Orthopedic Residency Program Overview
Established in 1998, the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program at USC offers an intense and rigorous year of both clinical and classroom training in the art and science of orthopedic physical therapy practice. It is a one-year, university-based clinical residency program designed for physical therapists pursuing specialized post-professional clinical education and teaching experience. This program is designed to allow physical therapists to advance as a patient/client care provider in the area of clinical practice. By providing ongoing clinical supervision and mentoring by physical therapists and physicians, classroom and clinical instruction based on the best available evidence, opportunities to teach, and a foundation to excel, this program allows physical therapists to take their career to the next level.
The American Physical Therapy Association describes clinical residencies as follows:
A post-professional clinical residency is a planned program of post-professional clinical education. It is designed to advance the physical therapist resident's preparation as a provider of patient/client care services in a defined area of clinical practice. It also combines opportunities for ongoing clinical supervision/mentoring and feedback to the physical therapist resident, including practical examinations, with a foundation in scientific inquiry and course work.
The goal of post-professional clinical residency programs is to produce clinicians who demonstrate superior post-professional clinical skills, advanced knowledge in an area of clinical practice, and the ability to function as consultants, advocates, and educators of their peers and patients.
Why Should I Come to USC?
“The three reasons I would give to anyone considering this program are that first, this University offers a multi-factorial educational process including clinical practice, learning as a teaching assistant, doing rounds with orthopedic physicians, and seminars with specialists in different areas of medicine and physical therapy. Secondly, this program is unique because students have access to amazing faculty and an equally outstanding teaching facility. Finally, having the opportunities to meet and learn from outstanding members of the physical therapy profession and the opportunities to meet physical therapists in a collegial and learning environment sets USC apart.”
– Mike Andersen -- Orthopedic Physical Therapy Resident, Class of 2004