Residency
The University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Programs are closely mentored clinical experiences, with a combination of didactic and clinical components in sports and orthopedic physical therapy. Additionally, the University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program offers a Neurologic Physical Therapy residency in conjunction with The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Upon completion of residency training, the resident is prepared to successfully complete the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties exam in the respective specialty area. Residencies are dynamic learning experiences exposing the resident to various practice models both in and outside the University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinic providing residents with the most well-rounded clinical residency education possible.
The University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Programs are committed to developing competent physical therapy specialists via mentored clinical experiences with recognized clinical experts in their respective fields. The program is dedicated to providing interactions with health professionals in overlapping practice areas in the specialty field.
Residents observe physicians during patient office visits and surgical procedures and develop expert level evaluative and diagnostic skills. Residents are mentored in scholarly activities such as professional presentations and publications and have multiple opportunities instructing in the entry-level DPT program.
Orthopedic
Orthopedic Residency
General Information
- Program Length: 13.5 Months
- Salary: $48,000
- Benefits: Full time employee – with medical benefits
- Educational Hours Locations: On-site mentorship, off-site physician shadowing, and self study modules
- Maximum Number of Positions: 4 per year
- January start date, application deadline Aug 31 (only open to UDPT graduates)
- Mid-May start date, application deadline Dec 1 (open to all applicants)
- Teaching opportunities in the DPT program include assisting with Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment, Limb Loss Clinics, Rounds, and Spine Management
- The residency may also include mentoring in clinical supervision of DPT students (2:1 CI model)
Application Requirements
- APTA Membership
- Malpractice Insurance (you may purchase this after acceptance to program)
- References: 3 professional references, no personal references
- Strong orthopedic academic education and background
- Advanced verbal and written communication skills
- Strong work ethic and dedication to the advancement of the profession
- Organizational fortitude
Additional Information
Mentorship:
- 100% of mentors at UD PT are residency trained OCS and/or SCS certified clinicians
- >150 hours of mentored evaluation and treatment in the physical therapy clinic
- Biweekly mentored chart reviews
Patient care:
- 1500 hours of patient care in our Sports and Orthopedic Clinic
Outside experiences:
- Physician and surgical shadowing
- Orthopedic/Sport Journal Clubs and Orthopedic Case Rounds
- >300 educational hours
- Didactic clinical modules: Covering body regions, limb loss, and advanced special topics
- Teaching opportunities at UD DPT Orthopedic classes and clinical instructor training
Residency outcomes since 1995:
- Enrolled: 34
- Graduates: 30
- Resigned: 4
Pass rates for the American Board of Sports Physical Therapy Exam – Orthopedic (OCS)
- First Time Pass Rate: 93%
- Ultimate Pass Rate: 100%
Helpful Links
Contact Information
Director: Airelle Giordano PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
Email: aohunter@udel.edu
Program Coordinator: Jeffrey Miller, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
Email: jmiller@udel.edu
Sports
Sports Residency
General Information
- Program Length: 13.5 Months
- Salary: $48,000
- Benefits: Full time employee – with medical benefits
- Educational Hours Locations: On-site mentorship, off-site physician shadowing, and self study modules
- Maximum Number of Positions: 8 per year
- Sport Coverage Opportunities: 22 NCAA Division 1 Sports Teams including University of Delaware Football, Local Marathons, UD Club Sports, Local Highschool Athletics
- January start date, application deadline Aug 31 (only open to UDPT graduates)
- Mid-May start date, application deadline Dec 1 (open to all applicants)
- Teaching opportunities in the DPT program include assisting with Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment, and Grand Rounds.
- The residency may also include mentoring in clinical supervision of DPT students (2:1 CI model)
Application Requirements
- APTA Membership
- Malpractice Insurance (you may purchase this after acceptance to program)
- References: 3 professional references, no personal references
- Strong orthopedic academic education and background
- Preferred experience with sports and/or strength and conditioning
- Advanced verbal and written communication skills
- Strong work ethic and dedication to the advancement of the profession
- Organizational fortitude
Additional Information
Mentorship:
- 100% of mentors at UD PT are residency trained OCS and/or SCS certified clinicians
- >150 hours of mentored evaluation and treatment in the physical therapy clinic
- Biweekly mentored chart reviews
Patient care:
- 1500 hours of patient care in our sports and orthopedic clinic and University of Delaware’s athletic training rooms and the Whitney Athletic Center
Outside experiences:
- Physician and surgical shadowing
- Interprofessional work with athletic training, primary sports medicine and strength/conditioning staff
- Sports Injury Clinic
- Sports Journal Clubs and Orthopedic Case Rounds
- >300 educational hours
- Didactic clinical modules: Covering body regions, limb loss, and advanced special topics
- Teaching opportunities at UD DPT Orthopedic classes and clinical instructor training
Residency outcomes since 1995:
- Enrolled: 64
- Graduates: 58
- Resigned: 6
Pass rates for the American Board of Sports Physical Therapy Exam – Sports (SCS)
- First Time Pass Rate: 94%
- Ultimate Pass Rate: 96%
Helpful Links
The University of Delaware Sports Residency will be participating in the standardized Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program Match for the upcoming application cycle. This process will fill our available Sports Resident positions for our upcoming start date in May 2025. All communication regarding this match process will come through the Match Program, EXXAT, if you receive an interview offer. Good luck, and we look forward to reviewing your application!
Contact Information
Program Director: Airelle Giordano PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
Email: aohunter@udel.edu
Program Coordinator: Jeffrey Miller, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
Email: jmiller@udel.edu
Neurologic
Neurologic Residency
The University of Delaware supports The Johns Hopkins and University of Delaware Neurology Physical Therapy Residency Program by providing the clinical education experience to the resident. The resident will receive direct mentorship on being a clinical instructor for the supervision of entry-level University of Delaware DPT students (2:1 CI model), assisting with neurophysiologic evaluation and treatment in a lab setting, and presenting a patient case at the rounds case presentation to the DPT students.
General Information
- Program Length: 12.5 Months
- Benefits: Full time employee- with medical benefits
- Maximum Number of Positions: 2 per year
- This residency experience, paired with Johns Hopkins, encompasses clinical work, didactic experiences and quality improvement exposure each week, including:
- Evaluation and treatment of the complex neurologic patient in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient settings.
- Structured learning opportunities with physicians and medical professionals in areas such as vestibular, ALS, neurologic spine, EMG and orthotics/prosthetics.
- The resident will receive direct mentorship on being a clinical instructor for the supervision of entry-level University of Delaware DPT students (2:1 CI model), assisting with neurophysiologic evaluation and treatment in a lab setting.
Applications Requirements
- APTA Membership
- Malpractice Insurance (you may purchase this after acceptance to program)
- References: 3 professional references, no personal references
- An applicant must be a graduate from an accredited physical therapy program and have valid Maryland and Delaware physical therapist licenses or be eligible to obtain them prior to the start of the program.
- Strong academic education and background
- Advanced verbal and written communication skills
- Strong work ethic and dedication to the advancement of the profession
- Organizational fortitude
For more information about The Johns Hopkins and University of Delaware Neurology Physical Therapy Residency Program please use the following link: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/education-training/therapy/physical-therapy/neurologic-pt-residency
Contact Information
John Hopkin’s Residency Director: Sowmya Kumble, PT, MPT, NCS
Email: skumble1@jhmi.edu
Phone: 410-955-6758
Address: 1800 Orleans Street, Meyer 2-109, Baltimore, MD 21287
University of Delaware’s Neurologic Residency Coordinator: Leslie M. O’Neill PT, DPT, NCS
Email: loneill@udel.edu
Phone: 302-831-8893
Address: 540 S. College Avenue, Suite 160, Newark, DE 19713
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