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The Outstanding Physical Therapist Resident Award honors recent residency graduates in order to recognize the intrinsic value of post-professional training and thereby promote and provide for the development and accreditation of residency education programs in physical therapy.
Eligibility Requirements
Nominees must be:
- Physical therapists who are current members in good standing of the association.
- Nominations must be by a representative of an ABPTRFE-accredited physical therapist residency and/or fellowship education program.
Self-nominations are not permitted for this award. Nominations must be submitted by the nominee’s program director or faculty member.
Criteria for Selection
Nominees must demonstrate:
- Evidence of current and potential contributions to the physical therapy profession.
- Promotion of ethical standards of professional conduct and the core values that distinguish physical therapy as a caring profession.
- Promotion of best practice patterns within clinical practice through teaching, mentoring, and scholarly work.
- Contributions to the American Physical Therapy Association at the national, component, and/or district levels.
- Dedicated service to the community through activities that enhance quality of life, function, and societal well-being.
A strong application should demonstrate the following:
- Specific examples of the selection criteria listed above.
- Support statements that are positive, cite specific examples of professional accomplishments, and provide additional information on depth, scope, and quality in a convincing manner.
What Recipients Receive
An award will be presented to the recipient by APTA's Board of Directors at an APTA national event, and an official announcement will appear in an association publication.
Submission Requirements
Nomination statements must be submitted to begin the process.
The following must be submitted by the nominee:
- Completed online application
- Graduation certificate from the nominee's program confirming enrollment and successful graduation
- A completed narrative description from the nominee; narrative's content should focus upon the nominee's experience within their respective program and its significant or effect upon their future goals in the profession.
- Two support statements obtained from the following:
- Individuals who can specifically address one or more of the criteria for selection
- One of these support statements must be provided by a faculty member or mentor within the nominee's program
Submit a Nomination
The nominations call for the Honors & Awards program is open from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1. Nominations must be submitted through our online platform by Dec. 1; late submissions will not be considered. Selected recipients and their nominators will be notified in May.
Additional Resources
For questions regarding the nomination process or the award, contact APTA Honors & Awards.