Oakland University Physical Therapy Program

04/03/2026

A HUGE thank you to OU DPT graduate Spencer Nolff for speaking in the PYII’s Neuromuscular Interventions class! Spencer lead an insightful and activity-filled presentation on the neurological factors associated with ACL repairs that got the PYIIs up and moving!

04/03/2026

Dr. Sara Arena was recently interviewed by the AARP at the WLAJ/WLNS Studio in Lansing to share how her work with the Michigan Falls Prevention Coalition impacts the organizations age friendly community initiatives.

Dr. Arena was joined by Kayla Smith of the MDHHS and overviewed the Fall Prevention - Michigan 211 resource page which launched in 2025.

04/01/2026

Oakland University DPT PY1 students learning about safe patient handling in the Patient Management class last week!

03/25/2026

Falls remain the leading cause of injury among older adults, affecting one in four Michiganders aged 65 and older each year. Since 2010, the death rate for falls in Michigan has nearly doubled from 831 to nearly 1,600 deaths in 2024. Additionally, in Michigan, there were over 25,000 hospitalizations...

03/21/2026

APTA MI 2026 Student Conclave 🎉 The PYIII cohort had the best day learning, networking, and meeting amazing clinicians from across the state!

03/19/2026

03/19/2026

We spy Class of 2025 Alumni Riley Stevens with Drs. Sara Arena and Chris Wilson in this reel… way to represent🐻

03/17/2026

03/17/2026

So thankful for this amazing collaboration with Macomb Community College PTA🐻

Macomb’s physical therapist assistant and Oakland University's physical therapy students hosted a student conclave on Feb. 16. The student-led program brought together students for icebreakers, curriculum discussions, professional history, American Physical Therapy Association standards and PT–PTA team case studies.

The collaborative event has been ongoing for nearly 20 years, coordinated each year by Bob Mele, Macomb professor, and Lori Boright, OU director of clinical education for physical therapy.

03/12/2026

Congratulations to Oakland University Physical Therapy faculty members Dr. Melodie Kondratek and Dr. Kris Thompson on receiving the HALL Award (Health Achievement Leadership Legacy) at the 2026 Healthology Symposium!

This honor recognizes their outstanding leadership, dedication, and lasting impact on our students, program, and community. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition! 👏

03/10/2026

Professional Year 3 Students participated in the Annual Mock House of Delegates recently.
A valuable experience that highlights the operations and governance of our professional association, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The class divided into 4 delegations. Each was led by a chief delegate through their respective caucuses to prepare statements for or against key motions before the house prior to mock voting. The election decided the class speaker for the December 2026 recognition ceremony. Congratulations to Haider Sabir!

03/07/2026

📚 Journal Club Webinar: Exercise for Adults With Spinal Metastasis

Exercise for individuals with spinal metastasis has historically been approached with caution — but what does the latest evidence actually say?

Join us for a 1-hour Journal Club exploring the safety, feasibility, and clinical application of exercise interventions for adults with metastatic spine disease. This session will critically examine findings from The Safety and Feasibility of Exercise Intervention for Adults With Spinal Metastasis and translate the evidence into practical clinical decision-making frameworks.

Participants will gain:
✔️ An overview of current research
✔️ Insight into exercise types studied
✔️ Reported safety outcomes and feasibility measures
✔️ Key gaps in the literature
✔️ Practical guidance for acute, outpatient, and oncology settings

🎤 Presented by Chris Wilson, PT, DScPT, DPT, GCS

Strengthen your clinical reasoning. Expand your oncology rehab knowledge. Join the discussion.

https://www.aptaacutecare.org/events/eventdetails.aspx?id=2041416