Physical Therapy Residencies
SHANDS Rehab Center / University of Florida Department of Physical Therapy Residency Program
Congratulations on taking the first step towards excellence in advanced clinical practice. The purpose of a residency or fellowship in Physical Therapy is to provide you with the opportunity and guidance to develop advanced competencies in PT. These competencies include improving your skills in examination, evaluation and differential diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and outcome assessment. In addition, the residency or fellowship program has a strong research component and there is an expectation that you will participate in ongoing clinical research projects, write a case study, or present at conferences.
The program will also allow you to interact with other health professionals possibly including physicians, athletic trainers, occupational therapists and respiratory therapists depending on your area of focus. Experiences beyond the physical therapy clinic will include observing physicians during office hours and surgery, participation in grand rounds, attendance at rehabilitation research seminars and assisting in the entry-level education of physical therapist students. This program is structured such that you will spend 75% to 80% of your time in patient care. This includes the time in which you will be in direct contact with your clinical mentor. You will also attend didactic lectures to provide you with knowledge and understanding of the basic sciences related to your area of practice, advanced clinical techniques and evidence-based practice, and participate in educational labs to assist in teaching entry-level students.
“What is the goal of a physical therapy residency at UF?”
The clinical residency at UF is designed to substantially advance the resident’s expertise in examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and management of patients in a defined area of clinical practice. In addition, we expect the fellow to gain an in-depth understanding of the science underlying clinical techniques and evidence-based practice. Our overall mission is to develop advanced practitioners of evidence-based practice who will demonstrate excellence in clinical practice and advance the body of knowledge in physical therapy through implementation of clinical research.
Areas of practice
Below is a brief description of the practice concentrations available.
Orthopaedics: This residency will focus predominantly on outpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation with possible rotations in the sports, extremity, spine, and hand rehabilitation departments. A team of clinicians, faculty, and surgeons will mentor the fellow. Learning experiences will include mentored patient care, surgery observation, journal club meetings, teaching in the entry-level physical therapy Musculoskeletal class, and participation in the clinical research agenda.
Sports: This residency will focus predominantly on outpatient rehabilitation with emphasis on sports. A team of clinicians, faculty, and surgeons will mentor the fellow. Learning experiences will include mentored patient care, surgery observation, journal club meetings, teaching in the entry-level physical therapy classes, and participation in the clinical research agenda. Residents will be required to attend training room sessions with their mentor as required.
Neurorehabilitation: A team of physical therapists, neurologists
and neurosurgeons will mentor this resident. Residents will be given an
opportunity to treat patients under mentorship of specialized physical therapists,
participate in teaching and training of spinal cord injury and stroke patients,
and participate in the team efforts of the Movement Disorder Center in the
McKnight Brain Institute. The resident will also be involved in the clinical
efforts inclusive of, but not limited to Shands UF acute neurological floor,
Shands Rehab Hospital, and in collaboration with Brooks Rehab Hospital.
Additional potential groups of patients include those with brain injury,
vestibular disorders, and Parkinsons disease.
Cardiopulmonary: This residency will have an inpatient and outpatient
component, and specializes mainly on pulmonary rehabilitation and lung transplantation.
A team of clinicians, faculty, and physicians will mentor the resident.
Residents will be allowed to treat patients under mentorship of expert physical
therapists, participate in teaching efforts and assist in research. The
resident will also be given an opportunity to participate in an interdisciplinary
team managing lung transplant patients prior to and following transplantation.
Oncology Rehabilitation: This residency will focus on outpatient
rehabilitation of a variety of cancer patients in all stages of diagnosis
and treatment. The clinic is located at Shands Cancer Center with opportunities
to attend various cancer-specific clinics and weekly multidisciplinary conferences
where they will interact with physicians of many disciplines and other health
care professionals. The resident will have clinical mentors to assist them
in learning the skills necessary to address and screen for fatigue, pain,
chemo-induced neuropathies, deconditioning, and the orthopedic, musculoskeleletal,
neurological, cardiopulmonary and integumentary effects of cancer and the
required intervention. There will be an emphasis on addressing the functional
abilities specific to the patient with cancer related limitations using
manual interventions and appropriate exercise regimens. Residents will assist
with classroom teaching and research in the area of oncology rehabilitation.
Selection Criteria
Currently positions are open to graduates of the University of Florida Physical Therapy Program who have a current Florida Physical Therapy license. Candidates are selected based on a competitive review process. All candidates interested in more information or applying for a residency position at UF can contact:
Mark Bishop, PT, PhD
352 273-6112
bish@phhp.ufl.edu
