Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program

Note: The University of Kansas Health System Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program is currently in the process of applying for candidacy through the ABPTRFE credentialing body. Our anticipated program start date is August 2025.

Physical therapy residency is designed to accelerate the development of participants and graduate confident, competent clinicians. It is intended for those seeking expertise through structured learning in a challenging clinical environment. The University of Kansas Health System is partnering with the University of Kansas Medical Center DPT program to offer a diverse array of learning experiences to fast-track a resident toward clinical specialization.

The mission of our orthopaedic physical therapy residency is to provide a comprehensive program to prepare highly motivated physical therapists for advanced orthopaedic clinical practice and pursuit of specialization – with an emphasis on evidence-based, patient-centered care, clinical and academic teaching, and advanced clinical reasoning – to better serve patients and the profession.

The orthopaedic physical therapy residency will:

• Support the mission, vision and values of The University of Kansas Health System and contribute to providing world-class patient-centered care
• Develop highly skilled practitioners who embrace evidence-based care to provide an unparalleled patient experience
• Develop physical therapists with the highest degree of critical thinking skills and who embrace the concept of lifelong learning and development
• Provide an avenue for therapists to achieve board certification in orthopaedics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)
• Progress teaching skills across a spectrum of audiences, from students to colleagues to interdisciplinary teams, to promote the field of physical therapy

The residency program is sponsored by The University of Kansas Health System, in partnership with our orthopedics and sports medicine teams and the University of Kansas Medical Center Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training (KUMC PTRSAT) program. These relationships allow for a diverse array of learning experiences in the clinical and academic realms.

A comprehensive curriculum has been developed to best prepare a resident for future board certification. Coursework includes the American Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (AOPT) monograph series, supplemented by an individually curated didactic curriculum, delivered during 1-on-1 and small group sessions by our faculty members every week. Topics include the following:

• Clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice
• Lumbar and pelvic girdle
• Cervical and TMJ
• Thoracic and rib cage
• Shoulder
• Elbow
• Wrist and hand
• Hip
• Knee
• Foot and ankle
• Research
• Outcomes in orthopaedics
• Clinical imaging
• Pharmacology
• Regenerative medicine
• Pain science

The residency program includes a minimum of 1,500 hours of patient-care clinic hours, 300 hours of education and 150 hours of 1-on-1 mentoring. All mentoring will be delivered by orthopaedic clinical specialists on faculty.

Additional learning experiences include teaching and assisting the KUMC DPT program in both lab and lecture, surgical observation, clinical rounding with orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians, mentoring with KUMC DPT faculty for research and educational topics, weekly 1-on-1 mentoring, teaching and learning opportunities through staff meetings and journal clubs, and attendance at a sports medicine symposium.

The residency program runs 12 months in duration starting in August. The official start date will be dependent upon hospital orientation schedule and the credentialing process.

The application window opens October 1 and will close February 28 of the year the residency will begin.

Applicants must meet each of the following criteria:

• Graduate of a CAPTE-accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program
• Licensed to practice in the state of Kansas/proof of licensure
• Completion and submission of online application forms
• Current curriculum vitae or resume
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Meet all requirements for employment by The University of Kansas Health System and approval to start orientation as a health system employee by the first day of residency
• Membership in both APTA and AOPT
• Current BLS certification

Applications will be evaluated by a panel of faculty from the residency, including program director, program administrator and other faculty members. Evaluation will be based on:

• Admissions criteria listed above
• Academic education, continuing education and other relevant experiences
• Clinical experience in orthopaedic physical therapy
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstration of leadership, professionalism and commitment to the field of physical therapy

All applicants are screened prior to interview selection and admission into the residency program. Top candidates will be invited to participate in a more in-depth interview process, either in-person or online. The offer of admission will be made following all interviews.

In accordance with hospital policy, all employment-related decisions, including program recruitment, admission, retention and dismissal, are made without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship status or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

The application window will be open from October 1 through February 28. Applicants will apply for the position through The University of Kansas Health System careers website. Applicants will then be contacted by the program director for any additional required information. The admissions process as stated above will proceed following closing of the application window.

Participating in a physical therapy residency is a challenging endeavor. In addition to treating patients independently for approximately 30 hours per week, the resident will be involved in 10-15 hours per week of educational components, including independent study, didactic sessions, teaching opportunities with KUMC DPT and other learning opportunities. The resident will be expected to arrive at all educational opportunities well-prepared and can anticipate further time commitment to complete all readings or preparation work assigned.

A resident will have an hourly pay rate commensurate with experience, paid during all clinical patient treatment hours (about 30 hours per week). The annual salary will total approximately 75-80% of a 1.0 full-time employee.

Financial fact sheet

The schedule will be modified dependent upon curriculum needs, teaching requirements and other availability concerns. Anticipate frequent schedule changes.

The faculty of the orthopaedic residency includes a combination of clinical specialists and content experts. All mentoring will be provided by board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialists (OCS). Didactic sessions will be provided by a combination of mentors and content experts dependent upon topic. We have established a team of clinicians and educators with the sole intention of providing an optimal learning environment for you.

Any questions can be directed to the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program director below.

ABPTRFE

KUMC DPT

The University of Kansas Health System Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy