Pediatric orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist added to faculty ranks

The Medical Center is proud to announce the following additions to its faculty:

Orthopedic surgeon joins pediatric faculty

Powell

Dr. Kenneth Patrick Powell, a UMMC alum and pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery.

Recipient of the B.B.A. from Millsaps College in 1995 and the B.S. in physical therapy from UMMC in 1999, Powell served as physical therapist at the Medical Center from 2000-03 before entering medical school. He earned the M.D. in 2007 at UMMC, where he had an orthopedic surgery residency from 2007-12. He also was a pediatric orthopedic surgery fellow at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, from 2012-13 before joining Cook Children’s Hospital.

An active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Powell’s research interest is in the incidence of hypertension in obese pediatric tibia vara and slipped capital femoral epiphysis populations.

Physical therapy faculty welcome seasoned neurologic PT

Dr. Kimberly Renee Willis, a physical therapist who has practiced long-term with patients with neurologic conditions, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of physical therapy.

Before joining UMMC, she most recently worked with St. Dominic Health Systems as clinical coordinator of multiple teams, including neurology, oncology and pelvic health for men and women.

After receiving the B.S. in physical therapy from UMMC in 1995, Willis practiced in the neurologic clinical setting and returned to UMMC to earn the D.P.T. in 2006. She continued to develop her knowledge and skills in the progressive neurologic disorders and served as guest lecturer in the School of Health Related Professions’ Department of Physical Therapy.

The coauthor of a book chapter on exercise and physical activity in dementia, Willis has given numerous presentations on physical therapy-related issues. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Physical Therapy Association and the Mississippi Physical Therapy Association, for whom she serves as legislative chair.