Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency
Program Mission
The mission of the Holy Cross Health Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is to develop clinicians who supply patient-centered care rooted in evidence-based interventions and create lifelong building and learning within the profession of physical therapy.
Residency Requirements & Program Information
To be considered for admission to the Holy Cross Health Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program, interested applicants must be licensed or eligible for licensure in the state of their clinical assignment before starting the program. Current students may apply prior to graduation. Candidates must display professional behaviors and enthusiasm for Orthopedic Physical Therapy, demonstrating a strong commitment and motivation to the profession. Additionally, applicants should possess clinical reasoning skills essential for the application of examination and treatment procedures.
To apply, please visit RF-PTCAS, where you will be required to submit the necessary application materials to complete your application package.
Accreditation: The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education granted accreditation to the residency program in 2019. Residency graduates will be eligible to sit for the ABPTS clinical specialist exam in orthopedics.
Program Length: 12.5 months
Tuition: There are no tuition costs for the residency program.
Employment: Residents are full-time, exempt employees of Holy Cross throughout the duration of the program despite not carrying a full patient case load due to educational opportunities. Residents will earn a salary of ~85% of an entry-level staff physical therapist and are eligible for benefits including health and dental insurance, paid time off and potential travel reimbursement for presentation at a national or state conference. Residents may be eligible for student loan deferment during their time in the program. Please check with your lender to confirm deferment eligibility.
Curriculum: Residents will partake in weekly didactic and clinical education activities following the most current edition of the ABPTRFE Description of Residency Practice: Orthopedics. The curriculum as created by our program curriculum coordinator, is separated into learning units including, but not limited to, exercise prescription, differential diagnosis, evidence-based practice, upper extremity, lower extremity, lumbosacral, cervicothoracic, and musculoskeletal imaging. In addition to educational activities, residents will also have weekly structured 1:1 mentorship from residency faculty to improve clinical reasoning, manual interventions, and patient outcomes.
*5/7 first-time passage rate on the ABPTS Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) examination.
*All 7/7 residents have fully completed and graduated from the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency
Orientation and Introduction to Residency
Foundation Module
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Clinical Screening
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Pharmacology
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Musculoskeletal Imaging
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Pain Science
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Clinical Examination
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Clinical Reasoning
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Differential Diagnosis
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Exercise Prescription
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Clinical Leadership, Ethics and Business
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Clinical Research and Capstone
Core Orthopedic Module(s)
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Advanced Management of the Cervicothoracic Spine, Rib and Temporomandibular Joint
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Advanced Management of the Lumbosacral Spine and Pelvis
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Advanced Management of the Upper Extremity
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Advanced Management of the Lower Extremity
Special Lecture(s) and Lab(s)
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Running Mechanics and Gait Analysis
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Trigger Point Dry Needling
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Lifestyle Changes, Nutrition, and Pain Management
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Concussion Management for the Rehabilitation Professional
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Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions
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Selective Functional Movement Assessment
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Kinematic Taping
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Advanced Thrust Manipulations
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Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Examination Preparation
Scholarly Hour(s)
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Direct 1:1 Mentoring (150 Hours)
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Serve as Clinical Instructor for a DPT Student
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Conduct and Present (1) Research Capstone Study and Abstract Poster
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Attend and Present Journal Clubs
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Directed learning experiences that may include the following observations: Physician Surgical, Physician Non-Surgical, AAOMPT Fellows, Sports Medicine Faculty, Occupational Therapist, Research Department Faculty, Peer Ortho Residents, Peer Non-Ortho Residents
- Support the mission, vision and core values of Holy Cross Health and its Orthopedic Rehabilitation department.
- Supply advanced and innovative didactic and clinical instruction to residents to become board-certified orthopedic clinicians.
- Facilitate the development of lifelong learners and educators.
- Develop residents into professionals who can adequately analyze and contribute to literature and evidence-based practice.
- Obtain and maintain ABPTRFE accreditation as an orthopedic physical therapy residency.
Why Choose our Residency Program?
In addition to structured 1:1 mentorship from orthopedic and sports board-certified, fellowship-trained, and experienced clinicians, the residency will also prepare participants to earn American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) certification as an orthopedic clinical specialist following successful completion of the program. The board has published and shown higher board certification passing rates for residency graduates than non-residency graduates.
Program Faculty
• Matthew Waggoner, PT, DPT, MTC, KTCC, FAAOMPT
• Michael Brainerd, PT, DPT, OCS
• Robert Blake, PT, DPT, MTC, FAAOMPT
• Sarah Maceda, OTR/L, CHT
• Oron Fiksel, DPT, OCS, CMFT, COMT, FAAOMPT
• Alex Bonhomme, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT (Consultant)
Learn more about physical therapy clinical residency and fellowship programs:
For additional information, please contact:
Robert Blake, DPT, MTC, FAAOMPT, MBA
robert.blake@holy-cross.com
