NeuroRehab Physical Therapy Residency
Neurology Physical Therapy Residency Program Overview
The Neurology Physical Therapy Residency Program is designed to provide residents with a year-long intensive study of neurologic physical therapy, preparing them to sit for the Neurologic 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, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation rotations. Approximately 70% of the time (30 hours) is spent providing patient care to a neurologic rehabilitation population and 30% of the time is reserved for educational experiences. Residents will receive training on numerous topics related to neurologic physical therapy which are in accordance with the current Description of Residency Practice for Neurologic 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, neurology rounds, clinical observation, independent study and research. Residents are also exposed to teaching and instruction to doctor of physical therapy students at Nazareth College of Rochester, a collaborative partner of the residency program.
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) – a 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.
At SMH, our 20-bed rehabilitation unit is comprised of single and double rooms, and updated therapeutic facilities and equipment for both adult and pediatric patients. Our facility is the only CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) – accredited Spinal Cord System of Care in the upstate New York region.
Mission of the Neurology Physical Therapy Residency Program
Our mission is to provide advanced quality education to neurologic physical therapists in order to provide the highest quality of neurologic 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 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 Neurology Residency Program are to educate physical therapists to:
- Meet the needs of their community by becoming advanced practitioners of neurologic physical therapy.
- Utilize critical inquiry and evidence-based practice to incorporate appropriate advanced techniques and knowledge into practice.
- Become competent instructors of neurologic physical therapy practice.
- Utilize clinical and practical reasoning skills to effectively manage the care of individuals following neurologic injury.
- Demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice.
- Employ foundational and clinical sciences in the development of plans of care
UR Medicine Neurology Physical Therapy Residency Program Outcomes
Graduation Rate: 100%
ABPTS Specialty Exam Pass Rate: 100%
Neurology Residency Program Information
Credentialing: The residency program is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
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 (70% of full time salary). 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.
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 Neurologic 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 neurologic 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.
Typical Weekly Schedule
Below is a sample schedule.
Application Process
Application Deadline: Rolling admission
All Applications must be submitted via the Residency and Fellowship Common Application Service (RF-PTCAS):
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 neurologic residency program is provisional pending the candidate meeting all the conditions of employment of the University of Rochester.
Julie Streeter, PT, DPT, NCS
Neurologic 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: julie_streeter@urmc.rochester.edu