Orthopedic Residency Program

physical therapists assist a young athlete with exercise based treatment

Designed to train physical therapists in advanced orthopedic clinical care.

The most comprehensive and intensive clinical education program that Therapeutic Associates (TAI) offers is our Orthopedic Residency Program. Our mission is to deliver a high quality and sustainable Orthopedic Residency Program that facilitates the development of advanced learner providers with superior orthopedic clinical management skills. In service to society, individual consumers, and self, our Residents will experience professional fulfillment and will further distinguish our profession and our company. Our goal is to create practitioners who become Board Certified in Orthopedics and who obtain specialty certification in Manual Therapy (NAIOMT CMPT) to better serve our patients. Residents broadly gain orthopedic and manual therapy skills and may specifically focus on an area of clinical interest that directs projects and other work.  To date, 91% of our Residency graduates have become Board Certified in Orthopedics. The program is ideal for new grads or therapists earlier in their careers, but it is open to any TAI therapist at any point in their career. The structure of this program is best suited for the self-directed learner – i.e. Residents are provided with significant support but remain individually responsible for scheduling and attending courses and office hourscompleting project work, studying for examinations, tracking patient numbers, etc. Therapeutic Associates, Inc. is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association as a post-professional clinical Residency program for physical therapists in Orthopedics.

What makes our program unique:

Program outcomes

What our graduates have had to say ...

Information and selection

Costs

Residents are full time employees that are paid a competitive salary and eligible for full benefits. The total program cost for the resident is approximately $8,000, after clinic and TAI contributions. The resident is then eligible to receive repayment of those costs in the two years that follow the completion of the program (in addition to the current salary).

Start dates and program duration

Applications are due on October 1. The program is two years in length and residents must be employed by Therapeutic Associates.

Application and selection process

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee. Minimal eligibility requirements for acceptance into the program include:

  • Valid physical therapy license in the state in which the clinic is located
  • Employment with Therapeutic Associates and compliance with all company employment requirements
  • Desirable applicants include those who:
    • Have serious interest or experience in orthopaedic, manual physical therapy and private practice
    • Demonstrate leadership potential
    • Identify as self-directed and self-motivated learners
    • Possess strong fundamentals in the principles of clinical reasoning and the application of manual examination and treatment procedures (Note: completion of NAIOMT’s 500 level coursework is required prior to beginning the Residency Program*)

Eligible candidates will be selected for an interview and an evaluation of basic clinical competencies. Notification of an applicant’s acceptance into the program will be made by the end of each calendar year. Accepted residents officially start the program on January 1.

*We will work individually with resident candidates on this requirement to support successful completion.

Residency and Fellowship Financial Fact Sheet

For more information

To learn more about our Orthopaedic Residency Program, please contact our Residency Coordinator:

Dorothy Klemetson

Physical therapist stretching the leg of a patient
physical therapist and a patient

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PT Cohort

The PT Cohort is a year-long program that includes four sessions (one per quarter). Each session includes a day of learning and professional development along with social events in the evening after each session. 

The desired outcome of the PT Cohort is build connections with other PT and teammates, grow knowledge of the company, understand foundational clinical frameworks, learn about clinical growth opportunities, and feeling excited about the opportunity to align your role with your personal values.

Clinical Mentorship

We support therapists in building clinical practice skills such as differential diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. Mentorship also supports therapists in building a general professional skillset, including leading a team, schedule management, optimizing workflows, interprofessional relationship building and personal education plan development.

Our program offers a 1:1 mentorship with a fellowship trained certified mentor, scheduled study groups, and monthly office hours. 

Orthopedic Residency Program

The most comprehensive and intensive clinical education program that Therapeutic Associates (TAI) offers is our Orthopedic Residency Program. Our mission is to deliver a high quality and sustainable Orthopedic Residency Program that facilitates the development of advanced learner providers with superior orthopedic clinical management skills.

Our goal is to create practitioners who become Board Certified in Orthopedics and who obtain specialty certification in Manual Therapy (NAIOMT CMPT) to better serve our patients. Residents broadly gain orthopedic and manual therapy skills and may specifically focus on an area of clinical interest that directs projects and other work.

DE&I Bridging the Gap Scholarship

The TAI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship is an annual award offered to a minority who is currently attending or applying to a PT or PTA school and has been a TAI employee for at least 1 year, within the past 5 years.

The DE&I Bridging the Gap Scholarship will be awarded annually to 3 recipients in the amount of $1,500 per person.

Examples of a minority are but not limited to: Race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity/expression, religion, sexual preference, physical ability, age socioeconomic status, citizenship, weight, education, family or marital status.

Employee Service Scholarship

This Employee Service Scholarship Program is intended to support TAI teammates who engage in charitable service. TAI wants to support our teammates’ involvement in this work through financial investment, and to learn from and share these experiences as living practice of our core values.

James B. McKillip Scholarship

The James B. McKillip scholarship was established to support individuals pursuing a career in physical therapy and continue the growth of the profession. This scholarship seeks to honor Jim McKillip’s legacy and entrepreneurial heart by helping those looking to make a difference in the profession. 

The McKillip family wishes to continue his legacy through the Jim McKillip scholarship. This scholarship seeks to support students who aspire to dedicate their careers to helping others as a physical therapy professional. This scholarship is held annually, with up to 6 scholarships awarded in the amount of $2,500 per person.

Student Dept Benefit Program

For employees that are eligible for the Student Debt Program and complete the requirements necessary to participate, Therapeutic Associates, Inc. will make payments directly to the employee’s selected eligible loan service provider.

This monthly payment made by Therapeutic Associates, Inc., is an additional payment designed to help employees pay their loans off faster and save on interest; employees are expected to continue making the minimum required monthly payments to their loan service provider even if their monthly payments are less than the program monthly payment. 

Tuition Advancement Student Loan Reimbursement

TAI offers tuition advancement intended to supplement an employee’s existing financial support for professional development. The Pre-Professional Tuition Advancement Program is intended for existing employees pursuing a professional clinician pathway (DPT or PTA degree, most commonly).

Post-Professional Tuition Advancement

TAI is committed to helping our team members achieve personal mastery through educational endeavors (and otherwise). Specifically, we offer financial support for committed learning programs and examinations that align with our core culture and competencies.

The post-professional program is for existing employees embarking upon a learning endeavor that goes well beyond an annual con-ed stipend such as fellowship programs, MBA, and specialty certifications.

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