Core Faculty
Dr. Meredyth Arnott, PT, DPT, GCS is the Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor at the Nashville campus DPT program. Dr. Arnott earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of South Dakota (2014) and a BS in Physical Therapy from Georgia State University (1995). She is a Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist, holds CAPP-1 certification in pelvic floor physical therapy from APTA and is a vestibular therapist with Advanced Competency (Herdman/Clendaniel) credentials. She has served as a clinical instructor since 1996 and is a certified APTA Clinical Instructor. Dr. Arnott has been teaching post-professional Physical Therapy DPT and entry-level DPT education beginning in 2017, utilizing online and hybrid formats. Her teaching areas include geriatrics and physical therapy professional practice. Her scholarship interests include clinical rotation student assessments, geriatric care accessibility, and rural health with focus on pelvic floor treatment. Her current area of clinical practice is home health, with prior experience in acute, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient, skilled nursing/transitional care centers and day hospital facilities.
Dr. Carrie Minahan, PT, DPT, MS, NCS is the Director of Curriculum and Assistant Professor at the Nashville campus DPT Program. She holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Russell Sage College (2010), a Master’s of Science in Neurological Physical Therapy from Massachusetts General Hospital Institution of Health Professions (1998) and a Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Therapy from University of Vermont (1994). She holds the Neurological Clinical Specialist Certification (Emeritus) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Dr. Minahan’s clinical certifications and primary patient care interests within neurology are vestibular rehabilitation, hippotherapy, with a special interest in balance disorders and brain injury. She has a graduate certification from Johns Hopkins University School of Education in Mind, Body and Teaching and Hybrid Teaching certification from Evidence in Motion. Her scholarship interests are related to physical therapy neurological interventions specific to motor control/motor learning, and teaching and learning within DPT education with a science of learning focus. She taught in entry-level DPT education as an adjunct (2010-2015) and as core full-time faculty since 2015. Her teaching areas include clinical anatomy, pathology, advanced neurological interventions, clinical neuroscience, and neurological patient care management.
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Doctor of Physical Therapy – Nashville
South College Nashville is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on December 01, 2023. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; [email protected]
IMPLICATIONS OF SEPTEMBER GRADUATION The developing physical therapy program at South College Nashville is planning for a charter class graduation in September 2026. Initial accreditation decisions are acted upon at the next regularly scheduled Fall Meeting of the Commission following the on-site visit, which must occur during the penultimate term when the charter class is enrolled. CAPTE will not make exceptions to its Rules to accommodate graduation dates that precede regularly scheduled CAPTE meeting dates, e.g., graduation in the summer. A summer graduation does not allow the initial accreditation decision to occur prior to the graduation date. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) sets the dates for licensing exams. The first sitting for which students with a September graduation date would be in January. Therefore, the timing of the planned graduation date increases the likelihood of a significant financial disadvantage for students due to an approximate six month delay in possible employment as a Physical Therapist.
