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Orthopaedic Residency Program

About This Program

The mission of TAI's Orthopaedic Residency Program is to provide high quality educational training to facilitate the development of superior orthopaedic and progressive clinical management skills for the sake of creating practitioners who better serve the company, our patients and clients, and the profession of physical therapy. This program is offered exclusively to TAI employees. It is ideal for new grads.

What makes this program unique

  • Our orthopaedic residency program shines in its aim to prepare the resident for private practice and orthopaedic manual therapy fellowship
  • The program includes Level 1 of the TAI's unprecedented Leadership Development Training Program
  • North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT) course work is an important part of this residency program. A portion of the mentorship experience is provided by NAIOMT faculty and fellows of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (AAOMPT)
  • The program capitalizes on the rich resources of Therapeutic Associates’ 55 years of private practice experience. This includes being able to tap into the wealth of information of Therapeutic Associates’ CareConnections product line

Program Goals

  1. Support the mission of Therapeutic Associates by providing an organized educational opportunity that facilitates excellence in orthopaedic physical therapy.
  2. Provide an educational curriculum that meets and exceeds the standards set by the American Physical Therapy Association.
  3. Provide curriculum consistent with the Description of Advance Clinical Practice in orthopaedic physical therapy practice so that residents will be prepared to sit for the OCS exam.
  4. Provide mentorship consistent with NAIOMT standards as a way to prepare residents for eventual OMT fellowship.
  5. Offer a program that is financially accessible to residents and is self funded.
  6. Offer a program that is flexible in its curriculum to allow for individual orthopaedic interest.
  7. Offer a program that advances physical therapists to better serve their communities as primary care providers

Curriculum Outline

  • Didactic (240 hrs)
    • NAIOMT levels 1-2
    • TAI Leadership Develoment Training Program
    • Clinical practice, research, imaging, other
  • Mentorship experience (150 1:1 hrs)
  • Direct patient care (1500 hrs)
  • Independent study (150 hrs)
    • Clinical project, lead TAI Tuesdays, clinical reasoning reporting, etc

Faculty

  • David Deppeler, PT, OCS, FAAOMPT*
  • Chris Hoekstra, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT*
  • William Temes, PT, MS, OCS, FAAOMPT*
  • Gale Anderson, MSPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
  • Stephen Anderson, PT, CEO*
  • Steve Allen, PT, OCS, FAAOMPT
  • Tim Brinker, PT, OCS, FAAOMPT
  • Jim Moore, PT, OCS, ATC, FAAOMPT
  • Karen Walz, PT, MA, OCS, FAAOMPT

Costs

This program is funded through a regular payroll deduction according to the projected costs of each individual’s residency plan. The projected program costs will be estimated prior to beginning the residency program. Program costs will remain relatively constant but other associated costs (travel, electives) may vary considerably. Residents are full time employees and are paid a competitive salary. Residents are eligible for full benefits.

Start Dates and Program Duration

There are two program entry dates per calendar year. Applications are due August 1 (for January entry) and February 1 (for July entry) of each year. The program duration can be 9-36 months depending on the resident's individual plan. Average duration is 22-24 months. Residents are employed by and provide care at any one of Therapeutic Associates, Inc.'s clinics.

Application and Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of the Program Director, the Assistant Director, and 1-2 clinical faculty.

Minimal eligibility requirements for acceptance into the program include:

  1. Valid physical therapy license in the state in which the clinic is located
  2. Employment with Therapeutic Associates and compliance with all TAI employment requirements

Desirable applicants include those who:

  1. Have an interest or experience in orthopaedic manual physical therapy
  2. Demonstrate leadership potential
  3. Have an interest in private practice
  4. Possess superior verbal and written communication skills
  5. Possess strong fundamentals in the principles of clinical reasoning and the application of manual examination and treatment procedures

Eligible candidates will be selected for an interview and evaluation of basic clinical competencies with one to three members of the selection committee.

Notification of applicant’s acceptance into the program will be made by October 15 and April 15 (respectively) of each year. If acceptance is denied, the candidate may appeal in writing within 10 days of receiving notice. This appeal will be reviewed by the initial committee within 10 days of receipt of the appeal.

Therapeutic Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, and disability or health status.

Download our brochure detailing our Orthopaedic Residency Program (PDF).

* Advisory committee

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