Internships and fellowships | veterans affairs

Orlando VAHCS offers an Orthopedic Residency Program that is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). Our program offers residents

the opportunity to expand clinical skills in orthopedics through evidence-based clinical care, 1:1 mentorship, didactic education, and several clinical rotations in our high-reliability

organization. Our program consists of a strong curriculum, interprofessional practice, and clinical opportunities across a variety of settings such as Outpatient PT, Amputee, Primary Care,

Orthopedics, and Prosthetics. Our didactic curriculum will be supplemented with a subscription to Medbridge for the length of the residency.  Since its inception in 2022, the Orlando VAHCS

Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency has a 67% Completion Rate, 100 % Program Graduation Rate and 100% OCS exam pass rate.  ------------------------- LOCATIONS The program is offered in two

VA Orlando Healthcare Locations Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827-5812 *Daytona Beach VA Clinic 1776 North Williamson Boulevard Daytona Beach, FL 32117-5250

(*new site pending ABPTRFE approval July 2025) ------------------------- MISSION AND VISION MISSION STATEMENT: To build the residents’ lifelong clinical decision-making skills in orthopedics

through strong mentorships, varied clinical experiences, and evidence-based didactic education. With an interdisciplinary approach to care for the diverse VA population, our program

provides an advanced learning setting that embraces the vertical growth of the residents as they become expert-level providers in orthopedic care. VISION STATEMENT: To transform the way we

practice as clinicians, seeking to advance the physical therapy profession by elevating clinical knowledge through an Orthopedic PT Residency. Ultimately, veterans will be enthusiastically

devoted to VA care and clinicians cannot imagine working anywhere else. ------------------------- GOALS AND OUTCOMES GOALS * Provide a high-quality learning curriculum for residents to

develop clinical decision-making skills in the management of orthopedic conditions. * Deliver a solid framework for comprehensive collaborative healthcare in a high-reliability organization.

* Guide residents to practice autonomously and confidently in varied clinical settings. * Prepare residents and mentors to become effective educators in orthopedics to all stakeholders. *

Create education experiences to provide a context for life-long learning. * Ensure consistency in program delivery in all clinical settings. * Prepare residents to sit for and successfully

pass the ABPTS Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Examination. * Support Orlando VA Mission to “Honor America’s veterans by providing excellent health care that improves their health and

well-being”. OUTCOMES * Expert providers in orthopedic physical therapy practice. * Contributors to quality care coordination for complex orthopedic cases. * Models of excellence and

professionalism in the healthcare community. * Facilitators of the advancement of colleagues, peers, students, providers, and community. * Life-long committers to evidence-based literature

and advanced orthopedic clinical practice. * Analyzers of introspective assessments for professional growth. * Be prepared to sit for the ABPTS Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Examination.

------------------------- HOW TO APPLY ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS * U.S. Citizen * Graduate of a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy program * Hold an active physical therapy license or be

eligible for licensure in any US state * Temporary License is sufficient to begin the program * For applicants pending NPTE examination, continued program participation is contingent on

passing the licensure exam within 30 days of the program start date. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS * Physical Therapy School Transcripts (cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or above) * Letter

of Intent * Curriculum Vitae or Resume * Three (3) Professional Letters of Recommendation PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS * APTA and AOPT membership * Minimum of one clinical experience in an

outpatient setting * Demonstrate high academic achievement * Strong oral and written communication skills * Upon Selection, the candidate must meet all criteria for federal employment as a

VA-Paid Health Professions Trainee   APPLICATION OPEN: 12/01/2024 Applications can be completed through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Residency/Fellowship-Physical Therapy

Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS) APPLICATION DUE DATE: 03/15/2025 All candidates must submit a complete application through RFPTCAS by the published deadline.

------------------------- RESIDENT POSITION * Resident Position is a full-time (40 hours per week) one-year temporary appointment. * Start Date: 08/2025. * Fixed stipend is set annually by

the Office of Academic Affiliations. 2025-2026 Academic Year stipend is $53,438. * Benefits include paid annual and sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and optional healthcare coverage.

------------------------- PROGRAM CURRICULUM Residents will work 32 hours per week providing clinical care and 8 hours a week will be dedicated to didactic activities. The program curriculum

will be inclusive of independent clinical care, clinical and academic mentorship, in-services, journal clubs, resident and guest lecturer presentations, huddles and rounds, clinical

supervision of DPT and PTA students, multidisciplinary observation experiences in specialty PT clinics and Orthopedic surgery, and Medbridge education courses. The program curriculum was

designed using the Orthopedic Descriptions of Specialty & Residency Practice (DSP & DRP), Current Concepts of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, 5th Edition and other AOPT resources with

an emphasis on the Clinical Practice Guidelines. ------------------------- The Orlando VA Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program is accredited by the American Board of Physical

Therapy Residency & Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) ------------------------- CONTACT INFORMATION MARYROSE DE GUZMAN, PT, DPT, ACEEAA Board Certified Geriatric & Neurologic Clinical

Specialist PT Education & Residency Director, SCCE Phone:407-631-6037 Email: [email protected] VERONICA VALENZUELA, PT, DPT, GTS, PYT-C, HSP Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical

Specialist Orthopedic PT Residency and Surgical Care Coordinator Phone: 407-631-3172 Email: [email protected]