Arnold Bell, a longtime professor of physical therapy at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, died earlier this month. He was 62 years old.
Dr. Bell was the first African American to be named a certified clinical specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
A native of The Bronx, New York, Bell was a graduate of Springfield College in Massachusetts. He earned a master’s degree at Columbia University and a doctorate in education at Florida State University.
Dr. Bell began his academic career at Cleveland State University. In 1982 he was recruited to establish the physical therapy department at Florida A&M. He taught at the university for 31 years.