Program Overview

Introduction to the University of Central Florida's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, which includes a Sports Residency program. This program enables physical therapists to advance their knowledge and develop clinical skills in outpatient-based sports and orthopedic rehabilitation.

Program Overview

The UCF and Orlando Health (OH) Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program is designed to prepare residents in the advanced practice of sports physical therapy as clinical specialists committed to optimizing patient care and improving the quality of life of athletes in the community. Residents are mentored by highly specialized and recognized clinical and didactic faculty within the realm of sports rehabilitation.

Program Goals

The program has the following goals:

1. Strengthen the healthcare community by creating a positive experience and providing highly effective care for patients with sports-based injuries and diagnoses.
2. Train highly qualified clinicians ready to achieve board certification in sports physical therapy.
3. Advance sports physical therapy practice by developing residents who integrate evidence-based practice and demonstrate strong foundational knowledge and clinical decision-making skills.
4. Promote inclusiveness and foster involvement in the community by providing residents with the skills needed to become a resource for patients.
5. Demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning by preparing residents to become competent educators and mentors for patients, colleagues, and physical therapy students.

Program Objectives

The program objectives include:

• Delivering education and training using recommended outcome measures and evidence-based interventions in patient-client management of adults with sports-based injuries and diagnoses.
• Improving the quality of care of individuals with sports-based injuries and diagnoses by utilizing outcome measures and evidence-based interventions.
• Acknowledging all aspects of the APTA Sports Physical Therapy's Description of Specialty Practice in the program's curriculum.

Program Highlights

The program is a 12-month residency that includes:

• Earned salary with full benefits as a variable full-time employee of Orlando Health.
• Enrollment as a student within the UCF Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
• A 100% graduation/completion rate.
• Past residents have gone on to work with organizations such as the LPGA and PGA, NY Red Bulls, St. Louis FC, and High Point University.

Clinical Experience

Residents gain clinical experience through:

• Clinic hours conducted at the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Downtown Complex.
• A patient caseload combined of sports and orthopedic patients from pediatric to geriatric.
• Working hand-in-hand with a sports therapy team consisting of multiple clinical mentors.
• Weekly one-on-one formal mentoring with an assigned mentor.

Sports Venue Experience

Residents participate in assigned rotations with:

• MLS Orlando City Soccer Club Academy and B-Team.
• NWSL Orlando Pride.
• The Orlando Ballet.
• On-site with allocated physical therapists at UCF who are treating student athletes.

Didactic Experience

The didactic portion of the residency includes:

• Three semesters of coursework at UCF.
• Regularly scheduled in-person lectures and monthly sports-based modules on special topics presented by subject matter experts.
• Enrollment for a total of two credit hours per semester.
• A curriculum based on the Description of Residency Practice (DRP) and Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) in Sports Physical Therapy.

Patient and Client Management

The program includes three semesters of coursework related to patient and client management, taught by UCF DPT residency program faculty members who are nationally recognized experts in sports physical therapy.

Research

Residents are expected to complete a relevant and appropriate research capstone project at the end of the residency program, working with a research advisor and subject matter expert.

Teaching

Residents have the opportunity to participate in teaching basic and advanced therapeutic exercise, orthopedic skills, and sports physical therapy courses in the UCF DPT program.

Professional Service and Community Engagement

Residents are encouraged to present at state-level presentations, be active in professional organizations, and perform community service.

Application

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

• Be a graduate of an APTA-accredited program in physical therapy.
• Hold a license in physical therapy in the state of Florida by the start of the program.
• Have one of the following designations for emergency response: certified athletic trainer, certified emergency responder, or licensed emergency medical technician.

Resident Selection

A Residency Admissions Committee (RAC) selects residents based on recognized criteria, including an interview with the RAC.

Faculty and Staff

The sports residency faculty includes expert physical therapists with various advanced certifications within sports and orthopedics, as well as certified athletic trainers and certified strength and conditioning coaches.