Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency
Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency
Program Overview
The Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency Program is designed to provide residents with a year-long intensive study of geriatric physical therapy, preparing them to sit for the Geriatric Clinical Specialist Exam offered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. The resident is expected to work 40–45 hours/week and time will be split between acute and outpatient rotations, in addition to observation experiences in the skilled nursing and home care settings. Residents will receive training on numerous topics related to geriatric physical therapy which are in accordance with the current Description of Residency Practice for Geriatric 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 an online portal, Medbridge Education. 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 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program is sponsored by Strong Memorial Hospital (SMH) – an 850-bed, Level I trauma center that serves as URMC's main teaching hospital. The hospital is a tertiary and quaternary care referral center for upstate New York, as well as a bone marrow, cardiac, liver, and renal transplant center. It is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCH) and has been named one of America's best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
Mission of the Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency Program
Our mission is to develop graduates who will advance geriatric physical therapy practice and use their skills to provide the highest quality of geriatric patient care to the population we serve. Residents will use evidence-based practice principles to develop advanced clinical reasoning skills, professionalism, and expertise expected of a board-certified clinical specialist and a practicing physical therapist at the University of Rochester. The geriatric therapy residency is also committed to furthering the education of mentors and faculty to promote a collaborative, successful environment that encourages growth and excellency in patient care.
Program Goals
- The program will prepare residents to become advanced practitioners of geriatric physical therapy and serve their community within a collaborative health care team.
- The program will foster an environment of high-quality care, professionalism, and ethical practice that meets the needs of the residents and patients.
- Residents will demonstrate proficiency in utilizing current knowledge, clinical reasoning skills, and evidence-based practice to incorporate appropriate advanced techniques and knowledge into practice.
- Residents will become competent instructors of geriatric physical therapy practice within the profession and within the larger community.
- Residents will develop the skills necessary to assist older adults with self- advocacy.
- Residents will develop appropriate awareness of the older adult’s total health status, including social environment and comorbidities, when developing and implementing physical therapy plan of care.
- The program is sustainable.
Residency Program Outcomes
Graduation Rate:To be reported after first cohort completes the program.
ABPTS Specialty Exam Pass Rate: To be reported after first cohort completes the exam.
Program Information
Credentialing: ABPTRFE has granted the University of Rochester Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency candidacy status. Candidacy status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation. Achieving candidacy status is not an indication that ABPTRFE will grant initial accreditation. Participants who graduate from a program in candidacy status are not deemed to have completed an accredited program.
Program Dates:
Length of Study: 12 Months
Start Date: Rolling
End Date: Rolling
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. Residents do not maintain a full case load secondary to time being allocated for didactic coursework, research, presentations, and projects.
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.
Program Sponsored Financial Assistance
The program will disclose any financial assistance provided to participants enrolling in 2026.
| Type of Financial Assistance | Total Assistance | Notes/Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Salary Paid by Program (if applicable) | $50,000.00 | Stipends or salaries provided directly by the program. |
| Percentage Salary to Comparable PT | 70% | Indicate the percentage of teh above salary relative to that of comparable physical therapist at the organization. |
| Student Financial Aid | $0.00 | For tuition-based programs only; includes grants, loans, or other aid. |
| Graduate Assistantships | $0.00 | Assistantships providing financial support in exhange for work or teaching. |
| Other Assistantships | $0.00 | Non-graduate assistantships or program-specific assistantships. |
| Scholarships | $0.00 | Merit-based or need-based scholarships. |
| Travel Costs/Stipends | $0.00 | Reimbursement or stipends for travel related to program requirements. |
| Malpractice Insurance | $0.00 | Insurance coverage provided by program. |
| ABPTS Board-Certification Examination Fees | $0.00 | Fees covered by program or offered as assistance for board exams. |
| Other Financial Assistance | $0.00 | Any additional financial support not listed above. |
| Total Financial Assistance | $50,000.00 | Sum of all rows above. |
Participant Costs
The Financial Fact Sheet is designed to collect program financial data and provide applicants with transparetnt information on the true costs of residency and fellowship education.
| Type of Cost | Total Cost for the Entire Program | Notes/Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | $0.00 | Any fees. Includes: CPR, EMR, APTA dues, Section/Academy dues, other professional memberships, or other program fees. |
| Tuition (if applicable) | $0.00 | Any tuition amounts. |
| Curriculum Costs (not included in tuition) | $300.00 | Lab materials, simulation fees, or other required coursework costs. |
| Required Textbooks, Software, Apps | $0.00 | Costs not included in fees or tuition. |
| Application Fees | $0.00 | Program-assessed fees beyond RF-PTCAS. |
| Conference Registration Fees | $0.00 | Required conferences not included in fees above. |
| Travel Costs | $0.00 | Travel for program-required activities or conference, not included in fees above. |
| Parking/Mass Transit Fees | $173.00 | Transportation related to program participation, not included in fees above. |
| Mentoring Fees | $0.00 | Mentoring fees, if applicable and not included in program fees above.. |
| Malpractice Insurance | $0.00 | Required liability coverage for residents/fellows, if no included in program fees or provided by the program. |
| Other Program Costs | $0.00 | Any additional costs not captured above. |
| Total Program Costs | $473.00 | Sum of all rows above |
Last Updated: 11/19/2025
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 rehabilitative medicine setting.
The strongest applicants may possess the following:
- Completion of an extended internship or externship under the direct supervision of a Clinical Specialist in Geriatric 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 geriatric 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
Application Deadline: Rolling admission
All Applications must be submitted via the Residency and Fellowship Common Application Service (RF-PTCAS) and will include applicants’ resume, references, letter of intent, and two letters of recommendation.
UR Medicine's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the University of Rochester reserves the right not to process any application that is incomplete.
Acceptance into the geriatric residency program is provisional pending the candidate meeting all the conditions of employment of the University of Rochester.
Kristen Milone, PT, DPT, GCS
Geriatric Physical Therapy Residency Director
UR Medicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Rochester Medical Center
4901 Lac DeVille Boulevard, Suite 250, Building D
Rochester, NY 14618
Email: Kristen_Milone@urmc.rochester.edu