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Angel Holland, DPT, Ed.D., chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and director of the physical therapy doctoral degree program
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Spotlight on the Department of Physical Therapy
| The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at UAMS recently completed securing funds for the second endowed scholarship dedicated to physical therapy students. The Dustin Dougan Physical Therapy Memorial Scholarship was highlighted in the latest UAMS Day of Giving. To honor the legacy of Dustin Dougan, whose rehabilitation journey embodied courage, generosity, and a commitment to advancing the physical therapy profession, the Dustin Dougan Endowed Scholarship supports a Doctor of Physical Therapy student who demonstrates excellence, compassion, and a dedication to learning through a strong work ethic.
During his therapy at UAMS, Dustin welcomed student involvement in every aspect of his care and requested his treatment sessions be recorded so future generations of physical therapists could continue to learn from his experiences. He loved working with the UAMS DPT students and had that opportunity when he was a patient in the UAMS hospital in Little Rock through his time in outpatient therapy at the Northwest Campus Outpatient Therapy Clinic in Fayetteville. Videos from Dustin’s therapy sessions with UAMS DPT faculty and students are still being utilized in courses within the program. The inaugural scholarship will be given to a DPT student this fall. This scholarship ensures that Dustin’s impact on the physical therapy profession and the UAMS DPT program continues for years to come.
In January 2026, UAMS DPT alumnus Austin Miller began his service as a state delegate for the Arkansas Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. In this role, he will work to create, debate, and vote on policies, bylaws, and positions that shape the physical therapy profession while representing therapists from Arkansas. Miller is a 2022 graduate of the UAMS DPT program and also serves as an adjunct faculty for the program. He currently is a staff physical therapist in the Northwest Campus Outpatient Therapy Clinic and is board certified in neurological clinical physical therapy.
The UAMS Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program continues to demonstrate excellence in teaching, research, and leadership through the accomplishments of its faculty. A few faculty highlights from the last year include:
Laurel Sexton, PT, DPT, remains a driving force in advancing pelvic health physical therapy education across Arkansas. She teaches the pelvic health elective within the DPT curriculum and serves as a teaching assistant for the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Health Continuing Education Series, hosted annually by the UAMS DPT Department. Her work continues to strengthen both student learning and professional development opportunities for practicing clinicians.Jennifer Vincenzo, PT, Ph.D., MPH, continues to elevate the department’s research profile. In November, she was invited to serve as a symposium presenter at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America in Boston, Massachusetts — an honor that highlights her leadership and scholarly contributions in aging research.
Christopher Walter, PT, DPT, Ph.D., associate professor in the program, is concluding his year-long service as president of the UAMS Academic Senate. His leadership has supported faculty governance and academic excellence across the university, including being the only faculty member to serve on the recent UAMS Chancellor Search Committee.
Andrea Myane, director of Clinical Education for the DPT program, has completed the didactic coursework for her Doctor of Education degree and is preparing to defend her dissertation in April. Her dissertation, “Caregiver Self-Reflection: Does It Matter? A Study of the Relationship Between Caregiver Self-Reflection and Participation in Home Programs in Outpatient Pediatric Physical Therapy Settings,” explores important connections between caregiver engagement and pediatric therapy outcomes.
I recently completed the respected American Physical Therapy Association Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership, a year-long national fellowship designed to cultivate visionary leaders in physical therapy education.
Together, all these accomplishments reflect the UAMS DPT program’s ongoing commitment to academic leadership, research excellence, and advancing the profession of physical therapy.
Angel Holland, PT, DPT, Ed.D., is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy in the College of Health Professions and program director.