Orthopedic Residency
Together with the University of Evansville, Rehabilitation & Performance Institute, PSC offers a 14-month physical therapy outpatient orthopaedic residency in our Owensboro, Kentucky location that allows you to participate in one-on-one mentored patient care with expert clinicians and caregivers in an outpatient orthopaedic setting.
This program allows licensed physical therapists to advance their knowledge by incorporating classroom knowledge and psychomotor skills through face-to-face interaction, weekend intensives, online learning, and small-group discussions.
While our curriculum exists to prepare the residents for material covered on the Orthopaedic Certification Exam, our residents leave with life-changing experiences that provide the foundation for a fulfilling career in leadership and outpatient orthopaedic physical therapy.
ABPTRFE has granted Rehabilitation & Performance Institute, PSC and the University of Evansville Orthopaedic Residency initial accreditation for a period of 5 years through January 2024. Residency programs are not accredited by CAPTE. Accreditation by ABPTRFE is a reliable indicator of the value and quality of the Residency Program. In receiving initial accreditation, the program demonstrated its commitment to educational standards and ethical business practices indicative of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement that enhances the physical therapy profession.
We have a 100% first attempt pass rate on the ABPTS OCS exam and 4 of 5 residents have graduated our program.
Key Focuses
Mentoring takes many forms throughout the orthopaedic residency program. Every week, time is scheduled during the week for one-on-one mentoring. This time is dedicated to learning and practicing manual techniques, reviewing concepts, co-treating, leadership training, or whatever goals the resident is working toward.
In addition, the orthopaedic residency participates in a weekly THINK TANK. Think Tank is one patient session a week where the entire clinic co-treats together. This learning opportunity is designed to be collaborative and focus on developing clinical reasoning.
Residents participate in physical therapy education as a teaching assistant in the Physical Therapy Program at The University of Evansville. The resident will assist with lab and have the opportunity to lecture and instruct.
With the help of residency faculty, the resident will complete a research project. The research project can take many different forms depending on interests of the resident.
The resident will develop deep relationships within the community. The resident will create a program or event to encourage community involvement and bring people together.
Every quarter RPI holds an in-service. During this time, clinicians learn new techniques, refine old ones, and practice with the feedback of others. These sessions are lead by Shelly Tyler (Fellow in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy) and John Mark Tyler (Chiropractor).
We recognize that every resident is an individual and may have different goals in addition to completing an orthopaedic residency. We work with the resident to prepare customized learning opportunities where necessary. Our goal is for residents to meet their goals.
Mentoring takes many forms throughout the residency program. Every week, time is scheduled during the week for one-on-one mentoring. This time is dedicated to learning and practicing manual techniques, reviewing concepts, co-treating, leadership training, or whatever goals the resident is working toward.
In addition, the resident participates in a weekly THINK TANK. Think Tank is one patient session a week where the entire clinic co-treats together. This learning opportunity is designed to be collaborative and focus on developing clinical reasoning.
Residents participate in physical therapy education as a teaching assistant in the Physical Therapy Program at The University of Evansville. The resident will assist with lab and have the opportunity to lecture and instruct.
With the help of residency faculty, the resident will complete a research project. The research project can take many different forms depending on interests of the resident.
The resident will develop deep relationships within the community. The resident will create a program or event to encourage community involvement and bring people together.
We recognize that every resident is an individual and may have different goals in addition to completing an orthopaedic residency. We work with the resident to prepare customized learning opportunities where necessary. Our goal is for residents to meet their goals.
Mentoring takes many forms throughout the residency program. Every week, time is scheduled during the week for one-on-one mentoring. This time is dedicated to learning and practicing manual techniques, reviewing concepts, co-treating, leadership training, or whatever goals the resident is working toward.
In addition, the resident participates in a weekly THINK TANK. Think Tank is one patient session a week where the entire clinic co-treats together. This learning opportunity is designed to be collaborative and focus on developing clinical reasoning.
Residents participate in physical therapy education as a teaching assistant in the Physical Therapy Program at The University of Evansville. The resident will assist with lab and have the opportunity to lecture and instruct.
Mentoring
Mentoring takes many forms throughout the residency program. Every week, time is scheduled during the week for one-on-one mentoring. This time is dedicated to learning and practicing manual techniques, reviewing concepts, co-treating, leadership training, or whatever goals the resident is working toward.
In addition, the resident participates in a weekly THINK TANK. Think Tank is one patient session a week where the entire clinic co-treats together. This learning opportunity is designed to be collaborative and focus on developing clinical reasoning.
Teaching
Residents participate in physical therapy education as a teaching assistant in the Physical Therapy Program at The University of Evansville. The resident will assist with lab and have the opportunity to lecture and instruct.
Research
With the help of residency faculty, the resident will complete a research project. The research project can take many different forms depending on interests of the resident.
Community Involvement
The resident will develop deep relationships within the community. The resident will create a program or event to encourage community involvement and bring people together.
Manual Treatment Training
Every quarter RPI holds an in-service. During this time, clinicians learn new techniques, refine old ones, and practice with the feedback of others. These sessions are lead by Shelly Tyler (Fellow in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy) and John Mark Tyler (Chiropractor).
Customized Learning Tracks
We recognize that every resident is an individual and may have different goals in addition to completing an orthopaedic residency. We work with the resident to prepare customized learning opportunities where necessary. Our goal is for residents to meet their goals.
Highlights of this program include:
- Direct 1:1 clinical mentoring with physical therapists, and additional health care providers in the community
- One-on-one patient care time with no overlap in care between patients to allow you to fully invest in the person right in front of you
- Leadership training to prepare you to excel in the clinic for a clinical and business perspective
- A supportive team atmosphere that is passionate about our communities and our profession
- Compensation (including benefits) for non-mentored hours of patient care
- Weekly participation as a lab instructor in University of Evansville’s advanced orthopaedic and elective movement systems courses in the physical therapy program
- Evidence-based practice
- Discussions facilitated in small group “think tank” discussions, in-services, five weekend intensives, and didactic coursework
- Investment in the community around us through community screens, events, and classes
- Opportunities to participate in ongoing research projects at the University of Evansville, as well as institute your own case study or project independently with the assistance of highly experienced researchers
- Preparation for the OCS exam
Program Faculty
Kate Schwartzkopf
DPT, OCS, CSCS- Physical Therapist, Head of Research, Teaching Faculty, Residency Mentor
Tanea St. Ledger
DPT, COMT, OCS, CIRS- Physical Therapist, Clinic Director, Program Coordinator
Kendall Sweeney
DPT, OCS – Residency Faculty and Residency Clinic Mentor, Physical Therapist
Andrew Patton
DPT, OCS – Residency Faculty and Residency Clinic Mentor, Physical Therapist
Skylar Walden Smith
DPT – Residency Faculty and Residency Clinic Mentor, Physical Therapist
Discussion Topics
- Injury Prevention- Functional Movement Screening (FMS) and Y-Balance Testing
- Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA
- Wellness and exercise prescription
- Manual therapy techniques with clinical reasoning for regional interdependence
- Leadership skills
- Patient interaction skills
- Evidence-based practice
- Differential diagnosis
- Critical reasoning skills
- Vestibular rehabilitation in conjunction with oculomotor systems, TMD, and cervical spine
- Pain science and education
- Physical examination
Topics By Region
- Shoulder
- Knee
- Foot and Ankle
- Elbow, Hand, and Wrist
- Sacroiliac Joint and Hip
- Lumbo-pelvic region
- Thoracic Spine and ribs
- Cervical Spine
- Temporomandibular Joint
Discussion Topics
- Injury Prevention- Functional Movement Screening (FMS) and Y-Balance Testing
- Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA
- Wellness and exercise prescription
- Manual therapy techniques with clinical reasoning for regional interdependence
- Leadership skills
- Patient interaction skills
- Evidence-based practice
- Differential diagnosis
- Critical reasoning skills
- Vestibular rehabilitation in conjunction with oculomotor systems, TMD, and cervical spine
- Pain science and education
- Physical examination
Topics By Region
- Shoulder
- Knee
- Foot and Ankle
- Elbow, Hand, and Wrist
- Sacroiliac Joint and Hip
- Lumbo-pelvic region
- Thoracic Spine and ribs
- Cervical Spine
- Temporomandibular Joint
Program Vision and Mission
We believe that through the experiential residency training model, we can develop and cultivate professionals who are deeply rooted in continued clinical excellence, and who thrive in the profession through leadership and research.
At RPI, we provide a model that emphasizes patient-centered care and compassion through one-on-one treatment sessions with a client throughout the course of their care. This allows for an environment in which the complex orthopaedic patient can thrive and the provider can make appropriate, clinical decisions that are in the patient’s best interest in a sound learning environment.
By investing our time in growing the clinician in their individual treatment style while melding evidence-based practice with functional movement systems and manual therapy, we feel we are impacting the provider and the communities in which we live and work.
At RPI, we value interprofessional communication and interdisciplinary treatment approaches to find the best whole-person treatment for the client in front of us. We provide structured wellness experientials and opportunities to gain a greater appreciation for other conservative disciplines.
Working With The University of Evansville
We believe that residency training is a stepping stone in one’s professional development over the course of their lifetime. It inspires the individual to continue to learn, step up into leadership positions, and continue growing our body of knowledge as physical therapists. Our academic partner, The University of Evansville, has many scholarly resources and houses a state-of-the-art movement analysis laboratory where the resident has the access and freedom to develop new research ideas. There are also opportunities to participate in the classroom setting with DPT students and develop as educators.
Additionally. we participate in the Residency/Fellowship Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS). Please refer to RF-PTCAS for exact dates and timelines regarding our upcoming residency cycle. For more information on Residency Programs and the application process, please visit this site or e-mail Program Director, Jenna Gourlay, at jgourlay@rehabilitationperformance.com for more information.