Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program

Develop advanced clinical skills, fundamental clinical teaching methods and scholarship in SHU’s post-professional Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency program.

Why Apply to the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program at Sacred Heart? 

The SHU Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program is a unique program that offers:

• Advanced coursework in orthopaedic physical therapy,
• clinical practice with weekly mentorship, and
• a distinctive opportunity to teach musculoskeletal content within the SHU DPT program.

This program provides an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to expand their knowledge and sharpen their skills in orthopaedic physical therapy, as well as establish a background and potential pathway for a future role in physical therapy education. In addition to developing advanced clinical skills and reasoning, this program will also develop fundamental teaching skills and provide opportunities for collaborative research. The SHU Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program is recognized as an accredited program by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education and obtained its initial accreditation in 2010.

Participant Costs

In the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program, you will also:

• Participate in a 12-month curriculum that addresses all areas of orthopaedic physical therapy practice through coursework and clinical experience
• Prepare for the ABPTS (American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties) certification exam as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
• Have the opportunity to participate in conference programming from the American Physical Therapy Association, Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists and Connecticut APTA Annual Conference
• Become professionally active at the practice, local, state, regional, national, and international levels
• Contribute to the profession of physical therapy via high-quality clinical practice, classroom and clinical instruction, clinical research, professional leadership, and professional service
• Become an APTA Credential Clinical Instructor and may have a student PT toward the end of the residency
• Be prepared to pursue excellence, clinical expertise, and life-long learning

As a result of this residency, you will:

• Gain knowledge and advanced skills in evidence-informed, patient-centered orthopaedic physical therapy practice
• Exemplify self-directedness, reflectiveness, life-long learning, and an understanding of self in the context of professional role
• Demonstrate a commitment to excellence in clinical practice, knowledge of self in service to others, and a commitment to lead and affect positive change within orthopaedic physical therapy and the larger physical therapy community
• Utilize effective teaching strategies in classroom and clinical settings 

Curriculum

The expected duration of the program is 12 months, beginning mid-August and ending in mid-August of the following year. Residents participate in various residency activities totaling greater than 2,100 hours over the duration of the program.

Example residency activities and approximate number of hours include:

• Clinical Practice: 1,600
• Mentorship: 150
• Coursework: 200
• Journal Club: 25
• Teaching in the DPT curriculum: 180

Clinical Partners

• Elevate Physical Therapy
• Performance Physical Therapy and Wellness
• Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Centers
• Physical Therapy Specialists
• Sport & Orthopaedic Physical Therapy by Paddy Jarit 

Student Outcomes

Graduates from this program have gone onto:

• become excellent clinicians, clinical partners, managers, and clinical mentors
• establish their own clinical practices
• complete Fellowship training and earn several other advanced certifications
• start careers in academia as full-time and adjunct faculty members
• become involved in the American Physical Therapy Association, Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists and other special interest groups affiliated with those member organizations
• author book chapters, have their research published in professional, peer-reviewed publications and present at local, regional, and national level professional conferences

Accreditation

This program is a post-professional didactic and mentored clinical educational experience accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education.

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