Physical therapist in orthapeadic residency practicum.

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinical Residency

Orthopaedic residency details

Mission and outcomes

The Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinical Residency program is a rigorous one-year initiative aimed at equipping licensed physical therapists with advanced knowledge and clinical practice skills in orthopaedic physical therapy.

Residents actively manage a full-time patient load at clinical sites while receiving four hours per week of mentoring from a board-certified orthopaedic physical therapist. Additionally, residents engage in over 100 contact hours of didactic learning in orthopaedics at St. Ambrose University.

Orthopaedic residency requirements

To participate in the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinical Residency program, you must be a graduate of the SAU DPT program or work at one of the residency facilities. Students interested in the program apply during the spring of their second year in the DPT program. The PT department provides students with an application to complete. Students must be in good academic standing. The admissions process involves an interview with clinical faculty and mentors. Physical therapy department faculty members also complete an assessment of the applicants.

Orthopaedic residency experience

During this one year program, residents are employed by clinical sites, manage a full time patient load, and receive four hours a week of mentoring from a board certified orthopaedic physical therapist. Residents also complete over 300 contact hours of didactic learning in the area of orthopaedics at St. Ambrose University. Residents participate in a blend of interactive sessions such as mini-lectures, discussions, role play, and simulations, in collaboration with faculty and fellow residents.

The residency experience is conducted in-person over five consecutive days, allowing for intensive learning and skill development.

Residency structure

The residency curriculum comprises a series of eight classes, integrating classroom and laboratory training relevant to orthopaedic physical therapy. Each residency class spans over a 12-month period, with a new class commencing in the spring semester annually.

Residency Program Curriculum

Spring term

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
DPT 900	Radiology for the Physical Therapist	2 credits
DPT 920	Advanced Musculoskeletal Therapeutics	4 credits
DPT 930	Special Topics in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy: Therapeutic Neuroscience	2 credits
DPT 981	Clinical Residency Block I	5 credits
DPT 982	Clinical Residency Block II	5 credits

Summer term

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
DPT 983	Clinical Residency Block III	5 credits

Fall term

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
DPT 925	Advanced Musculoskeletal Therapeutics II	4 credits
DPT 984	Clinical Residency Block IV	5 credits

Orthopaedic residency credentials and leadership

St. Ambrose's Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency is led by residency director Laura McEachern, PT, DPT. The residency program is credentialed through the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education, a branch of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

How to apply

To apply to the St. Ambrose Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency program, please create an account with RF-PTCAS and apply online. Application requirements and deadlines are listed on our RF-PTCAS page. RF-PTCAS is a centralized application service for post-professional residency and fellowship education programs accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Start your application

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will this residency cost?

The St. Ambrose University Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy has a total tuition cost of $8,600. The total cost of the program is divided into two payments, and the cost will not change over the course of the program.

View the ABPTRFE Orthopaedic Residency and Fellowship Financial Fact Sheet for more information.

Where can I complete this residency?

The clinical component of the residency is currently being offered in collaboration with Rock Valley Physical Therapy (Quad Cities), MercyOne Genesis (Quad Cities), Edward Elmhurst Healthcare (Naperville, IL), Fort Health Care (Fort Atkinson, WI), and Hammond Henry (Geneseo, IL).

What will I learn in this residency?

Our Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinical Residency program is meticulously designed to provide licensed physical therapists with an educational experience. Residencies are carefully planned, post-professional clinical and didactic education experiences aimed at advancing your expertise in orthopaedic physical therapy.

Residencies are structured in an optimized, sequential format, allowing you to use your existing knowledge and skills. Through a blend of clinical supervision, mentoring, and theoretical education, you'll develop a strong foundation in examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and patient management within the orthopaedic specialization.

The resident graduate will demonstrate the following at the level of a clinical specialist in orthopaedics:

Demonstrate advanced orthopaedic physical therapy patient management skills, emphasizing patient safety, intervention effectiveness and efficiency.
Possess highly effective interpersonal patient management skills to include compassion, written and verbal communication skills, objectivity, and an ability to address issues related to diversity (includes lifespan, gender, culture and ethnicity).
Demonstrate the ability to teach in patient care, community and educational settings.
Possess sound clinical reasoning skills and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Display a high level of professionalism regarding patient care, community and educational settings.
Be a health care practitioner capable of providing a point of entry into the health care system utilizing advanced medical screening.
Implement best available evidence in patient care and teaching.
Demonstrate personal and professional development that enhances their life and lives of others
Be positioned to be leaders in the orthopaedic physical therapy field.

Graduate waving during commencement ceremony.

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