MGH Physical Therapy Services Neurologic Residency

Massachusetts General Hospital Physical Therapy Services (MGH PT Services) is pleased to offer a year long neurologic residency beginning on September 4th, 2018. This clinically based residency program is designed to advance a physical therapist’s knowledge, decision-making and skills toward that of an expert neurological practitioner and to prepare a clinician to sit for the ABPTS neurologic certification examination. Residents will work with a diverse and complex group of patients with acute, sub-acute and chronic neurologic diagnoses during six month rotations in MGHs inpatient and outpatient settings. Faculty resources include over 20 therapists with ABPTS certification in neurology as well as over 40 staff members who have board certification in five other specialty areas.

As employees of MGH, residents work 35 hours per week and receive a full benefit package, prorated at 35 hours. The residency provides 150 hours of one-on-one clinical mentoring with faculty who are expert clinicians and highly experienced clinical teachers. The didactic portion of the program is provided by the Neurologic Physical Therapy Professional Education Consortium. This portion of the program begins in June prior to start of the clinical residency in September and includes 26 evening webinars and two, four day on-site experiences held in California during August and November. This curriculum provides the opportunity for residents to learn from nationally recognized experts and leaders in neurologic PT as well as interact with other therapists in residency programs across the country.

We believe that graduates of this residency will be well prepared to meet the neurologic patient’s complex needs with a holistic, patient centered care approach as well as the skills needed to be educators and leaders in physical therapy. Learn more about Physical Therapy Services at Mass General.

Accreditation Status: This residency program has obtained candidate status from ABPTRFE.  Though achievement of candidate status signifies satisfactory progress towards accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be accredited.

The mission of Massachusetts General Hospital Physical Therapy Services Neurologic Residency Program is to develop advanced practitioners in neurologic physical therapy who will provide specialized, holistic and compassionate care that maximizes the neurologic patient’s outcomes.  Excellence is demonstrated through the application of evidence-based decision making and strong collaboration with patients, families and interprofessional colleagues.  Participation in structured and progressive didactic and clinical experiences and a variety of research, teaching and community service activities will prepare the advanced practitioner to influence and contribute to the physical therapy profession and achieve specialty certification.  The program will graduate physical therapists that support and uphold the mission, vision and values held by Massachusetts General Hospital.

Program Goals

• To prepare residents to be physical therapists who provide compassionate, high quality, evidence-based care to patients with neurologic disorders

• To develop residents prepared to contribute to the profession and health care through writing, research, teaching, leadership, advocacy or community service related to persons with neurologic disorders
• To develop the resident’s skill in examining and evaluating the movement system (including diagnosis and prognosis) in order to implement interventions that achieve optimal outcomes for patients with neurologic disorders
• To develop the resident’s ability to improve patient outcomes through interprofessional, team-based and collaborative approaches
• To prepare the therapist to effectively communicate with patients and families, referral sources, payers, clinical faculty, colleagues, support staff, administrators, physicians and other members of the health team to optimize patient outcomes
• To provide opportunities for the resident to teach and mentor others in neurologic physical therapy

Clinical:
Residents provide clinical care as an MGH staff member for 35 hours per week including:

• Two separate six month rotations on the acute inpatient and outpatient services
• Minimum of 150 hours (3 hours per week) of 1:1 mentoring from an experienced ABPTS certified neurologic specialist

Didactic:
The primary didactic component of the program is provided by the Neurologic PT Professional Education Consortium Curriculum, including:

• 26 evening webinars (June through December)
• Two, four day, on-site clinical experiences in Los Angeles California, in August and November
• On- line Journal club (January through May)

To learn more about our program components, including MGH educational learning activities, resident-directed learning and teaching experiences, and the elective resident-directed learning activity, please click here

Application Process:

• Submit your application through the Residency/Fellowship Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS) website.
• Application deadline is: February 15, 2018

Program Costs:

• Didactic component: $2550 paid directly to the Neurologic PT Professional Education Consortium. Residents are responsible for all travel associated costs for onsite portions of this component.
• Clinical component: $2250 paid to MGH Physical Therapy Services

For complete application requirements click here

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you see as the unique aspects of your residency program?
We are an exceptionally strong, clinically based program with extensive resources.  The resident will have an opportunity to work with a very wide range of complex neurologic patients on each of their six month rotations as well as with 20 board certified neurologic clinical specialists who are part of our staff. Our faculty has extensive experience to mentor residents and facilitate their growth at whatever point they are along the novice to expert continuum.

Can you describe the didactic portion of your curriculum?
The primary didactic component of the residency will be provided by the Neurologic Physical Therapy Professional Education Consortium. The residents participate in weekly webinars from June-December and attend two on-site, 4 day blocks at USC in California.  Beginning in January, the residents will participate in an online journal club through the Neuroconsortium online platform where they will have an opportunity to explore the current literature as it relates to patient cases.

In addition, the Neuroconsortium didactic component will be supplemented by a Clinical and Professional Development Series at MGH.  This series includes modules on novice to expert practice, clinical decision making, teaching and learning theory, and interprofessional practice, as well as modules that focus on clinical knowledge and skills, such as neuroanatomy, cranial nerve testing, and use of outcome measures.  We will also use this series to supplement the development of clinical skills and decision making around complex diagnoses.

How long is your program and how is it organized?
The program covers a period of 15 months.  The didactic component, which includes the weekly evening webinars and the onsite experience in August, begins prior to the start of the clinical component in September. The resident’s year is divided into six month rotations, one on inpatient and one on outpatient.  The switch between settings occurs in March.

Do you accept new graduates into your program?
Yes. We do ask that applicants have had at least one 10-week full time clinical experience with neurologic patients as part of their entry level training.  New graduates must have a Massachusetts PT license prior to starting in September.

What do you see as essential characteristics of a successful resident in your program?
Residents should come with a commitment to patient centered practice as well as the ability to articulate a clinical framework for decision making. They need to demonstrate evidence of self-initiative, self-assessment, and reflective skills. Strong communication and collaboration skills with patients, family and other team members are important qualities for success in this dynamic environment.

What does a typical week look like for a resident in your program?
Residents work 35 hours per week as an MGH staff therapist and have a minimum of three hours per week of one-to-one time with the clinical mentor.  They also participate in 26 weekly evening webinars from June to November and a journal club through the Neurologic PT Professional Education Consortium from December-June. Additional didactic content is provided at MGH through a Clinical and Professional Development Series that is offered twice per month.

Are there opportunities for research activities within the residency?
Application of the evidence to justify evaluation and intervention choices for patients is a foundational skill of this residency.  Residents will both participate and present in a case conference format where a research question will be developed and specific literature will be critically appraised as to its applicability to the case. Residents will have the option of one self-directed learning activity during the residency year which may involve participation in some aspect of ongoing MGH research, the development of an evidence-based department resource, or a critically appraised topic.

Can the residency help me find housing?
We are able to provide recommendations for housing options, but it is the responsibility of each resident to arrange for housing. As an MGH employee, you will have access to information about housing as well as public transportation options. Please consider that the Boston rental market is tight and fast moving.

Ann Jampel, PT, MS
Residency Director
MGH PT and OT Services
ACC Room 128
15 Parkman Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 724-0128
Email: ajampel@partners.org