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.
Graduates of the residency program are prepared to sit for the Orthopaedic Specialty Examination at the completion of the program.
Highlights of this program include:
- Direct 1:1 clinical mentoring with physical therapists, chiropractors, 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
- 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
Shelly Tyler
DPT, COMT, OCS, FAAOMPT- Physical Therapist, Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer, Residency Program Director
Shelly, a native of Owensboro, graduated from University of Evansville in 2010 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT). Following graduation, she has completed her Certificate of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (COMT) through the Ola Grimsby Institute and obtained her Orthopaedic Certified Specialist (OCS) board certification in 2013. In 2016, Shelly graduated from Regis University as Owensboro’s first and only Fellow of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy.
Shelly is certified in Level 1 and 2 Functional Dry Needling, Functional Movement Systems, the Selective Functional Movement Assessment, and Y-balance Testing. She is a credentialed clinical instructor through the APTA and teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Evansville.
Shelly is married to Dr. John Mark Tyler, and they have two boys, Grayson and Paxton, and one girl, Abbi Grace. They love their local church and the Owensboro community. Her interests include: playing the violin, yoga, participating in triathlons, snow skiing, painting, and spending time with her family.
Tanea St. Ledger
DPT, COMT, OCS, CIRS- Physical Therapist, Clinic Director, Program Coordinator
Tanea, a native of Albion, IL, graduated from University of Evansville in 2008 with her Bachelors in Exercise Science and in 2011 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from University of Evansville. She completed her Certificate of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (COMT) through the Ola Grimsby Institute in 2014 and obtained her Orthopaedic Certified Specialist (OCS) board certification in 2014. She also completed training to become a Certified Industrial Rehabilitation Specialist (CIRS) in 2015.
Tanea is certified in Level 1 and 2 Functional Dry Needling, Selective Functional Movement Assessment, and Y-balance Testing. She is also a credentialed clinical instructor through the APTA. She also enjoys treating individuals with vestibular dysfunction and athletic injuries.
Tanea is married to Edwards County States Attorney, Eric St Ledger, who is also an Albion native. They have four horses which are often treated as children. In her spare time, Tanea enjoys horseback riding, waterskiing/wakeboarding, snow skiing, camping, running and spending time with friends.
Kate Schwartzkopf-Phifer
DPT, OCS, CSCS- Physical Therapist, Head of Research, Teaching Faculty, Residency Mentor
Kate, a native of Sesser, IL, is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Evansville. She received her Bachelor and Master of Physical Therapy degrees from the University of Evansville and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Regis University in Denver, CO. She completed an orthopedic residency and is a board certified clinical specialist in orthopedics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She is currently working on a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Kentucky, with a focus on injury prevention in athletes.
Kate has additional certifications in the Functional Movement Screen, Hardstyle Kettlebell, Functional Dry Needling and strength and conditioning. She loves working with athletes that are preparing for an upcoming event or season, or struggling with chronic injuries.
In her free time, Kate enjoys spending time with her family. She enjoys staying active and is an avid supporter of Purple Aces athletics.
Craig Phifer
MPT, MHA – Physical Therapist, President, CEO, Teaching Faculty
Craig was born and raised in Staunton, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Evansville with his Masters in Physical Therapy in 2007 and from the University of Southern Indiana in 2010 with his Masters in Health Administration. While at UE, Craig also played collegiate basketball.
Craig is certified in Level 1 and 2 Functional Dry Needling, the Y-balance test, Functional Movement Screen, and the Selective Functional Movement Assessment. Craig is also an adjunct professor for the University of Evansville Physical Therapy program.
Craig believes that far too many people are living in pain when they don’t have to be, and that therapy is the answer for many.
Craig is married to a physical therapist, Kate, who is a faculty member in the University of Evansville Physical Therapy program. They have three children, Calvin, Zoe, and Eric. He enjoys running, training for triathlons, reading, and hanging out with his family.
John Mark Tyler
DC- Chiropractor, Personal Trainer, Clinic Director, Teaching Faculty
John Mark was born in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2003, he found his way to the University of Evansville where he pursued his college soccer career and undergraduate degree. In 2011, John Mark then graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, MO.
John Mark has a passion for sports performance and family wellness. He enjoys being able to incorporate therapeutic exercise and nutritional counseling into his treatment sessions with patients. John Mark is Graston Level 1 Certified, Level 1 Certified in Functional Dry Needling, is a Certified Personal Trainer by the NCCA, and is a Certified Level 1 Crossfit Coach.
He enjoys staying active, snow skiing, teaching fitness classes, and being with his family. He is married to Shelly Tyler. They are able to combine their passions into one organization and make an impact on the Owensboro community.
Morgan Weinzapfel
DPT- Physical Therapist, Teaching Faculty
Morgan, a native of Milltown, IN, graduated from the University of Evansville with a Bachelors degree in Exercise and Sports Science in 2012 and with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2015.
She would like patients to feel that our team cares about them and treats them like family. She feels that each experience a patient has with us should be positive and rewarding.
Morgan works at the Mt. Vernon, IN office and provides detailed running analysis for patients and incorporates various techniques for running correctives.
She enjoys eating all variations of food, visiting friends and family, and traveling and vacationing to South Carolina.
She has a fur baby named Ryder. He is a shepherd-shar pei mix who loves sleeping and treats almost as much as she does.
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
Residency instruction may also take place on select weekends.
Lab assistant time will be additional as well with the University of Evansville.
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.
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.
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.
For more information on Residency Programs and the application process, please visit this site or e-mail Program Director, Shelly Tyler, at styler@rehabilitationperformance.com for more information.
Application Deadline: January 5, 2020
We participate in the Residency/Fellowship Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS)
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.