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Neurological Physical Therapy

    Neurology & PT Residency

    Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy

    Mission

    The mission of the Rochester Regional Health Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy program is to mentor the professional development and advanced clinical training of neurologic physical therapists. Residents will exemplify the core values of physical therapy professionalism and may capably contribute to the field of neurorehabilitation through leadership and skill as practitioners, educators, and clinical scholars who understand, value, and practice guided by current evidence.

    Program Overview

    This twelve-month program combines experiential clinical practice with advanced foundational knowledge and skill-based instruction. This full-time residency experience includes part-time employment for 26 patient care hours per week to provide physical therapy services to adult and pediatric individuals treated through the CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited inpatient and outpatient neurorehabilitation programs of Rochester Regional Health. Residents are also required to work one weekend day per month at an enhanced weekend pay rate. Residents receive a minimum of 150 hours of 1:1 clinical mentoring and 300 didactic and instructional hours in the classroom, laboratory, and webinar-based settings. The program provides a sufficient and appropriate patient population to address all components of the Description of Residency Practice (DRP) for neurologic physical therapy, and is guided by physical therapists with clinical expertise in neurorehabilitation. The program also provides residents observational and participation opportunities in neuroradiology rounds, Comprehensive Concussion Program, Neuromuscular Disease Clinic, Movement Disorders Clinic and Parkinson's Disease Clinic. This program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellow Education (ABPTRFE), the accreditation body for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for post-professional residency and fellowship programs in physical therapy.

    In addition to the didactic instruction and clinical modules delivered by the residency program faculty, residents also participate in the Neurologic Physical Therapy Professional Education Consortium. Residents are responsible for the tuition cost for the webinar and journal club portions of the Consortium, which is $1,300. There are no other required tuition costs for the residency program. However, residents may elect to participate in the Consortium’s onsite modules in Los Angeles, CA. All costs associated with participation in these modules, including tuition, housing, and transportation, will be borne by the resident. Visit www.ptneuroconsortium.org for additional information.

    Program outcomes include: 8/9 program participants have successfully graduated from The Rochester Regional Health Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy. The program demonstrates a 100% first-time pass rate for program graduates who have sat for the NCS exam.

    Resident Goals

    Typical Schedule

    Application Details

    The program utilizes the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS) as the sole admission process for application to the program. Please visit rfptcas.liaisoncas.com to apply.

    Application deadline: January 15, 2025
    Internal application review: January – February 2025
    Applicant interviews: February – March 2025
    Final selection and notification: Completed by March 15, 2025
    Program start date: September 15, 2025
    Maximum number of positions per year: 1

    Admission criteria: Applicants must be a legal resident of the United States, be a graduate of an accredited physical therapy program, and hold a current license to practice physical therapy in the state of NY by the start date of the residency. A NY state limited permit does not satisfy this licensure requirement.

    ABPTRFE Financial Fact Sheet

    Resident Testimonials

    “I am very grateful for my experience in the Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program. The neurologic population is rewarding to work with, but can be challenging, especially as a new graduate. The support and mentorship I received in this residency accelerated my growth as a clinician, helping me to approach these challenges head on. As the sole resident, the program was tailored to my individual needs and interests, allowing the faculty to meet me where I was initially and from there, develop my knowledge and skills. The mixture of clinical, didactic, and mentorship experiences was very beneficial for my learning, and I believe these prepared me well for the NCS Exam. The multi-mentor model is a unique aspect of this program that I found to be extremely valuable, as each of the mentors have different perspectives and treatment styles from which I was able to learn and integrate into my own identity as a physical therapist. These factors set this residency program apart from others, and together they have helped me grow in my clinical reasoning, hands-on skills, and overall confidence as a clinician. I am proud of what I accomplished during my residency, and I am thankful to have joined this team full time after completing the program. I would strongly recommend this residency to anyone who is eager to enhance their clinical practice within the neurologic population.”

    Margaret Beiter, PT, DPT, NCS
    Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident 2021-2022
     
    "After a comprehensive search, it was an easy decision to apply for Rochester Regional Health’s Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy. Not only have they assembled a team of expert clinicians with extensive experience working with this complex population, but they also possess a unique sense of patient care and the everyday drive to go above and beyond for their patients and residents. As the one and only resident within a multi-mentor model, I had the opportunity to learn from a variety of clinical approaches, learn from a variety of mentor passions and experiences, and be able to approach my patient caseload with the guidance of a comprehensive perspective. I had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of neurologic patients across the acute care, acute rehab, and outpatient settings. This residency has set me up for success in working with this beautifully challenging population along with many other diagnoses across a wide variety of settings. I am a proud and thankful graduate of the Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Residency program and highly recommend this experience to any clinician with a passion for neurologic PT!"
     
    Angela Di Francesco, PT, DPT, NCS
    Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident 2019-2020
     
    "I was fortunate to have been accepted to the neurologic physical therapy residency at Rochester Regional Health and am so grateful that I had this opportunity. I had dedicated mentors who were willing to share their expert knowledge and training with me, whether this was through formal mentored treatment sessions, informal discussions, or time set aside after treating hours to practice skills in the clinic. This was invaluable to me as a new graduate and I believe it truly set me up for success post-completion of the residency. Rochester Regional Health stands out from other residency programs due to its mission to truly make the resident a better clinician. The residency prepared me to feel very confident in taking on a full-time position in outpatient neurologic physical therapy upon completion as well as sitting for (and passing!) the NCS exam. The residency at Rochester Regional Health has undoubtedly enhanced my professional career, made me a more skilled clinician, and exposed me to opportunities that I most likely would not have had the chance to experience otherwise."
     
    Taylor Drake, PT, DPT, NCS, CSRS
    Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident 2017-2018

    Contact Information

    For more information, please contact

    Jason Frank, PT, DPT, NCS, C/NDT, CSRS, CEEAA, CBIS
    Program Co-Director
    jason.frank01@rochesterregional.org
    (585) 723-7507

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