Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program

The Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at Emory University is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

Emory’s Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program is a 52-week program committed to preparing physical therapists who will engage in clinical, academic and professional teaching and consultative activities that will contribute to the advancement of the physical therapy profession. 

Successful completion of at least 1500 clinical hours and 300 hours to include didactic learning, teaching, 150 hours (about 6 and a half days) of 1:1 clinical mentoring, achieve a passing score on live patient examinations and two written exams.

Emory’s Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency curriculum is designed to address all the areas of Orthopedic Description of Special Practice (DSP). Graduates of the residency program will be prepared to sit for the ABPTS Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS) examination. The curriculum design will prepare the resident to develop excellence in clinical examination, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, teaching and the integration of evidence into advancing levels of clinical practice.

1. Provide the necessary content and clinical experiences to prepare the residency to sit for the ABPTS Orthopedic Specialist Certification Board examination.
2. Provide the necessary teaching and mentoring experiences to facilitate the resident’s skills in teaching and consulting activities.
3. Promote the advancement in orthopedic physical therapy by engaging residents in activities that promote clinical excellence and evidence-informed clinical decision making.

Didactic work is organized into 16 modules over the course of the residency:

• Practice management, Cervical spine, Thoracic Spine, Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist/Hand, Lumbar Spine, Hip, Knee, Ankle/Foot, Orthobiologics, Orthopedic Considerations in Pediatrics, Pain Science, Cervicogenic Dizziness and Connective Tissue/Exercise Dosing
• Self-guided modules for TMJ, Diagnostic Imaging, and Pharmacology
• Monthly journal review

Clinical partners - Outpatient orthopedic Emory clinics and private practices in the metro-Atlanta area

Clinical mentor requirements - A licensed physical therapist who is a certified clinical specialist in orthopedics or possess significant and current experience (minimum of three years) in orthopedic clinical practice may serve as a resident’s clinical mentor. The mentor must provide three hours of 1:1 clinical mentoring per week (150 hours total) for the resident. Your mentor’s resume/CV should be provided upon request.

Research opportunities are available for residents interested in pursuing orthopedic related topics.  Residents may partner with Emory faculty in ongoing orthopedic related research.

Residents are required to complete 30 hours of teaching with Emory’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Each resident will complete about 3 hours a week as a lab assistant in the Musculoskeletal complex from April through July. 

Residents will travel to South Georgia the first or second weekend of June to participate in the Farmworker Health Project. Residents work with other healthcare providers from the School of Medicine to provide musculoskeletal screenings and examinations for migrant farmers and their families. This is an invaluable learning experience and honors the Division’s mission to provide quality, accessible and cost-effective care for individuals within the community.  

Residents are required to complete 30 hours of teaching with Emory’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Each resident will complete about three hours a week as a lab assistant in the Musculoskeletal complex from April through July.

• 35-40 hours of clinical practice per week
• 3 hours of 1:1 clinical mentoring per week
• Opportunities to work with research faculty throughout the 12-month resident program
• 2-3 hours of teaching per week in Emory’s DPT program during the last three months of the program
• Didactic coursework and journal club meetings throughout the 12-month program

The application process is open on October 1st.  All applications must be submitted through RF-PTCAS. Application cycle begins annually in October. 

Additional requirements: 

• Graduate of a CAPTE accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program 
• Georgia Physical Therapy license and in good standing with the State Board 
• Current curriculum vitae or resume 
• Current CPR certification 
• APTA membership strongly encouraged 

Please visit the American Board of Physical Therapy Education Residency and Fellowship website for additional information regarding application deadline and content submission. 

• Timme, D. The Development and Identification of Hallux Rigidus after Achilles Tendon Reconstruction and Subsequent Immobilization.
• Briggs, A. Dry Needling Interventions Following Abdominal Surgery and Associated Lumbar Spine Pain: A Case Report
• Sharp, A. Complex Post-Operative Rehabilitation Considerations in a Patient with Neurological Injury after Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report
• Morris, D. Efficiency in ACL Rehabilitation: How You Start Dictates How You Finish.

Residency Program Outcomes (PDF)

View the Residency FAQs.