Physical Therapy Graduate Receives College's 2004 Rising Star Award

By Angie Lewis and Jennifer Roth

Physical therapy alumnus Nick Haffey is the 2004 recipient of the college's Rising Star Award. The University of Central Florida Alumni Association presented the award to Haffey during its annual award ceremony on Feb. 26.

The Rising Star Award recognizes one outstanding UCF alumnus or alumna from each college who makes a continual effort to give back to the university and his or her community.

Haffey is a physical therapist and clinical manager for Sunspectrum Rehabilitation, a chain of outpatient clinics that provides physical, occupational and speech therapy to its patients. He also serves as the clinical manager of one of the organization's satellite clinics, located in the fitness center of a private country club in Lake Worth, Fla.

As a physical therapist, Haffey provides rehabilitation through evaluation, physical therapy diagnosis and treatment to patients with orthopedic and/or neurological disorders affecting function. His patients include people who have had a simple injury, such as a sprained ankle, to people who have had a stroke or surgery. In his role as clinic manager, Haffey also participates in marketing and program development for the company.

He is active in both the American Physical Therapy Association and Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). He currently sits on the FSBPT's Exam Administration Committee, a five-member committee that monitors the accuracy and efficiency of all policies related to registering candidates for and administering the National Physical Therapy Exam. He was selected to join the committee to represent the new graduate's perspective.

While at UCF, Haffey earned his B.S. in health services administration in 1999, B.S. in health sciences in 2001 and M.S. in physical therapy in 2002. He said he believes his education has given him the knowledge and foundation required to excel in the field of physical therapy.

The Rising Star Awards are announced in conjunction with Leadership Week, a campus-wide celebration of UCF leadership, hosted by the LEAD Scholars Program. Winners are selected by the UCF Alumni Association from a list of alumni nominated by each college.