UT Southwestern Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program
We are pleased to announce a new residency-based educational program beginning in January of 2010. This program is modeled in the spirit of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Vision 2020 of providing post-professional training. The residency will be held at UT Southwestern’s Department of Physical Therapy and the Southwestern School of Health Professions faculty practice. A residency is defined as a planned program of post entry-level clinical and didactic education that will significantly advance a clinician’s skill and knowledge in the delivery of orthopedic physical therapy. The resident will spend one year at their training site working with a designated mentor and participate in six weekend intensive educational programs. The curriculum will be taught by clinical experts with advanced credentials and residency experience.
Clinicians interested in residency participation should complete and an Application. Applications are due by August 15, 2009. Requests received after this date will not be considered unless there are residency sites that have not been filled. Applicants approved for participation will be notified via a faxed or e-mailed confirmation letter of their residency status no later than October 1, 2009. Do not finalize any arrangements until you have been officially notified of your acceptance into the residency program.
Program Description
This residency format is based on a structured, comprehensive approach to examination and treatment of orthopedic dysfunction of the spine and extremities. The content is based upon the American Physical Therapy Association’s description of advanced clinical practice and includes didactic, laboratory, and clinical practice components under the supervision of accomplished clinical instructors.
The series of weekend courses and collaborative clinical care time will provide the participant the opportunity to develop a framework for use in the evaluation and treatment of patients, as well as to review and reinforce the material learned at the weekend educational programs. The aim of the program is to allow follow-up on the content presented in a clinical setting to enhance the development of clinical skills and facilitate and refine the clinical thought process.
There will be frequent reviews and progress will be at a pace that will accommodate all participants. The instructor to student ratio will be maximally 1:8 and include didactic instruction and lab instruction and practice. Clinical affiliation supervisor to resident ratio will not exceed 1:2. Written and practical examinations will be performed on an ongoing basis to ensure mastery of the material.
Program Goal
The goal of the residency program is to provide physical therapists with a comprehensive continuing education experience. The residency will provide the physical therapist with tools to improve their examination, assessment and treatment of the orthopedic patient. Upon completion of the program, the Resident will be fully prepared to sit for their orthopedic specialty examination (required expectation) and/or continue their training with a fellowship in a specific area of orthopedic practice (if desired).
Program Objectives
At the conclusion of the clinical residency program, the participant will be able to:
• Explain the clinical reasoning skills necessary to help prioritize examination, assessment and treatment techniques. These same skills will help the therapist develop the ability to continue to monitor their own clinical skill level.
• Conduct an effective and comprehensive subjective examination which will enable development of a working clinical hypothesis as to the primary problem, prior to performing an objective examination.
• List hypothesis categories for each patient seen, and identify the relative information associated with each category utilizing patient demonstrations and case studies.
• Perform an integrated physical examination, including differential diagnosis, for the craniofascial, cervicothoracic spine, lumbopelvic girdle, upper extremity, and lower extremity regions.
• Perform passive joint mobilization and manipulation techniques utilizing the grades of movement for all areas noted in the previous objective and integrate these techniques into the treatment plan as indicated.
• Perform specific soft tissue assessment and treatment techniques for all areas noted above, and integrate these techniques into the treatment plan as indicated.
• Create appropriate specific clinic and home therapeutic exercise program techniques related to all areas of examination noted above and integrate these techniques into the treatment plan as indicated.
• Critically analyze current scientific literature and conduct clinical research projects.
General Information
The residency program will run over a 12-month employment period. The resident will see patients in the faculty practice and work under the supervision of a mentor and the faculty members who see patients in the orthopedic clinic. The Resident will maintain a patient load of 28 hours/week with an additional four hours reserved for collaborative care with the mentor. The remaining eight hours per week will be devoted to additional learning opportunities at the discretion of the mentor but will minimally include journal club participation, academic teaching in the undergraduate DPT program, in-service presentation, research development, physician rounds, poster/platform presentation at a state or national meeting, and attendance at six two-day local weekend courses. The cost of the educational programming and attendance at a state or national meeting will be covered by the residency program. The resident will be expected to develop a case report suitable for publication and/or conduct a research project that culminates 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 orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS) certification exam within 15 months of the residency program’s completion.
Program Expectations
This program is an active learning process that will require the resident to participate in independent learning activities and complete assignments in a prompt manner. There will be multiple reviews as well as mid-term and final written and practical examinations (including live patients) to ensure comprehension of the material and attainment of specific skills.
Selection Criteria for Residency Assignments
Enrollment will be limited to up to two participants. Selection for participation will be based on the information and justification comments provided by the applicant and personal interview. An established residency committee will evaluate all applications to ensure that each application is given appropriate consideration. The applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Pre-professional academic and post-professional clinical education preparation
- Clinical experience in orthopedic physical therapy
- Previous mentoring, education, and research experience
- Community service
- Letters of recommendation
Program Calendar
The start date for the residency will coincide with the beginning of the spring semester on or about January 2. The exact start date for each resident will be on a mutually agreeable date between the Resident, the Residency Director, and the Clinical Director of the Allied Health Physical Therapy clinic. The weekend course dates will be held at UT Southwestern’s Department of Physical Therapy and will be held in the months of February, March, May, July, August and October with the exact dates to be determined. There will be a strict attendance policy with the possibility of a no-show or cancellation causing termination from the program. Make-up activities and opportunities will be at the discretion of the Residency Director and Residency Advisory committee.
Residency Topical Content
Course 1: Principles of Orthopedic Manual Therapy and Upper Quadrant Screening
Course 2: Management of Temporomandibular, Cervicothoracic, and Rib Dysfunction
Course 3: Management of Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Dysfunction
Course 4: Management of Lumbopelvic Dysfunction
Course 5: Management of Knee Dysfunction and Therapeutic Exercise Intervention
Course 6: Lower Quarter Dysfunction Management and Gait Dysfunction
Independent Learning
Medical Screening, Pharmacology, Joint Pathomechanics, Physical Agents and Electrotherapeutic Modalities, Critical Inquiry and Research Design, and Outcome Measures
Resident Prerequisites:
- Valid, current licensed Physical Therapist in the State of Texas
- Current CPR/BLS certification
Accreditation
The program will consist of 145 hours of educational content (approximately 35 of which will be through independent learning and 16 hours of testing for residents), a minimum of 125 hours of direct collaborative learning with your supervising mentor, and at least 1200 hours of patient care. The program will be seeking accreditation by the American Board of Physical Therapy Board’s Committee on Residency and Fellowship Program Credentialing during the summer of 2010.
Financial Information
There is no tuition cost for the residency program. The Resident will be employed by UT Southwestern for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2010. The salary for this position will be commensurate with the resident’s qualifications and experience. Benefits will include continuing education, full medical and liability insurance coverage, OCS exam and application fees, two-weeks vacation, and APTA membership. Other costs such as textbooks and journal subscriptions will be the responsibility of the resident. Continued employment beyond the residency program year cannot be guaranteed.
Benefits to the Participant
The future of physical therapy depends upon our increasing professional stature and ability to function on an independent level as an autonomous profession. UT Southwestern’s School of Physical Therapy is interested in helping the APTA attain their Vision 2020 by providing thorough curriculums that will result in highly trained clinicians. The residency program is being offered to accommodate those licensed clinicians who are motivated to achieve this level of training and expertise. Successful completion of the residency program will fulfill the educational and credentialing requirements for future fellowship opportunities.
Completion of this residency will give you the clinical tools and problem solving ability needed to be on the leading edge of where our profession is advancing. It will also enable you to be a resource for developing clinical excellence in other therapists as well. Our profession is moving towards residency based training as a standard. This is your opportunity to participate in that standard.
Residency Program Mentors and Curriculum Instructors:
Ed Mulligan, P.T., D.P.T., O.C.S., S.C.S., A.T.C.
Jason Zafereo, P.T., O.C.S., F.A.A.O.M.P.T.
Beth Deschenes, P.T., M.S., O.C.S.
Ross Querry, P.T., Ph.D.
Julie DeVahl, M.S.P.T.
Leslie Nelson, M.P.T.
Instructional Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Program Accreditation:
The Residency program will seek approval from the Texas Board of Physical Therapy for all weekend continuing education programs.
ADA Compliance:
The UT Southwestern Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program will take all reasonable measures to guarantee equal access to learning opportunities for clinicians with disabilities. Educational programming will be sensitive to any sensory or physical impairment that requires special arrangements on behalf of the participant. Please indicate on your registration form if you should be contacted regarding any physical or mental impairment that would require special accommodation to ensure a satisfactory learning experience.
Questions:
Questions about the program should be directed to Ed Mulligan at 214-648-1553 or ed.mulligan@utsouthwestern.edu
For More information on APTA Residency and Fellowship Programs:
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Residency&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=118&ContentID=15371
