National Network Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency

The HSS Rehabilitation National Network Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is an unaccredited post-professional residency program exclusively for members of the HSS Rehabilitation National Network who wish to specialize in orthopedics. It is a one-year-full-time, clinically-based training program designed to accelerate the professional development of selected physical therapists. HSS Rehabilitation provides participants with comprehensive educational curriculum that challenges clinical reasoning and promotes self-reflection within the areas outlined in the Orthopedic Description of Specialty Practice. Physical therapists with advanced clinical skills from the HSS Rehabilitation National Network sites serve as mentors to guide residents in the development of advanced clinical expertise and current knowledge in the specialty of orthopedic physical therapy. The program is also designed to prepare residents to sit for the ABPTS Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS) examination.

Program Structure

HSS provides:

Program oversight/leadership
Program forms, checklists, meetings
Didactic and lab-based curriculum
Mentor training

Rehab Network Site provides:

The resident
The mentor

Program Mission

The mission of the HSS Rehabilitation National Network Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is to provide a collaborative and comprehensive program that prepares physical therapists for board certification in the specialty of orthopedic physical therapy with a focus on clinical reasoning and self-reflection, as well as to enhance their professional development in becoming highly skilled patient care providers, clinical leaders and educators in the community they serve.

Time Commitment, Salary, and Tuition

The HSS Rehabilitation National Network Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is full-time and one year in duration. Residents are expected to manage a full caseload in addition to residency-related responsibilities. A tuition fee is required for participation in the program. Weekly templates, salary and work hours are at the discretion of the HSS Rehabilitation National Network clinical site with the following requirements:

Minimum of 32 clinical hours/week (total minimum: 1500 patient-care hours)
3 hours of dedicated 1:1 mentoring/week (total minimum: 150 mentoring hours)
Participation in residency meetings/presentations

Important Dates

The Residency runs from January 1 - December 31
The application deadline is September 15 for the following year's residence

Minimum requirements for applicants (all requirements must be met for clinical site, resident and mentor):

Clinical Site:

Active member in good standing in the HSS Rehabilitation National Network
Agrees to support the resident and mentor in their fulfillment of residency requirements
Promotes a supportive learning environment for the resident/mentor

Resident:

Graduation from an accredited physical therapy program
Current PT licensure and registration in the applicant’s state of practice
Commitment to successfully completing all program requirements including independent study of the APTA Orthopaedic Section’s residency curriculum and examinations (not included in tuition)
Commitment to taking OCS exam at earliest eligibility
Recommended: Membership in the APTA and APTA Orthopaedic Section preferred

Mentor:

Commitment to mentor training provided by HSS and at least 1 of the following:

Has at least 3 years of clinical experience in orthopedics -OR-
Is a graduate of an ABPTRFE-accredited residency/fellowship program in orthopedics -OR-
Is ABPTS board-certified in orthopedics (OCS)

How to Apply

Prospective clinical sites submit an application (leadership, resident, mentor). The application packet will need to include:

Prospective Clinical Site: completed by site leadership (director/manager):

A completed and signed site application form
A completed Faculty Qualifications Chart for each clinical staff member
A completed Medical Conditions Chart including # of types of clinical diagnoses seen in the last year, as described in the Orthopedic Description of Specialty Practice
A brief summary (400-800 words) of your clinic’s current mentoring practices (i.e. peer-to-peer, students) and how the clinic plans on fostering an environment supportive of the resident

Prospective Resident:

A completed and signed application form
A resume/curriculum vitae, including academic and clinical education, continuing education, clinical and other relevant experience
A brief summary (400-800 words) of your relevant clinical experiences thus far, with an emphasis on orthopedic rehabilitation
A short essay (one page) explaining your reasons for applying for the clinical residency, your goals and why you consider yourself to be a good candidate
Three letters of professional reference

Prospective Mentor:

A resume/curriculum vitae
Competed ABPTRFE mentor abilities & skills competency

Email application and supporting materials to:

William Behrns, PT, DPT, OCS, GCS
HSS Rehabilitation and Performance Director of Residencies and Fellowships

Admissions Process

All applicants are screened prior to interview selection and admission into the residency program. The network residency director and residency advisory committee select the top clinical sites/residents each year based on the criteria described above. In accordance with hospital policy, all residency-related decisions, including program recruitment, admission, retention, and dismissal, are made without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, national origin, marital status, age (18 or older), disability, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Curriculum

The curriculum of the HSS Rehabilitation National Network Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency provides residents with a comprehensive, structured program of clinical and didactic experiences for the development of advanced critical reasoning and clinical skills in orthopedic physical therapy based on the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties’ “Description of Specialty Practice for Orthopaedic Physical Therapy”. Residents will provide supervised patient care at HSS Rehabilitation National Network rehabilitation locations as well as participate in educational experiences. Instructional methods include one-to-one mentoring by physical therapists with advanced expertise, online curriculum, a lectures/labs series given by program and guest faculty, discussion boards with HSS faculty, MD observations, and involvement in journal club and case presentation activities. The curriculum comprises of modules on the lumbar spine/pelvis, cervical and thoracic spine, upper extremity and lower extremity, and special topics such as pain science, ergonomics, research, pharmacology, radiology, pediatric/adolescent orthopedics and craniomandibular disorders. Residents integrate and share their expanding skills and knowledge through presentation of critically appraised journal articles, case presentations and case study submission to the APTA’s combined sections meeting.

Program Goals

Provide residents at all sites with a consistent, comprehensive program of clinical and didactic experiences in the specialty of Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Develop residents with high levels of clinical skill and current knowledge in the specialty of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and prepare them to successfully complete the ABPTS specialist certification (OCS) examination
Prepare residents to be competent in critically appraising scientific literature, incorporating relevant findings into clinical practice, and actively participating in research activities
Prepare residents to make contributions as educators of patients, peers and other healthcare providers
Develop residents who exhibit the highest standards of professionalism

Contact for additional information

William Behrns, PT, DPT, OCS, GCS
HSS Rehabilitation and Performance Director of Residencies and Fellowships
behrnsw@hss.edu