: What is its practical relevance to the physical therapy profession?”
The forum included a presentation of the history and current status of direct access to physical therapy services. Clinical and political issues associated with direct access along with the merits of direct access and the rationale for its adoption were discussed. Central to the forum was a discussion of an unlimited direct access’s impact on physical therapy in Tennessee: across practice settings, for consumers, and for physical therapy clinicians.
Ward, newly elected APTA President in June 2006, has been an active member since 1980. He began serving on the APTA Board of Directors in 2001. He has served as Board Liaison to the Utah, California, Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, and New Mexico Chapters. He has also served as Board Liaison to the Oncology, Acute Care/Hospital Clinical Practice, Research, and Education Sections.
Ward received the Ph.D. in Physiology (1994), and BA in Physical Therapy (1980) both from the University of Utah. He currently serves as Chair, Division of Physical Therapy, University of Utah, and is a practicing physical therapist at the University Hospital’s Burn Center. Ward chairs the Rehabilitation Committee of the American Burn Association and serves on the Rehabilitation Committee of the International Society for Burn Injury.
The author of numerous published research articles, Ward has been honored with APTA’s Lucy Blair Service Award (1999) and the Utah Chapter of APTA’s Physical Therapist of the Year Award (1994). He also was the 2003 recipient of the Barbara Knothe Burn Therapist Achievement Award from the American Burn Association.
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Departments celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.
November 21, 2006
Physical Therapy Class of 2008 conducts community service learning project. DPT II students performed motor assessments on preschool children and developed individualized motor development plans that were implemented for each child. These evaluations and motor plans are then given to the preschool teachers to be used in the classrooms to help promote developmentally appropriate activities for the children.
October 17, 2006
UTC Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy play an exhibition wheelchair basketball game against Siskin Hospital Rebounders (2005 Division III National Champions)
October 13, 2006
DPT Students are 2006 UTC Intramural Womens Open League Softball Champs!
October 10, 2006
Physical Therapy Alumnus shares experiences in Afghanistan
1st lieutenant Shannon King spoke to the physical therapy classes on her experiences as a Physical Therapist in the United States Army reserves. Shannon is a UTC physical therapy alumnus (class of 2002) and is currently stationed in Afghanistan.
October 9, 2006
VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE, Chattanooga, Inc.
Randy Walker, PT, PhD, DPT provides pro bono physical therapy care at the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic on a weekly basis. Dr. Walker, along with third-year physical therapy students from UTC, offer primary and preventive care to citizens of Hamilton County who qualify as a result of their income level and no access to health insurance. The Chattanooga clinic, one of 47 VIM free medical clinics in the US, opened for care in April, 2005 and provides free health care to over 200 patients per month. The PT students have the opportunity to learn and practice their clinical skills under the direct supervision of a faculty member while also learning the value of contributing to the community.
September 26, 2006
The 2006 Komen Chattanooga Race For The Cure®
In recognition of National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, September 17-23, 2006, and to help kick off October as National Physical Therapy month, Team “UTC Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy” ran in the 6th annual Komen Chattanooga Race For The Cure® on Sunday, September 24th. Our team consisted of 34 faculty, students and friends from the Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Departments to support breast cancer research in the Chattanooga community. The team either walked in a one mile “Fun Run”, or ran in the 5K race along the Tennessee River. Several students ran competitively, with Sue Barlow clocking in an impressive 21 minutes for the 3.1 mile course. Other students were volunteers along the race course. Congratulations to Team UTC OT/PT for being actively involved in this worthwhile community event.
September 24, 2006
Dr.’s Randy Walker and Debbie Ingram attended the 2006 Annual Meeting and Delegate Assembly of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) in Portland, OR from Sept. 7 – 11, 06. Dr. Walker attended as a delegate and licensing board Chairperson from TN and Dr. Ingram was an invited speaker presenting her research on disciplinary actions in physical therapy. This meeting was organized to provide educational programming that is pertinent to licensing boards, opportunities for networking, and to deal with the business of the Federation.
September 10, 2006
UTC Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Students visit
Bodies The Exhibition in Atlanta
August 31, 2006
Faculty and students from the doctoral program in Physical Therapy and the master’s program in Occupational Therapy took an all day field trip to Atlanta to visit "Bodies - The Exhibition".
The UTC Physical Therapy Department held their 1st Alumni Golf Tournament August 18, 2006 at Bear Trace in Harrison, TN. 60 golfers attended and the tournament ended up with a 3 way tie for first place (winning teams are in bold). A dinner was held after the tournament and many alumni and 1st year DPT students attended as well as the players. All proceeds benefited the UTC Physical Therapy Scholarship Fund.
2006 UTC PT Golf Tournament Scores
Team Score Team Score
Dan Campbell 73 Jeremy Shook 58
Robert Wissert Jody Swearingen
David Sweeney Jason Houser
Jordan Shockey Bill Robinson
David Murray 57 Chris Cole 54
Walt Porter Tim Utt
Eric Spreeman Charlie Cole
David Van Eaton Tim Taylor
Ray Smith 68 David Levine 54
Cathie Smith Carrie Jones
Kilbrey Fawler Jeremiah Tate
Lisa Harrison John Friedl
Chris Robinson 54 Jerry Patton 74
Doug Hodge Phil Hauser
Scott Vieira Frank Goshcof
Robert Elder Andy Gean
John Staley 71 Josh Kota 71
Chip Ladd Clay Fiegle
Cathy Bussjaeger Matt File
Jason Stooksbury Rhodes W. Scott
Scott McCall 58 Ed Ingle 64
Robb Seahorn Ed Jolley
Tony Bleckley Reed Sanderlin
Justin Meade John Arney
Kerry Witcher 59 Randy Walker 79
Steve Catlett Ty Farr
Tom Looney Sue Barlow
Brian Haskins Michael Dubois
Jon Wofford 68
David Brown
Kip Stroud
Matt Provenzano
Longest Drive Award #12 – Carrie Jones
Closest to the Pin #14- Scott Vieira
Closest to the Pin #8 – Eric Spreeman
August 18, 2006
Rehabilitation Research Alliance of Chattanooga announced
August 17, 2006
A new partnership was recently announced for the purpose of conducting research related to physical rehabilitation. A number of departments at UTC including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Health and Human Performance, and Nutrition are partnering with Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, and Chattanooga Group, a world leader in manufacturing medical equipment and supplies. The two initial projects will look at the effects of sensory level stimulation on function and recovery in patients post CVA and the influence of consistent exercise participation on quality of life in persons with disabilities.
Dr. Levine appointed to Walter M. Cline Chair of Excellence in Physical Therapy
August 10, 2006
David Levine, PT, PhD, OCS was recently appointed to the Walter M. Cline Chair of Excellence in Physical Therapy at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. There are approximately 50 Chairs of Excellence within the UT system statewide, and they play a central role in guiding scholarship that advances their respective fields of study. Dr. Levine has been a UTC professor for 16 years and has been widely published in a variety of scholarly journals and books. He has also written two textbooks and has been an invited lecturer at 11 Universities. He is pictured here with JoAnn Yates, the widow of Walter Cline and benefactor of this Chair.
Wommack Third in NCAA Steeplechase Finals
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| Shannon Wommack |
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June 10, 2006
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Chattanooga distance dynamo Shannon Wommack capped her brilliant collegiate career with a record-shattering performance and a third-place finish in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Friday night.
Colorado’s Jennifer Barringer recorded the fastest collegiate time this year, winning in 9:53.04. Wommack’s time of 9:56.50 bested her own school record, set at last year’s NCAA championship, by more than 11 seconds.
The doctoral student from Conyers, Ga. was never lower than fifth position and spent most of the latter portion of the race in a duel with Cassie Hunt of Illinois. Wommack led briefly with three laps remaining before Hunt picked up the pace, opening what seemed to be an insurmountable lead. Barringer passed Wommack at the start of the bell lap and chased down Hunt at the water pit before pulling away for the win. Wommack held off a challenge from Emily Brown of Minnesota to claim third place.
“Shannon was unbelievable” remarked Chattanooga head coach Bill Gautier. “She ran the best race of her collegiate career in her final opportunity. It’s the end of an era. There aren’t many like Shannon.”
The third-place finish earned Wommack All-America honors for the fifth time overall and the second time in the steeplechase. Wommack finished fifth in the event at last year’s NCAA finals.
Wommack concludes her Chattanooga career with 20 Southern Conference championships, one NCAA Regional championship, four Southern Conference record times, and eight Chattanooga records. She has earned All-America honors five times.
Wommack’s All-America Honors
3000m Steeplechase-2005, 2006
5000m-2004
Cross Country-2004, 2005
Wommack’s Southern Conference Championships
Indoor 800m-2006
Indoor Mile Run-2003, 2004, 2006
Indoor 3000m-2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Indoor 5000m-2002, 2004
Outdoor 1500m-2004, 2005, 2006
Outdoor 3000m Steeplechase-2002, 2004, 2005, 2006
Cross Country-2002, 2004, 2005
Wommack’s UTC Records
Indoor 800m
Indoor Mile Run
Indoor 3000m
Indoor 5000m
Outdoor 1500m
Outdoor 3000m Steeplechase
Outdoor 5000m
Outdoor 10,000m
Wommack’s Southern Conference Records
Indoor Mile Run
Indoor 3000m
Outdoor 1500m
Outdoor 3000m Steeplechase
Southern Conference Outstanding Performer
Indoor Track – 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Outdoor Track – 2005, 2006
Cross Country Runner-of-the-Year--2002, 2004, 2005
Cross Country Freshman-of-the-Year—2001
2005 NCAA South Region Cross Country Champion
DPT Student Shannon Wommack Named Southern Conference Female Athlete of the Year
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| Shannon Wommack |
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June 1, 2006
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Shannon Wommack, UTC’s most decorated track and cross country female athlete, was named the 2006 Southern Conference Female Athlete of the Year. The honor was announced Wednesday in Hilton Head Island, S.C., at the SoCon’s Annual Honors Dinner.
A graduate student from Conyers, Ga., Wommack won the 2005 SoCon Cross Country Runner of the Year Award and both the 2006 SoCon Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Most Outstanding Performer Awards. She is the only female athlete in the history of the league to claim all three awards in the same year. The only other athlete to accomplish the triple crown was UTC’s Steven Kocsis in 2003-04.
“Shannon is outstanding is every asset,” UTC Interim Athletics Director Matthew Pope said. “We are extremely proud of all of her accomplishments, but this award stands out, as she is being measured amongst some incredibly talented student-athletes in the Southern Conference.”
Wommack is the only four-time All-America in school history. She has earned two All-America honors in cross country and two in outdoor track.
During the 2005-06 season, the distance runner won her third SoCon Cross Country individual title. In the fall sport, she placed first at the NCAA South Regional race and picked up All-America accolades with a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
During the indoor track season, Wommack claimed SoCon titles in the 800 and 3,000 meters and the mile run, setting SoCon records in the 3,000 and the mile.
En route to her second straight Most Outstanding Outdoor Performer trophy, Wommack won the 1,500 meters and the 3,000-meter steeplechase in SoCon-record times. Her win in the steeplechase was her fourth individual title in that event, and she recently finished second at the NCAA Mideast Regional to qualify for the upcoming NCAA Championships.
She concludes her career with 14 SoCon Indoor titles and seven SoCon Outdoor titles. Overall, she collected 23 All-SoCon accolades.
“This is a very well-deserved honor for a well-deserving person,” UTC Track and Cross Country Head Coach Bill Gautier said. “She has earned everything which she has accomplished here though hard work and dedication. That is why she is at the top of her sport and her chosen academic field.”
The Athlete of the Year Award is voted on by the SoCon athletics directors and 11 media representatives. It is based on 70 percent athletic achievement, 20 percent academic achievement and 10 percent civic involvement.
Academically, Wommack earned First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2005 and is up for the award again this year after receiving a CoSIDA All-Academic First-Team All-District IV selection.
Currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Physical Therapy, she is a four-time Track and Field Coaches Association Academic All-America. She graduated from UTC in the spring of 2005 with a degree in Rehabilitation Science and a cumulative grade point average of 3.697. She has earned a spot on UTC’s Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in every academic semester.
Wommack’s community involvement includes volunteering as a race administrator for several local fundraisers including the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes fundraising race. She has organized a clothing drive for a relief organization which aids Haitian women and is a member of a group which helps refurbish damaged wheelchairs for those in need of them through Goodwill.
She was also the 2005 recipient of the A.C. “Scrappy” Moore Award at UTC, given to the student-athlete who best personifies the Athletic Department’s motto of Success with Integrity through Academic Achievement and Community Service.
Wommack is the third UTC athlete to win the SoCon Female Athlete of the Year Award. Former distance runner Mary Jane Middelkoop received the honor in 1997, and former basketball player Jennifer Wilson won the award in 2003.
UTC Spreads Goodwill in Haiti
June E. Hanks, Ph.D., P.T, UC Foundation Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (D.P.T.) is leading a team on the southern coast of the southern peninsula of Haiti, where the all-volunteer group is training professionals and families to care for patients and loved ones. Two D.P.T. graduates, Sherry Cook and Alison Osborne Bales, are part of the team. Cook is employed by Siskin Rehabilitation Hospital, where administrators and colleagues have encouraged her participation in the trip to Haiti.
Edith, a student at St. Vincent School for
Handicapped students. Through the
Advantage Program, Edith is sponsored to
attend school. In a visit to the U.S., Edith
received prosthetics for both legs, which
had been amputated below the knee, and
for plastic surgery to create her nose.
“We are doing some interesting things, such as conducting a training seminar for nurses on how to manage a patient after a stroke,” Hanks said. “We are also conducting day seminars for patients who have suffered a recent stroke, and we are educating the families on how they need to continue to work with patients upon discharge from the hospital.”
This activity is taking place in the Advantage Program, the rehabilitation program of Lumiere Hospital and Clinic in Les Cayes.
Hanks says the team is evaluating potential candidates for the next cohort of students for the Bernice Johnson Center, a vocational training program for women with disabilities. Named in honor of Bernice Johnson, one of the first nurses at Cayes Clinic and the founder of the rehabilitation program, this program was established so that the physically disabled women being treated at the rehabilitation clinic would not suffer the usual fate for the physically disabled in Haiti, which is to become a beggar. Instead, the women are offered vocational training, so that they will learn to earn a living. The team is also checking on longtime patients of Hanks’ at the Cayes Clinic.
Travel to the country became easier this trip, as the team flew from the U.S. to Port-au-Prince, and then took a 30-minute flight to Les Cayes.
"This is a huge improvement over the previous four-six hour jeep drive over rough roads,” Hanks said.
Unrest in Haiti has hampered U.S. travel in recent years, but there is reason to hope the situation is changing. Nearly two weeks ago, Rene Preval, was sworn in as the country’s new president, bringing much needed stability to the government.
Hanks said if Haiti remains calm, the chances are good for resuming trips with physical therapy student interns. She recalls these student trips as wonderful experiences.
"The benefit to the students and reciprocal benefit to the people of Haiti is tremendous,” Hanks said.
Hanks said volunteers for future trips and support for rehabilitation work through the Advantage Program is always welcome.
May 26, 2006
UTC Physical Therapy Sponsors 6th Annual Physical Therapy Forum
l-r: Congressman Zach Wamp, Dr. Debbie Ingram, Chancellor
Roger Brown, Laura Warren,, PT, MS, Chattanooga State
and Representative Bo Watson.
Zach Wamp, U.S. Representative from Tennessee’s Third Congressional District, and Bo Watson, State Representative, District 31, were among those to examine “Government Issues Affecting Physical Therapy and the Patients We Serve” at the Sixth Annual Physical Therapy Forum sponsored by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga DPT Program and Chattanooga State PTA Program. Over 300 participants attended the program at no cost.
According to Dr. Debbie Ingram, UC Foundation Professor of Physical Therapy, participants heard the latest news and insights from Capitol Hill and the Tennessee Legislature. Members of Congress and the General Assembly debate legislation that has a dramatic impact on the practice of physical therapy, and Ingram identified the Medicare therapy cap as a major federal issue.
“The Therapy Cap went into effect January 1. It limits a Medicare recipient to roughly $1700 worth of outpatient physical therapy and speech therapy combined for a calendar year,” Ingram said. “This becomes problematic for the person who has a stroke in January and uses up all therapy dollars. If that person then falls and breaks a hip later that year, the patient is not eligible for therapy under Part B.”
Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN3) is a co-sponsor of the physical therapy legislation to repeal the Medicare outpatient therapy caps. Wamp is the founder and current co-chairman of the Congressional Fitness Caucus, which promotes healthier lifestyles for all citizens. In 2004, he launched “Tennessee on the Move” as a statewide program administered by the University of Tennessee to promote physical activity, proper nutrition and preventative healthcare.
State Representative Bo Watson is the first physical therapist elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives. Representing District 31, Watson serves on the Health & Human Resources and Government Operations Committees. He is a 1983 graduate of UTC and earned a PT degree from the University of Tennessee at Memphis. As a practicing physical therapist for 20 years, Watson is the Director of Therapy Services at Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga and frequently serves as a clinical instructor to the PTA students from Chattanooga State and PT students from UTC.
January 14, 2006
Dr. Debbie Ingram Elected as the Vice-President of the UT National Alumni Association
The Board of Governors of the University of Tennessee National Alumni Association (UTNAA) elected Debbie Ingram (UTC ’84, UTK ’94), UC Foundation Professor of Physical Therapy, as the Vice President for the 2005-2006 academic year. The UTNAA represents the 300,000+ alumni of all campuses of the University of Tennessee system. This includes our own UTC physical therapy program graduates. There are 116 chapters of the alumni association with half of these located in the state of Tennessee. The chapters sponsor educational and social events throughout the year. One way in which the alumni of the University of Tennessee actively support the institution is through private contributions. Over $23 million was donated last year through annual giving. These contributions enable the University to award over $1 million in scholarships to outstanding students. Other contributions may be designated for individual programs and campuses. The graduates of the UTC physical therapy program have an alumni association that hosts annual social events affiliated with state or national physical therapy meetings. For more information, contact Chris Robinson at j_chrisrobinson@yahoo.com
Links:University of Tennessee National Alumni Association (UTNAA) http://www.alumni.tennessee.edu/
Hamilton County Chapter of the UTNAA http://alumni.tennessee.edu/chapters/tn.shtml
The 2005 Komen Chattanooga Race For The Cure®
In recognition of National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, September 18-24, 2005, and to help kick off October as National Physical Therapy month, Team “UTC Physical Therapy” ran in the 5th annual Komen Chattanooga Race For The Cure® on Sunday, September 25th. Our team consisted of 28 faculty, students and friends from the Physical Therapy Department to support breast cancer research in the Chattanooga community. The team either walked in a one mile “Fun Run”, or ran in the 5K race along the Tennessee River. Several students ran competitively, with Troy Ketchum clocking in an impressive 17 minutes 45 seconds for the 3.1 mile course. Other PT students were volunteers along the race course. Congratulations to Team UTC Physical Therapy for being actively involved in this worthwhile community event.
