By Christopher Rangel, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, COMT, and Michael Brainerd, PT, DPT, OCS
Since its inception and accreditation in 2019, the Holy Cross Health Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program has been paving the way for the next generation of physical therapists. So far, seven residents have completed the program and two more are currently enrolled in the 13-month curriculum.
Christopher Rangel
To improve their clinical reasoning, manual interventions and patient outcomes, residents receive weekly structured one-on-one mentorship from experienced, board-certified clinicians who are fellowship trained. Additionally, residents participate in weekly didactic and clinical education activities in accordance with the most current edition of the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) Description of Residency Practice: Orthopedics. The curriculum is separated into units including exercise prescription, differential diagnosis, evidence-based practice, upper extremity, lower extremity, lumbosacral, cervicothoracic, musculoskeletal imaging and more.
By providing students with hands-on practical experience with patients, the residency program assists in preparing enrollees for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) examination, which is necessary to become a board certified orthopedic physical therapist. Five residents who graduated from the Holy Cross Health program have already passed, with one having a dual specialization in sports and orthopedics. The board has found that students who complete a residency program have a higher passing rate than students who don’t pursue a residency.
Michael Brainerd
With a focus on even more success stories in 2023 and beyond, Oron Fiksel, a new Fellow, and Doctor of Physical Therapy at the Lillian S. Wells Foundation Institute of Sports Performance and Orthopedic Therapy (iSPORT) at Holy Cross Health, South Florida’s premier state-of-the-art sports medicine program providing evidence-based education, training and management, has joined the residency program. Fiksel is also working toward earning his Doctor of Science. He will join the residency program as one of the lead faculty and will assist in leading future residents in acquiring knowledge in orthopedic manual therapy, dry needling, pain science and advanced exercise interventions among other specialties.
Holy Cross Health is laying the foundation to encourage residents to be lifelong learners and educators and to contribute to and analyze literature about the field. Four of the therapists who graduated from the residency program are now faculty for the program, giving back to those who are following in their footsteps.
Longevity and success in the field of physical therapy entails more than practical knowledge of patient recovery. Therapists also must be compassionate, supportive and empathic as they interact with patients through their treatments. The faculty relays to residents how to navigate the complexities of the relationship between therapists and patients.
Qualified candidates must obtain a physical therapy license from the State of Florida and have graduated from a physical therapy program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) prior to beginning the residency. The Holy Cross Health Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program is due for re-accreditation from ABPTRFE in 2024.
In addition to physical therapy, Holy Cross also offers residency programs for internal medicine, nursing and pharmacy.
Christopher Rangel is Interim Program Director, Holy Cross Health Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program, and Michael Brainerd, is Curriculum Coordinator.
