Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program

About the Sports PT Residency Program
Residents will work full time in the Athletic Training Room at the University of Cincinnati.  There are 17 varsity level sports, and the Resident will have the ability to work with all UC athletes.  The Resident will have between 25-30 hours per week of independent clinical care and will have many additional learning opportunities.
   
Clinical Affiliation and Sports Coverage

• Clincial Site: NovaCare Rehabilitation, University of Cincinnati
• Sports Coverage
  • June - End of Season: University of Cincinnati Football
  • Janaury - Graduation: Single or multiple University of Cincinnati sports as requested by the Resident + offseason football
• Patient Population
  • University of Cincinnati Division I Athletes (community patients as needed to compliment the clinical learning experience)

Program Mission and Vision

• Mission
  • To connect as one team to offer an evidence-based, high quality residency education that exposes residents to an elite athlete population in order to enhance their knowledge, improve their ability to direct patient care and promote healing and recovery form sports injury, enhance resident clinical reasoning, and impact the practice of sports medicine.
• Vision
  • Our vision is to create a program that develops elite-level clinicians who immediately and consistently contribute to and influence the field of Sports Medicine

Our residency curriculum involves 5-8 hours per week of in-person and online lectures. Addressing such topics as:

• Environmental issues and acute medical emergencies
• Diagnosis and management of each region of the body
• Concussion assessment and management
• Return to sport testing
• Special populations and medical considerations

Additional training will include:

• 2-5 hours per week of scheduled structured mentoring sessions with a Sports Physical Therapist
• 1-5 hours per week of unscheduled mentoring provided by other members of the University of Cincinnati Sports Medicine team
• Participation in multiple monthly calls including Residency Grand Rounds, Sports Medicine Journal Club, and Ask the Expert calls with world-renowned sports medicine Clinicians.
• Emergency and acute management training from experienced Athletic Trainers, Sports Medicine and Team Physicians, Emergency Physicians, and Emergency Medical Technicians
• 400+ hours of coverage of practices and games for Division I athletes.

The Resident will also have the responsibility of being a teaching assistant in the University of Cincinnati entry-level DPT program course on management of musculoskeletal conditions.

• The resident will be involved in the DPT lower extremity musculoskeletal module including hip, knee, ankle, return to sport, post-operative care, and special topics. Responsibilities include being a teaching assistant every class, proctoring practical exams, and delivering a lecture or two on sports medicine related topics. The resident will work alongside other local sports and orthopedic residents in this role.

Mentorship
Our mentorship model is designed to guide a beginner clinician through a dynamic learning experience utilizing three distinct phases of interactions.

• Phase 1 – Advanced Beginner
  • During this time, we focus the mentorship process on gathering data points through experience acquisition, growing factual base supported by evidence-based methods, and hypothesis development and testing. Majority of sessions are mentor led.
• Phase 2 – Intermediate Learning
  • The intermediate phase is focused on developing pattern recognition and forward reasoning. Pattern recognition is emphasized and developed by relating mentorship sessions and questions on previous experiences. Mentorship session lead clinician is split between mentor and mentee.
• Phase 3 – Expert Learning
  • The expert phase of mentorship solidifies pattern recognition and aims to refine the ability for the resident to reflect on prior experiences, recognize contributing factors, and relate diagnostic and treatment successes and failures. Majority of sessions are mentee led.

Primary Faculty Mentors:

• Bob Mangine MEd, PT, ATC – Senior Associate AD, Sports Medicine; Men's Basketball and Men's Golf Athletic Trainer
• Jim Tersak PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS – Director of Rehabilitation
• Aaron Himmler, MS, ATC – Senior Associate AD, Sports Medicine; Head Football Athletic Trainer

Sample weekly schedule for sports PT residents



Outcomes
 

Program Established 2019
Graduation Rate (6/6)	100%
SCS Pass Rate (4/4)	100%

Core faculty:

• Bob Mangine, MEd, PT, ATC
  • Senior Associate AD / Sports Medicine, Head Men's Basketball and Men's Golf Athletic Trainer
• Brad Pike, PT, ATC
  • Chief of Staff, Athletics Healthcare Administrator
• Jim Tersak, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
  • Director of Rehabilitation
• Aaron Himmler, MS, ATC
  • Senior Associate AD, Sports Medicine
• Marsha Eifert-Mangine, EdD, PT, ATC
  • Emeritus Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Mount St. Joseph University
  • Director of Biomechanics, University of Cincinnati
• Amber Boyd, PT, DPT, DHSc, SCS, CSCS
  • Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
  • Director of Clinical Education, Department of Physical Therapy
• Brian Grawe, MD
  • Professor of Orthopedics, Director of Division of Sports Medicine
  • Team Physician, Cincinnati Athletics
• Jon Divine, MD
  • Professor, Department of Sports Medicine, University of Cincinnati
  • Team Physician Athletics, University of Cincinnati
• Michael Donaworth, MD
  • Associate Professor, Orthopedic Surgery
  • Team Physician, Cincinnati Athletics
• Thomas Palmer, PhD, ATC, CSCS, TSAC
  • Associate Professor, Exercise Science and Integrative Health, Mount St. Joseph University

Eligibility

• Be a graduate of a CAPTE accredited physical therapy program
• Be eligible for licensure as a physical therapist in the state of Ohio
• Possess one of the following prior to starting the program
  • Current ATC designation
  • Current license as an EMT
  • Certification as an Emergency Responder or APTA approved equivalent (Cogent Steps ERA certification fulfills this requirement)

Benefits

• The Resident will be a full time employee of NovaCare Rehabilitation and be entitled to all benefits associated with employment
  • Salary consistent with 60% of a full clinic schedule
  • Comprehensive health insurance including basic dental and vision
  • 401K Matching
  • 10 days of paid time off per year as well as 6 holidays
  • Visit https://careers.selectmedical.com/benefits for more information

Application Process, Dates, and Contacts

• Deadline to apply: December 1
  • The Program is currently utilizing the RF-PTCAS
  • Applicant requirements
    • Completed application
    • Pay the Application Fee
    • Career statement
    • 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Interviews for qualified applicants: Mid-January through mid-February
• Offer extended on the first Monday in March
• Start date: June
• To learn more, contact Jim Tersak, tersakjs@ucmail.uc.edu, to schedule a phone call or meeting

Program Graduates

• Kody Krupps (2020): ROI Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, Owner 
• Jim Tersak (2021): Director of Rehabilitation, Cincinnati
• Bolton Payton (2022): Director of Rehabilitation, Rutgers Football
• Zach Eenhuis (2023): Twin Cities Orthopedics, Sports Physical Therapist, Bethel University
• Mike Ainbinder (2024): Director of Rehabilitation, Georgia Tech 
• Jacob Villanueva: 2024, Director of Rehabilitation, Baylor Football