Orthopaedic Residency
Mission
The mission of the Mountain Land Physical Therapy Partners Orthopedic Residency is to provide practicing clinicians advanced orthopedic didactic and clinical instruction to further develop highly skilled clinicians who provide exceptional, evidence-based, patient-centered care and to help position them to be future leaders within the company and the profession.
Brief Program Overview
The Mountain Land Physical Therapy Partners Orthopedic Residency is a 12 month program, beginning in August, consisting of both didactic and clinical instruction, 1-on-1 mentorship, specialty practice observations, introductory training in diagnostic procedures such as musculoskeletal ultrasound, research opportunities, and leadership training. At this time we have capacity for 1 resident, but have plans to expand the residency to accommodate multiple residents in the coming years. Our program is currently offered in the Salt Lake Valley at our affiliate site, RPT Cottonwood Heights.
Program Format
Program Length (in months)
Full-time
12 months
Criteria
Hours
Total Program Hours
2080
Total Education Hours
416 (8 hrs. per week)
Total Patient Care Hours
1664 (32 hrs. per week)
Total Mentoring Hours
156 (3 hrs. per week)
In-Depth Program Overview
The orthopedic physical therapy residency program is designed to seamlessly integrate didactic instruction, focused clinical practice, research, and scientific inquiry, enabling residents to deliver evidence-based, high-quality care that improves patient outcomes. The curriculum achieves this integration in the following ways:
- Didactic Instruction
- Structured Educational Sessions: Residents participate in lectures, case studies, literature analysis, and lab instruction that align with the Description of Residency Practice (DRP) and focus on advanced clinical reasoning, pathology-specific interventions, and emerging practices.
- Evidence-Based Learning: Emphasis is placed on critically appraising and applying the latest research to clinical practice, ensuring that residents are equipped to implement current best practices.
- Interdisciplinary Perspectives: Guest lectures and collaborations with other healthcare professionals, such as radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, and pain specialists through monthly in-services and grand rounds, enrich the didactic experience.
- Focused Clinical Practice
- Mentored Patient Care: Residents work under the guidance of an experienced mentor to refine their clinical skills in real-world, clinical settings, focusing on the application of didactic knowledge to manage diverse patient populations.
- Specialty Rotations: Opportunities to rotate through specialty orthopedic clinics provide exposure to less commonly seen conditions, and advanced diagnostic tools, such as musculoskeletal ultrasound, enhancing clinical versatility.
- Competency Development: The program emphasizes mastery in areas such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and patient education, with an aim to optimize functional outcomes and quality of life.
- Research and Scientific Inquiry
- Research Integration: Residents engage in research projects or clinical inquiries to investigate questions relevant to orthopedic practice. This fosters a culture of curiosity and innovation while addressing clinical gaps.
- Critical Appraisal: Regular participation in journal clubs and literature review processes helps residents develop the skills to critically evaluate scientific literature and apply findings to improve patient care.
- Presentation and Dissemination: Residents are encouraged to present their research or quality improvement projects at conferences or through publications, contributing to the advancement of the profession.
- Patient-Centered Care and Outcome Improvement
- Individualized Treatment Plans: The integration of didactic instruction and focused practice ensures that residents develop the ability to tailor interventions to individual patient needs, leveraging evidence-based strategies for optimal outcomes.
- Outcome Tracking: Residents learn to measure and analyze patient outcomes using standardized tools and metrics, incorporating this data into continuous quality improvement efforts.
- Clinical Decision-Making: The program emphasizes advanced clinical reasoning, enabling residents to make informed decisions that balance research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences.
- Continuous Integration and Reflection
- Case Presentations: Regular case presentations allow residents to reflect on patient outcomes, discuss challenges, and incorporate feedback from peers and mentors into future care.
- Feedback Loop: Residents receive ongoing mentorship and performance evaluations, which include assessments of their ability to integrate didactic knowledge, clinical skills, and research findings effectively.
- Lifelong Learning: The program instills a commitment to continuous professional development, preparing residents to evolve with the evidence and maintain high standards of patient care.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for the Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency, the following minimal requirements must be met before starting the program and be maintained throughout the residency year.
- Have current licensure as a physical therapist by the Utah Board of Physical Therapy or anticipated licensure upon graduation from an accredited physical therapy program in the application year.
- Comply with Mountain Land Partners’ general employment requirements, which may include a criminal background check and pre- and post-employment drug screening.
- Can meet the physical demands of a Physical Therapist
- Be a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and an Orthopedic Academy member
- Other requirements include:
- 2-3 Letters of recommendation. If this is the applicant’s first employment since graduation, one reference must be from a PT who taught the applicant in an academic setting and one must be from a PT where the applicant was a student.
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Official Transcripts.
Application and associated documents to be submitted to Mountain Land Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@mlpt.com
Program Outcomes
This physical therapy residency program is currently seeking accreditation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTRFE) and is not yet considered an accredited program. Individuals enrolling in this program should be aware that the program’s curriculum and structure may be subject to change as we work towards achieving accreditation status. No representation is made that completion of this program guarantees eligibility for board certification or any specific employment opportunities. Program data, including residency completion and OCS passing rates, will be published by June of 2027.
Additional Information
For additional information, please contact Residency Director, Chase Pendley DPT, OCS at chase.pendley@mlpt.com or at 385-900-5094
