About the Orthopedic Residency Program

Why MUSC?

MUSC has a rich 43-year history of educating physical therapists at the entry- and post-professional levels. Our experienced academic and clinical faculty are board certified in orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy, and are enthusiastic about residency education.

The MUSC Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program utilizes an innovative hybrid model. This allows the resident to be a full-time employee with a clinical partner and participate in both on-campus weekend intensive trainings in Charleston as well as weekly online modules. The educational content is delivered by clinicians and MUSC faculty members using an active teaching style in a post-professional environment.

Our program covers all areas of the description of residency practice with learning activities in ethics, teaching and learning, motor learning, evidence-based practice and statistics, vestibular and concussion rehabilitation, pain science, manual therapy course series with certification, and business principles. Residents participate in over 300 hours of didactic and laboratory course work and receive a minimum of 140 hours of 1:1 mentoring time with a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist.

Program Description

The one-year Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is designed to advance a clinician’s skills and knowledge concerning patient-first orthopedic physical therapy supported by the best evidence, and track outcomes for quality improvement. The residency partners with clinics at the Medical University of South Carolina and Prisma Healthcare in Columbia, South Carolina. The residency accepts 4 to 6 residents annually.

The program includes learning modules and activities that reinforce clinical practice based on best-evidence, research, and scholarship. The residency integrates content with the Neurological Physical Therapy Residency to enhance the depth and breadth of the learning experience for all residents.

Residency components include:

• Independent patient care

• One-on-one mentoring

• A scholarly project

• Case presentations

• Didactic and laboratory coursework designed to provide a basis for advanced clinical practice using both online and face-to-face learning formats.

Residents must attend up to 8 weekend sessions at MUSC in Charleston, SC for hands-on learning sessions.

Residents are licensed physical therapists and receive a salary and benefits package from their clinical employer. The employer provides the mentor who trains in mentoring through MUSC and attends monthly mentoring workshops with mentors across the orthopedic and at times with neurological residencies.

Accreditation

The MUSC Orthopedic Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) council of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Program Outcomes

The MUSC Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency has had a 100% graduation and retention rate of 16 residents since 2016 with a first-time pass rate of the ABPTS Orthopedic Specialty Examination of 86%.

Graduation and Certification

Residents who successfully complete the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency receive a certificate of completion from MUSC and documentation to apply residency hours towards continuing education certification with the state of South Carolina. Graduates are eligible to take the orthopedics specialist certification examination administered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) and should apply for the examination while they are participating in the residency.