At Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy, we offer an orthopaedic physical therapy residency focused on all aspects of orthopaedic physical therapy practice that strives to help create the next generation of orthopaedic experts.
The residency program offered through our Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy Department consists of 10 structured didactic learning sessions with 10 lab intensives to reinforce the didactic material. There is a written midterm and final exam, with a corresponding lab practical. Also, a short quiz is given to the residents prior to the start of each lecture. Residents also participate in regular journal club discussions and periodically work with physicians and surgeons, either observing surgery or attending medical fellow or radiology conferences.
Residents also participate in mentorship under an APTA board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist (OCS). They will lead treatment under the direct supervision of the mentor and participate in advanced orthopaedic discussion regarding the management of that patient.
Residency Requirements
Didactic Learning
- 120 classroom hours – 10 Fridays (8 hours) and 10 Fridays (4 hours).
- 8 pre-lecture quizzes.
- Written midterm and practical.
- Written final and practical.
- Case report or poster presentation submission.
- Participation in journal club, physician experiences.
Mentored Learning
- 180 hours of clinical mentorship.
- 40 hours of lab intensive practice with expert clinicians.
- 1:1 mentorship with board-certified orthopaedic specialist.
- 1,500+ hours of independent practice in orthopaedics.
Our Team
Cleveland Clinic’s highly trained staff who evaluate, diagnose and manage treatment plans, and oversee the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency include:
- Multiple APTA board-certified orthopaedic specialists.
- Sports clinical specialists.
- 5 Fellows of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy, certified and diploma credentialed in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.
- Multiple certified strength and conditioning specialists.
Why Choose Cleveland Clinic
Unlike other programs, Cleveland Clinic’s Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency has two tracks for residents, an internal track for current Cleveland Clinic employees and an external track for physical therapists who are employed outside of Cleveland Clinic. Both tracks are structured in a manner that allows the resident to continue to work while taking classes, with the majority of didactic training occurring on Fridays.
In addition, the program provides a mentorship with an orthopaedic specialist who is either a fellow- or residency trained physical therapist, or APTA board-certified specialist who provides intensive, hands-on learning and real-world experience.
Our courses are led by content experts, providing residents with opportunities to interact with world-renowned physicians and surgeons.
Outcomes
- 100% of Cleveland Clinic PT residents have graduated on-time.
How to Apply
To apply for the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency program at Cleveland Clinic, please complete the online application through the American Physical Therapy Association.
Contact Us
For questions, please contact Cleveland Clinic’s program director:
Philip Toal, PT, DPT, OCS, C-OMPT, FAAOMPT
toalp2@ccf.org
330.665.8202.
