Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency

Overview of the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program

The Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program is designed to provide residents with a year-long intensive study of pediatric physical therapy, preparing them to sit for the Pediatric Clinical Specialist Exam offered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. The resident is expected to work 40 - 45 hours/week and majority of the time will be split between inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation rotations, with additional opportunities wihtin early intervention and school-based settings. Approximately 70% of the time (30 hours) is spent providing patient care to a pediatric rehabilitation population and 30% of the time is reserved for educational experiences. Residents will receive training on numerous topics related to pediatric physical therapy which are in accordance with the current Description of Residency Practice for Pediatric Physical Therapy. The content is taught and/or directed by the expert faculty of UR Medicine's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department as well as supplemental learning through the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Consortium. The curriculum includes didactic coursework, skills training, journal clubs, grand rounds, clinical observation, independent study and research.

Background Information

The University of Rochester Medical Center was founded in 1921 by Abraham Flexner, Rush Rhees, and George Eastman with the affirmation that the Medical Center would practice "Medicine of the Highest Order." A few years later in 1925, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry opened with the support of Rush Rhees to make the school "unquestionably of the first class." Although the Medical Center and School of Medicine and Dentistry were founded many years ago, the original principles have endured and continue to influence the individuals who work at the University today. The University of Rochester Medical Center's Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program is sponsored by Golisano Children's Hospital, which has been ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in three specialties: Neonatology, Nephrology, and Pediatric Cancer. Golisano Children's Hospital provides PT in the NICU, ICU, inpatient, and outpatient settings. Golisano Children's hospital is an 80 bed children’s hospital and has been designated as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons and New York State, the highest possible classification for trauma care and evidence that GCH is delivering best-practice treatment, education, and research in the field. Golisano Children's Hospital houses a level IV Regional NICU with a 68 beds that provide comprehensive care for infants born at all gestational ages and birth weights with critical illness.

Mission of the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program

• Our mission is to provide advanced quality education to pediatric physical therapists in order to provide the highest quality of pediatric patient care to the population we serve. Residents will utilize evidence-based practice principles to develop advanced clinical skills, teaching expertise and professionalism expected of a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist and practicing physical therapist at the University of Rochester. The program is dedicated to supporting growth, continuous improvement, and strategic initiatives.

The goals of the Pediatric Residency Program are to educate physical therapists to:

• Meet the needs of their community by becoming advanced practitioners of pediatric physical therapy
• Utilize critical inquiry and evidence-based practice to incorporate appropriate advanced techniques and knowledge into practice
• Become competent instructors of pediatric physical therapy practice
• Utilize clinical and practical reasoning skills to effectively manage the care of children following injury
• Helping every child achieve their highest level of ability
• Educate families to help their children achieve their developmental milestones
• Demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice
• Employ foundational and clinical sciences in the development of plans of care

Pediatric Residency Program Information

Credentialing: The URMC Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency accreditation is in development. We will be taking the first resident to our program on January 1, 2025. URMC already holds APTA accreditation in the following PT residencies: Orthopedics, Sports, Neurology

Program Dates:
Length of Study: 12 Months
Start Date: January 1st
End Date: December 31st

Location:
UR Medicine Physical Therapy
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, New York

Salary: Residents will receive a salary reflective of their time spent performing independent patient care (30 hours per week). Residents do not maintain a full case load secondary to time being allocated for didactic coursework, research, presentations, projects and teaching opportunities.

Benefits: Residents are eligible for benefits through the University of Rochester Medical Center. This includes employer supported health and dental insurance, long-term disability, pension plan, life insurance and paid time off. This benefit list is not all-inclusive, and applicants are directed to the human resources department at URMC for a complete description of benefits.

Requirements: The applicant must be a graduate of a CAPTE (Commission for Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education) accredited physical therapy program and hold a current license to practice physical therapy in the state of New York.

A complete application must be received by the program director.

Acceptance will be based on interest, ability and aptitude for a career as a physical therapist in a pediatric rehabilitation setting.

The strongest applicants may possess the following:

• Completion of an extended internship or externship under the direct supervision of a Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Experience with data collection, analysis and publication
• Strong understanding of the principles of clinical reasoning
• Strong understanding of the examination and treatment procedures related to the practice of pediatric physical therapy
• Exhibit high standards of professional behavior

Residents will be selected by the Admissions Committee and their decision will be final. The superior candidates will be given an interview, which is conducted by members of the Admissions Committee. Candidates will be assessed in the areas of commitment, knowledge of the purpose of the program, interests and personality. Good candidates will possess the qualities of flexibility, team building, leadership, professionalism and desire to learn.

Disability Requirements

A candidate requesting disability accommodations must request the required accommodation(s) in writing to the program director.

Application Process

UR Medicine's Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Rochester reserves the right not to process any application that is incomplete.

Acceptance into the pediatric residency program is provisional pending the candidate meeting all the conditions of employment of the University of Rochester.

For more information, please reach out ot Kate Corrado, PT, DPT, PCS.

Kate Corrado, PT, DPT, PCS
Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Director
Concussion Care Team Coordinator
UR Medicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Rochester Medical Center
Golisano Children’s Hospital
601 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, New York 14642
Email: cathlyn_corrado@urmc.rochester.edu