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.
As of January 2024, all (100% - 73/73) individuals have successfully completed the program with 98.5% (69/70) passing the OCS exam.
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.
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).
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.
| 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 |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DPT 983 | Clinical Residency Block III | 5 credits |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DPT 925 | Advanced Musculoskeletal Therapeutics II | 4 credits |
| DPT 984 | Clinical Residency Block IV | 5 credits |
During this one year program, the 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 100 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.
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:
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.
The clinical component of the residency is currently being offered in collaboration with Rock Valley Physical Therapy (Quad Cities), Genesis Health (Quad Cities), Edward Elmhurst Healthcare (Naperville, IL), Fort Health Care (Fort Atkinson, WI), and Hammond Henry (Geneseo, IL).
With more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, there’s something for everyone at St. Ambrose University! Explore our programs to find your place at SAU.
