Updates for Residency and Fellowship Programs

A Centralized Application System in Coming to Residency/Fellowship Education!

This September, ABPTRFE will be rolling out with a centralized application system for residency and fellowship programs. The system is called RFPTCAS and is being administered through the same vendor that oversees PTCAS for entry-level physical therapy education. Applicants to residency and fellowship programs will have the ability to complete one comprehensive application and submit to the program(s) of their choosing. This is a free service being provided to our programs and they will find numerous benefits to this system. A few examples of those benefits are:

• Increased exposure and marketing of programs.
• The ability to review applicant information specific to the program utilizing a simple webbased system.
• The ability to collect additional information unique to their program that is not standard within RFPTCAS.

For programs applying for initial credentialing as of January 1, 2014, the program will be required to use RFPTCAS. Should you have any questions regarding this system please contact APTA Staff at resfel@apta.org or 703/706-3152.

For those programs who missed the introductory webinars on RF-PTCAS held in February 2013, you can listen to a recording of the webinar on YouTube.

Did We Miss You at the CSM 2013 Opening Ceremonies?

At the CSM 2013 Opening Ceremonies on January 21, ABPTRFE recognized 28 residency and 4 fellowship programs that attained initial credentialing, and 8 residency and 3 fellowship programs that were recredentialed in 2012. A highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of the first Neonatology Fellowship program as well as the first nonclinical fellowship program, the Education Leadership Institute. For a listing of all credentialed residency and fellowship programs please visit our online directory. Gail (Cookie) Freidhoff, Chair, ABPTRFE gave the following speech:

Good evening,

The American Physical Therapy Association began the process of credentialing postprofessional clinical residency programs in 1996. The first 3 residency programs received their credentials from APTA in 1999. These programs were recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of CSM 2000 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Later in 2000, APTA expanded its credentialing process to include postprofessional clinical fellowship programs.

Over the past 13 years, since the first appearance of residency and fellowship recognition at the Opening Ceremonies of CSM, over 100 residency and fellowship programs earned credentialing, and countless credentialed programs were recredentialed, all being recognized for their accomplishments at CSM.

This past year was no different for residency and fellowship education with respect to the record-breaking number of programs obtaining their credentials and recredentials. Tonight we are pleased to recognize 28 residency and 4 fellowship programs that have attained initial credentialing, and 8 residency and 3 fellowship programs that were recredentialed in 2012. ABPTRFE has ended the year with a total of 151 credentialed programs.

Although the exponential growth in the number of credentialed programs has remained constant over the years, the history of residency and fellowship credentialing is rich and ever changing. In 1997, the APTA Board of Directors established a 5 member Committee on Clinical Residency Program Credentialing to develop and implement the credentialing process for postprofessional clinical residency programs. In 2000, when APTA expanded its credentialing process to include postprofessional clinical fellowship programs, the Committee’s name was changed to the Committee on Clinical Residency and Fellowship Program Credentialing.

Nine years later, with the expansion of physical therapy residency and fellowship program development and credentialing, the APTA Board of Directors approved a structural change from a committee to a credentialing board and the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education was formed and was given the responsibility of providing an efficient and credible system for the evaluation, credentialing, and recredentialing of physical therapy residency and fellowship education programs.

Since its inception, ABPTRFE has worked to improve the function and credibility of the credentialing process. This past year was remarkable in this process. A few highlights of 2012 for ABPTRFE include the following:

• An Operational Plan was developed to help the ABPTRFE meet the challenges and opportunities that exist for residency and fellowship education of physical therapists, while at the same time, making their decisions known to all to better meet the needs of APTA, its members, and consumers.
• The evaluative criteria used in the credentialing of residency and fellowship programs was modified and updated based on the input from its members and the community.
• Additional tools and resources were developed to assist program development.
• Development began for a centralized process for applicants to apply to residency and fellowship programs. This system is scheduled for release later this year.
• The first neonatology fellowship program, which is a subspecialty of pediatrics, earned credentialing.

One of the most monumental events for ABPTRFE also occurred in 2012 changing the history of residency and fellowship education for physical therapists forever. ABPTRFE was challenged to look beyond clinical residency and fellowship programs for physical therapists and explore nonclinical programs.

The program director of the APTA Educational Leadership Institute (ELI) submitted its comprehensive needs assessment and curriculum with a petition to ABPTRFE for consideration of this new subspecialty area. Following review of this petition, ABPTRFE recognized this subspecialty and accepted the program’s credentialing application. In August, ELI received its fellowship credential from ABPTRFE.

The Education Leadership Institute is a partnership of APTA, the Academic Council, the Education Section, and the PTA Educators Special Interest Group. ELI’s purpose is to prepare novice and emerging physical therapists and physical therapist assistant program directors to meet contemporary education leadership needs through strategic and forward thinking and by leading change in higher education.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the APTA Board of Directors for its guidance and support through the years in assisting us in advancing our profession through programs such as residency and fellowship credentialing. Will all of the APTA Board of Directors members please stand and be recognized?

Now we would like to recognize the 43 programs that achieved credentialing or recredentialing in 2012. We ask that you please hold your applause until the presentation is concluded.

First, we will recognize the newly credentialed programs:

• Representing Duke University Health System Sports Physical Therapist Residency are program codirector Ann Marie Husk and director of residency and fellowship programs for Duke, Daniel Dore.

• Representing Agile Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is program coordinator Ed Schiavone and owner Marc Guillet.

• Representing University of Montana Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinic PostProfessional Residency in Sports Physical Therapy are program director Brenda Mahlum and chair of the program advising committee Ryan Mizner.

• Representing Clinical Residency in Diagnosis and Management of Impairments Related to Women's Health Issues are program director Theresa Spitznagle and associate director Mary Kate McDonnell.

• Representing KORT Orthopaedic Residency Program are program director Alan Evans and program coordinator Troy Grubb.

• Representing Sports Physical Therapy Residency at the University of Southern California is program director Aimee Diaz and director of USC residencies Rob Landel.

• Representing AT Still University Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program is program director Cheri Hodges and faculty member Amisha Klawoon.

• Representing Boston University Neurologic Residency Program are program director Terry Ellis and faculty mentor Mary Beth Holmes.

• Representing Harris Health System Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency are program director Carolyn Oddo and program manager Anne Miller.

• Representing Temple University Orthopedic Residency are program director Bill Egan and faculty member Heidi Ojha.

• Representing Evidence in Motion Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program are program director Teresa Schuemann and program manager Jessie Dugan.

• Representing The University of Michigan Health Systems Orthopedic Residency Program is program graduate and current faculty member Laura Fisher.

• Representing Olympic Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program is faculty member Suzanne Madsen.

• Representing The Johns Hopkins Hospital and University of Delaware Neurology Physical Therapy Residency Program are program directors Jessalyn Ciampi and Grace Keenan.

• Representing Fairview Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is program director Paul Breyen.

• Representing The Norton Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program are program manager Liz Ulanowski and education program director Mark Wiegand.

• Representing Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency are program supervisor Toko Nguyen and director of rehabilitation Sean Croft.

• Representing New York University Clinical Residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy is program director Kevin Weaver.

• Representing Brooks PT Geriatric Residency are program director Bob Rowe and program coordinator Jackie Osborne.

• Representing University of Rochester Hand Rehabilitation Fellowship is program director Heather Smith.

• Representing Texas Health Ben Hogan Sports Medicine Sports Physical Therapy Residency is program director Craig Garrison.

• Representing Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Rehabilitation Services Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Residency Program are program coordinator Paul Ricard and program director Barbara Odaka.

• Representing Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program are program director Cathy BookserFeister and faculty member Lizanne Mulligan.

• Representing Loyola Medical Center Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program is program director John Ragonese.

• Representing Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy are program coordinators Erin Donnelly and Brian Fritz.

• Representing Cleveland Clinic Sports Physical Therapy Residency are program directors Scott Euype and Carol Ferkovic.

• Representing Methodist Center for Sports Medicine Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program are program director Matt Holland and program coordinator Kelly Holland.

• Representing Mercer UniversityShepherd Center Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy are program director Joseph Donnelly and program coordinator Lauren Greenfield.

• Representing UT Southwestern Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program are program director Karen McCain and resident Melaine Farrar.

Now, for the first time in APTA history:

• Representing Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Seattle Children's Fellowship in Neonatology are program director Jane Sweeney and program manager Gayle Bonato.

And again, making APTA history:

• Representing the APTA Education Leadership Institute Fellowship Program are program director Jody Frost and ELI workgroup member Martha Ferretti.

We also would like to congratulate Accelerated Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program and Institute of Therapeutic Sciences Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Fellowship who were unable to attend tonight.

Now we will recognize programs that have achieved their first recredentialing, representing over 5 years as credentialed programs:

• Representing Duke University Health System Women's Health Physical Therapist Residency are program codirector Lisa Massa and director of residency and fellowship programs for Duke, Daniel Dore.

• Representing Oregon Health & Science University and the Child Development & Rehabilitation Center Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program is program director David Oleson.

• Representing Proaxis Therapy Sports Residency Program is program director Brad Eggebraaten.

• Representing UIC Department of Physical Therapy Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy is program director Carol Courtney.

• Representing Creighton University Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is program director J.B. Barr.

• Representing The Institute of Physical Art's Functional Manual Therapy Fellowship are program director Gregory Johnson and program administrator Vicky Saliba Johnson.

We also would like to congratulate International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine, Institute of Therapeutic Sciences Orthopaedic Residency, and UPMC Centers for Rehab Services Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program who were unable to attend tonight.

The following programs achieved their second recredentialing in 2012, representing over 10 years as a credentialed residency program:

• Representing University of Southern California Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program are program director Michael O'Donnell and director of USC Residencies Rob Landel.

• Representing Cedars Sinai Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program is therapy supervisor Jodi Hirata.

Please join me in congratulating these programs on their achievement.

Residency and fellowship education would not be possible without the dedication and devotion of the individuals involved in the programs to advance physical therapy practice to its highest levels. We ask that those of you in the audience that serve as program directors, coordinators, and faculty please stand and be recognized.

We would like to take a moment to congratulate the more than 1,900 graduates from credentialed residency and fellowship programs. Will those individuals in the audience who have graduated from, or are currently enrolled in, a residency or fellowship program please stand and be recognized?

Those of who you have graduated from a credentialed residency or fellowship program in 2012, along with the program directors, please join us for a reception on Wednesday night at 8:00 in the Indigo C room here at the Hilton Bayfront.

If you are thinking about applying to a residency or fellowship program please join us for a career development reception also on Wednesday night at 6:00, across the street at the Omni San Diego Hotel, in the Grand Ballroom. Representatives from our credentialed residency and fellowship programs will be available answer questions and assist you in advancing your career.

Last, I would like to recognize the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education, the Credentialing Services Council, the Program Services Council, and the 83 members of their committees. Would you please stand and be recognized?

Whether you are looking to establish a program at your facility or attend a residency or fellowship program yourself, we invite you to visit the Residency/Fellowship booth in the exhibit hall to learn more about how residency and fellowship education can "Maximize Your Potential."

Congratulations to you all, and thank you for your hard work and dedication to our profession!

ABPTRFE Annual Meetings

The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education meetings are as follows:

January 20, 2013
May 19-20, 2013
October 13-15, 2013
May 18-19, 2014
September 14-16, 2014

In addition, ABPTRFE conducts monthly conference calls during the months they do not meet in person. If you have issues or agenda items that you would like the Board to discuss, please send them to resfel@apta.org.  

• Last Updated: 2/21/2013
• Contact: resfel@apta.org
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