| Department of Physical Therapy |
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The Department of Physical Therapy has offered outstanding educational programs in physical therapy for more than 40 years. Currently, we offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program for students who choose to become physical therapists, and the Doctor of Science degree program for physical therapists who choose to advance their knowledge and skills at the post-professional level. A new interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Rehabilitation Science was initiated fall semester 2011.
Congratulations to Dr. Heather Mount, Dr. Leslie VanHiel, and Dr. Laura White, who were awarded the Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy degree at the UAB Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Saturday, May 12th. Alison Barnard received the Outstanding Woman UAB Graduate Student Award on March 8th. The UAB Women's Center and Women's Studies Program present the awards annually during Women's History Month to honor female members of the UAB and Birmingham communities who have mentored or served other women, taken a courageous stance or overcome adversity. Candidates for the award are nominated by Birmingham residents and selected by a committee of university women. “When I realized that some girls who enjoy and show promise in STEM subjects were losing confidence in their abilities and believed that boys were better at STEM subjects, I wanted to do something,” Barnard says. After researching some ideas, Barnard found a program called Women in Science that had been successful at Ohio State University and put together the event UAB Girls in Science and Engineering Day based off its principles. Barnard enlisted the help of UAB professors and students with many different departments to create hands-on workshops in subjects such as neuroscience, materials engineering and reptilian biology. They also found internal and external sponsors for the event and welcomed 75 middle school girls from the Birmingham metro area. Another event is in the works for 2012. Barnard also has volunteered her time to help teach a dance class to young girls with Down’s syndrome and autism. “It is fun to be able to give these kids a chance to do typical girl activities like dance class,” Barnard says. |
Barnard, a doctor of Physical Therapy student, has worked diligently to encourage young women to pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering and math — especially if they are areas of strengths.