We offer a comprehensive, well-integrated and up-to-date curriculum that prepares residents to become orthopedic physical therapists with advanced clinical skills.
We require completion of the following by the end of the residency:
32+ hours of patient care per week
Residency patient care experiences take place at UF Health Rehab Center- Magnolia Parke and occur under the mentorship of APTA Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists. The residents provide independent patient care to patients with a wide variety of orthopedic injuries/conditions.
Other clinicians with focused areas of expertise, including APTA Certified Sports Clinical Specialists, also contribute to expanding and diversifying the clinical skills of the resident. The program provides residents opportunities to closely interact with other health care professionals including physicians, physician assistants, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches.
Experiences beyond the Magnolia Parke physical therapy clinic include treatment at the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute, physician observation, participation in grand rounds, and attendance at orthopedic continuing education seminars.
150 hours of 1:1 mentoring with your clinical mentors
Each resident is assigned a primary clinical mentor who oversees the resident’s patient care experience. The residents receive one-on-one mentorship in the Physical Therapy Clinic at Magnolia Parke with a primary clinic mentor (Physical Therapy Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) who treats in the clinic alongside the resident. The clinical mentor is readily available for consultation during patient care hours and at least 1 hour per week is dedicated to one-on-one scheduled mentoring sessions.
Additional one-on-one mentorship is provided during roundtable discussions and involves several advanced clinicians who specialize in a variety of orthopedic areas.
300 hours of didactic education
The residency academic curriculum follows the APTA guidelines for specialization and current evidence-based standards of practice serving as its basis. The didactic educational framework centers on the Orthopedic Description of Specialty Practice intended to:
- Provide residents with advanced knowledge and understanding of the basic sciences related orthopedic practice
- Explore the current evidence supporting current practice patterns
- Practice and perfect advanced clinical techniques
Additionally, residents attend national conferences where there are opportunities for education by advanced speakers in the practice of physical therapy, current research platforms, networking, and exposure to the workings of our professional organization.
The didactic educational opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Resident Weekly Roundtable/Journal Club UF Health Rehab
- Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Examination Preparatory Course
- APTA Combined Sections Meeting
- APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP)
Teaching assistant in Musculoskeletal Courses for UF DPT Program (2 semesters)
Each resident is expected to serve as a teaching assistant in a Musculoskeletal I and Musculoskeletal II UF DPT courses. During the course the residents function primarily as lab assistants, but also have the opportunity to lecture on a particular topic. The residents receive coaching and resources from the primary instructor of the course. Not only do the residents gain improved mastery of the material, but they acquire public speaking and teaching skills as well.
Written case study with opportunity for submission at a national level
Each resident is given the opportunity to develop a research question or activity that will be peer-reviewed, submission-ready by the end of the residency. Several case reports, case series, and RCTs have all been generated and disseminated by our former residents. The residency research mentor is a Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist who guides the resident through each step of the clinical research process.
For more information
Please contact:
Scott Greenberg, PT, DPT, CSCS
Manager of Clinical Operations – UF Health OP Rehab
UF Health Sports Physical Therapy Residency Director
UF Health Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Director
(352) 682-4306
greesc@shands.ufl.edu