The FAMU family is mourning the death of Allied Health
Sciences Professor Arnold Bell. Bell passed away Sept. 2 at the age of 62.
“The Florida A&M University family is deeply saddened by
the news of the death of one of our distinguished professors, Dr. Arnold Bell,
who worked in FAMU’s physical therapy education program since 1982,” said FAMU
Chief Communications Officer Sharon Saunders. “Our thoughts and prayers are
with his wife and the entire family during this time of bereavement.”
Bell was the first African-American physical therapist in
the nation to become an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)
Certified Clinical specialist in any area. His extensive background in sports
medicine provided him the knowledge and experience essential to provide
instruction in areas such as: modalities; basic evaluation techniques; general
orthopedic evaluation techniques; and sports medicine.
He provided athletic training services and physical therapy
rehabilitation services to the FAMU Developmental Research School (DRS). Bell
has contributed chapters in texts on “Exercise for the Elderly” and on
“Conditioning for Athletes.”
This was Bell’s second recertification in sports physical
therapy since 1992. He was a two-time Olympic sports medicine practitioner
(1984 – Los Angeles; 1996 – Atlanta) who provided health care to athletes at
FAMU and FAMU High School for three decades.
The New York native holds several degrees including a
bachelor’s from Springfield College, a master’s from Columbia University, a
physical therapy degree from New York University and a doctorate in physical
therapy from Florida State University.
Bell’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14 at 11
a.m. at the Timberlane Church of Christ, located at 3569 Timberlane School Road
in Tallahassee.