Lisa Haack, PT, DPT, NCS, works with a patient for balance retraining. The Neurological Physical Therapy Clinical Residency instituted last year is a partnership between Belmont University’s School of Physical Therapy and Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson’s Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute.
Photo by Amy Woosley

Belmont University’s School of Physical Therapy and Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson’s Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute (PBPRI) have received accreditation from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for their collaborative Neurological Physical Therapy Clinical Residency instituted last year.

The one-year residency is one of 23 programs of its kind in the United States to have achieved this status, and is the only such program in Tennessee.

PBPRI is an outpatient interdisciplinary neurological rehabilitation program where physical therapists work in teams with colleagues in occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and social work to promote community re-entry and vocational and/or academic transitioning.

“Being the first neurological physical therapy residency program in Tennessee, we have the responsibility and the privilege to train the next generation of outstanding neurological clinical specialists,” said Lisa Haack, DPT, NCS, Neurological Clinical Residency director, a PBPRI clinical staff member in physical therapy and a neurologic specialist.

Academic Residency Director Renee Brown, PT, Ph.D, professor of Physical Therapy at Belmont University, said completion of the credentialing process is an affirmation of the program’s commitment to its patients.

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Dr. Michael Voight, professor of physical therapy in the College of Health Sciences at Belmont,  recently presented at the annual meeting of the National Athletic Trainers Association in Las Vegas, NV.  His presentation, attended by over 400 conference delegates, was on assessing and developing rotational speed in athletes.   Dr. Voight shared his work in assessing fundamental movement and in turn correcting the impairments discovered.  Examples were given utilizing several of the PGA tour players that he works with.

Belmont University PT students help coordinate the 2012 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Nashville

Belmont University School of Physical Therapy has been recognized as the “Outstanding Volunteer Group of the Year” by the Susan G. Komen Organization at their annual Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. Susan G. Komen is a global leader in the fight against breast cancer with local Affiliate offices in more than 120 locations in the U.S. and around the world.  Each year the organization recognizes volunteers who demonstrate dedication, commitment, creativity, initiative and dependability.

The Belmont Physical Therapy students began their commitment to Susan G. Komen Greater Nashville two years ago when they volunteered as a group to manage the race course at the organization’s annual Susan G. Komen Nashville Race for the Cure® event. The Belmont students utilize this opportunity to enhance the schools community involvement and establish teamwork within the physical therapy school.

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Dr. Renee Brown, Professor of Physical Therapy at Belmont, has been appointed as the new Physical Therapy Department Chair as of June 1, according to Dr. Cathy Taylor, Dean of the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing.

“We are indeed fortunate to have someone with Dr. Brown’s extensive academic preparation, and her notable teaching, clinical and administrative experience, assume this important position,” said Taylor in making the announcement.  Brown takes the place of Dr. John Halle who is returning to the classroom full-time. Continue reading →

Sarah Suddarth Byrd, a 2010 graduate from the School of Physical Therapy doctoral program was the recipient of the 2013 New Horizon Award by the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA). The award goes to a TPTA member with less than 5 years of experience who has made outstanding contributions to the field of physical therapy.

Sarah is employed as a physical therapist by Pulaski Ardmore Physical Therapy in Pulaski and Ardmore, Tennessee. She has many hours of advanced training, where she has focused on Orthopedic problems common in the outpatient setting. She was recently appointed the Federal Affairs Liaison for Tennessee by TPTA.

Danny Smith (left), Awards Chair of TPTA, and Alan Meade (right), Vice President of TPTA, recognize Dr. Michael Voight as TPTA Educator of the Year.

Dr. Michael Voight, Professor of Physical Therapy, recently was named Educator of the Year by the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA).

Dr. Voight was nominated for this honor by a former student, Dr. Ashley Campbell.  “In his life, Dr. Voight has educated thousands of students and clinicians, and I am lucky to be among that group,” said Campbell.  She added, “as a student, Dr. Voight guided, encouraged and challenged me to be the best.  He taught me by example what it means to be great, and to never be satisfied with good.  He never ceases to amaze me in his passion and dedication to the profession of physical therapy, especially the education of both future and current clinicians.” Continue reading →

Stacey Lindsley, third year doctoral student in the School of Physical Therapy, explains her poster to a Belmont PT alumni Lauren LaCourse.

Faculty and students from Belmont University School of Physical Therapy recently participated in the annual Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) held in San Diego, CA.

Dr. Mike Voight was one of the presenters for a 2-day pre-conference course focusing on injury assessment and management in golf.  Approximately 100 clinicians from around the world were in attendance.  During the conference, Dr. Voight presented the sections research award in his role as Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy and was roasted as a past president of the sports physical therapy section in conjunction with the section’s 40th anniversary celebration.

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Once again this fall, students from Belmont University School of Physical Therapy assisted with the annual Dierks Bentley Miles and Music for Kids motorcycle ride and concert to benefit Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.   Since its inception seven years ago, Belmont PT students have served as the event’s volunteer staff and this year was no different.  Over 70 PT students participated.

“We could not have taken this event to the level it now is without the help of my friend Mike Voight and his students at Belmont University,” said Bentley.  “The Belmont students have been integral to the success of this event from the inaugural ride seven years ago to its current size.  I always look forward to working with them.”

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Once again this year, physical therapy students from Belmont University helped coordinate Nashville’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  Over 100 student volunteers assisted with course set-up and take-down, served as course marshals throughout the course including the start/finish line, provided water at course stations, and handled crowd management.  The event drew over 26,000 participants and spectators on a cold and rainy Saturday in late October.  The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is a nationwide effort to raise funds to help end breast cancer forever.

Dr. Michael Voight, professor of physical therapy at Belmont, was co-chairman of this year’s Nashville Komen Race.  Dr. Voight is a longtime supporter of the organization and for years has brought PT students to help coordinate the annual race.  Voight says, “I chose to support Komen because 75 percent of every dollar raised in the region stays in Middle Tennessee and provides grants to other area non‐profits.  These local organizations are working on the front lines to battle breast cancer, educating all of us on the value of early detection and promoting awareness to low‐income and non‐insured individuals.  To date Komen Greater Nashville has provided more than $3 million in screening, treatment and educational services to the women of Middle Tennessee.” Continue reading →

For ten years, Belmont University School of Physical Therapy has been sending students for clinical rotation to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in London, England.   The School recently sent a plaque to the Hospital to recognize the longstanding partnership, and in turn, was recognized by the Hospital in an article in their staff and volunteer newsletter.  The article also featured the two most recent clinical students to the Hospital, Allie Sosebee and Alex Young.

The School of Physical Therapy recently honored alumnus John DeWitt (’01) with its Outstanding Alumnus Award.  (DeWitt is on the left of the photo receiving award from Associate Dean, Dr. John Halle.)

“I am thrilled and humbled by this honor and to be the inaugural recipient,” he said, upon receiving the award at the School’s hooding ceremony. “It is always nice to be appreciated not only by your peers but also your mentors.”

DeWitt, who earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Belmont, serves as team leader for clinical development, clinical assistant professor and director of physical therapy residencies at The Ohio State University.

Speaking to the summer 2012 class, DeWitt urged them to live out of their comfort zones by continually challenging themselves to drive growth in their personal lives and careers.

“Find fire in your gut that makes you do more for yourself, more for your family, more for your profession and more for your patients. See people as people and not as a person with disabilities,” he said. “Tell people that you want help, you want to learn and do more. Amateurs train until they can get it right, but professionals train until they cannot get it wrong.”

Prior to enrolling at Belmont University, DeWitt was an athletic training with the New England Patriots.

“I knew someone in the first class, and when I came to visit, I was impressed with vision, facilities and exceptional quality of the instructors,” he said.  DeWitt went on to become the 2008 Ohio Physical Therapist of the Year and earn a 2009 New Horizon Award from the American Association of Physical Therapy.

The School of Physical Therapy at Belmont University has joined with the Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute (PBPRI) in the Vanderbilt Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences to initiate a Neurological Physical Therapy Clinical Residency. PBPRI is the outpatient interdisciplinary neurological rehabilitation program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where physical therapists work in teams with colleagues in occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and social work to promote community re-entry, and vocational and/or academic transitioning. The one-year residency is offered through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is the first of its kind in Tennessee. The program is designed to prepare the resident to treat patients with neurological conditions using contemporary, evidenced-based treatment approaches and provide the skills and experience needed to sit for the Neurological Clinical Specialist (NCS) certification exam with APTA.

“We are very excited about this new partnership,” said Mike de Riesthal, Ph.D., director of the PBPRI. “Education of new clinicians is one of our primary missions. Partnering with Belmont’s excellent program allows us to expand that mission into the field of physical therapy.”

Christina Durrough, DPT, has been selected as the inaugural resident in the joint venture and will begin her work this August. The residency requires direct clinical care each week at PBPRI where Dr. Durrough will receive mentoring and instruction to evaluate and treat patients with acquired brain injury and other neurological conditions including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors and balance disorders. The Clinical Residency Director for the program is Lisa Haack, PT, DPT, NCS, who is a clinical staff member in physical therapy at PBPRI and is a neurologic specialist. Dr. Renee Brown, professor of Physical Therapy at Belmont University, will serve as the Academic Residency Director.

At Belmont, Dr. Durrough will extend her clinical work to the classroom by teaching and providing lab instruction to doctoral students in the School of Physical Therapy under the guidance of Dr. Brown. Belmont will also sponsor and coordinate Dr. Durrough’s participation with the Neurologic Physical Therapy Professional Education Consortium.

Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute was conceived when the Nashville Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, along with Nissan Corporation, USA and Ford Motor Company, Inc., made a financial commitment to the development of a traumatic brain injury program. The need for such a program was proposed by the members of the Nashville Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club when they identified the limited availability of comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation services for neurologically impaired adolescents and adults in the Nashville area. PBPRI opened its doors in 1988 to fill this critical role.

Belmont University School of Physical Therapy, part of the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Science and Nursing, has been preparing physical therapy practitioners since 1997 and was among the first schools in the southeastern United States to grant the Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2000. Today, over 300 Belmont graduates are in physical therapy practice in middle Tennessee and other regions of the United States, with some graduates serving populations in need internationally. The PT residency is one option for post-professional training for graduates, allowing them to develop a specialty and become board certified.