About the Pediatric Residency Program

Why MUSC?

Medical University of South Carolina (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 Physical Therapy Pediatric Residency program will provide the resident with experiences involving a diverse and complex patient population by collaborating with the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, MUSC Pediatric Outpatient Therapy Department,  and Dorchester School District Two for a minimum of 1,728 clinical hours. The South Carolina Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (SC LEND) will provide interprofessional and statewide opportunities through additional collaborations with the University of South Carolina and Prisma Health System.

The MUSC Physical Therapy Pediatric Residency program utilizes an innovative hybrid model. Although the resident is a full-time employee at the Medical University Hospital Authority, which supports frequent face-to-face resident and faculty interactions, many didactic portions of the residency curriculum are delivered through online modules. Active learning strategies are used by MUSC academic, clinical, and SC LEND faculty members to deliver comprehensive pediatric content in a post-professional environment.

Our program covers all areas of the Description of Residency Practice: Pediatrics with learning activities in pediatric foundational sciences, leadership, teaching and learning, motor learning, evidence-based practice and statistics, professional behaviors and clinical excellence. Residents participate in over 500 hours of didactic and laboratory course work and receive a minimum of 150 hours of 1:1 mentoring time with a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist.

Program Description

The one-year Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency at MUSC is designed to advance a clinician’s skills and knowledge concerning child and family integrated care in physical therapy supported by the best evidence, clinical expertise, and child and family values. The residency partners with the MUSC Hospital Authority and SCLEND program. The pediatric residency currently accepts one resident annually.

Residency components include:

• Independent patient care
• One-on-one mentoring
• A community-based/experiential 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.
• Humanities-based instruction
• Optional Global Health experience

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.

Equity and Inclusion Statement

The faculty, staff, and mentors of the Medical University of South Carolina’s pediatric physical therapy residency are committed to the recruitment, selection, and development of holistic practitioners. This residency values those who have gone outside of standard routines to meet the objectives outlined in this application. This can be demonstrated through volunteerism, leadership opportunities, occasions of overcoming adversity, or demonstration of dedication to their own learning through supplementary work experiences or research. The residency also values applicants that display attentiveness and inclination toward cultural humility. It is a high priority for this program to value perspectives from many different backgrounds including but not limited to race, ethnicity, social background, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, and national origin. This contributes to the College of Health Professions mission to educate a diverse range of health professionals and integrates the five core values of collaboration, creativity, diversity, excellence, and integrity into the program.

Not only is the application process designed to be holistic, but the chosen resident will be an expected active participant in creating and fostering a welcoming environment for all colleagues, patients, and associates of the pediatric physical therapy residency. The resident should also expect their perspective to be valued throughout their time in the program.

Accreditation

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

Graduation and Certification

Residents who successfully complete the Pediatric 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 pediatric 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.

Residency Outcomes

Our residency has a 100% first-time pass rate on the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Pediatric Certification Specialist exam.