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Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program

The Department of Physical Therapy offers a one-year Sports Physical Therapy Residency accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency/Fellowship Education. We’ve designed the program in the spirit of APTA’s vision, which calls for post-professional development of expert clinicians who can function as members of an autonomous profession.

Our residency program is ideal for licensed physical therapists who are motivated to achieve a higher level of training and expertise. As a resident, you’ll receive a clinical and didactic experience that will significantly advance your skill and knowledge in the delivery of sports physical therapy and prepare you for future fellowship opportunities.

Our field venue coverage partner for sports physical therapy is primarily with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. We also provide opportunities for coverage of high school football along with coverage at a wide variety of local events and competitions. Additionally, our residency program provides insights and experiences for those interested in an academic career.

During the program, you’ll learn from clinical experts with advanced credentials and residency experience. You’ll provide patient care under the guidance of accomplished mentors and participate in a comprehensive educational curriculum to address all elements of the description of sports physical therapy practice. At the end of the residency, your clinical skills and problem-solving ability will put you on the leading edge of our profession, and will enable you to be a resource for developing clinical excellence for both students and licensed physical therapists.

Residency-based training is becoming a standard in our profession—and you’ll be in the vanguard.

General Information

The residency program runs over a one-year employment period. The resident sees patients in the faculty’s satellite sports medicine center and works under the supervision of sports and orthopedic certified specialist mentors.

The resident maintains a patient load of 32 hours/week inclusive of four hours reserved for collaborative care with their mentor. Additional time during the week is devoted to additional learning opportunities at the discretion of the mentor but minimally include journal club participation, academic teaching in the undergraduate D.P.T. program’s sports physical therapy elective, in-service presentations, research development, physician rounds and conferences, poster/platform presentation at a state or national meeting, and field/venue coverage.

The resident will be encouraged to participate in research projects that are suitable for publication and/or conduct studies that culminate in a poster and/or platform presentation at a national or state meeting. It is also expected that the resident will sit for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialty’s sports clinical specialist (SCS) certification exam within one year of the residency program’s completion.

Our program has athletic affiliations with professional hockey, local high schools, and varied athletic organizations. Additionally, we provide the medical coverage for several athletic events and races.

The goal of the residency program is to provide the resident with a comprehensive learning experience. The residency will provide the resident with tools to improve their examination, assessment, and treatment of the patients who are injured in or plan to return to competitive sports.

Upon completion of the program, the resident will be fully prepared to sit for their SCS specialty examination (required expectation) and/or continue their training with a fellowship in a specific area of sports physical therapy practice. The residency training features four in-depth modules to strengthen your basic knowledge and skills along with sports physical therapy-specific didactic modules with one of the faculty members.

Financial Fact Sheet

Residency and Fellowship Financial Fact Sheet Ortho & Sports 2023