Valley Health System's Orthopaedic Residency Program offers an immersive experience encompassing 28 hours of weekly treatment, for a duration of 13 months. Three of these hours are dedicated to personalized 1-on-1 mentorship with one of our highly specialized clinicians. Beyond the clinical treatment of orthopaedic conditions, our carefully crafted curriculum delves into the latest didactic material, thoroughly preparing participants for the APTA Specialist Certification Examination, governed by the ABPTS.
In addition to hands-on patient care, residents will gain exposure to various disciplines within or affiliated with Valley Health System. This includes shadowing physicians and exploring different departments and clinical settings, all of which contribute to a well-rounded learning experience.
We invite motivated clinicians aspiring to specialize in orthopaedic physical therapy to consider joining our program.
ABPTRFE has granted the Valley Health System Orthopaedic Residency Program candidacy status. Candidacy status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation. Achieving candidacy status is not an indication that ABPTRFE will grant initial accreditation. Participants who graduate from a program in candidacy status are not deemed to have completed an accredited program.
Please see Application Information for more information on how to apply for the first residency cycle, scheduled to commence in October 2024.
Curriculum Overview
Divided into 13, 4-week modules, the following topics are covered:
- Introduction to Research
- Pharmacology and Imaging
- Cervical Spine
- Lumbar Spine
- Hip and Pelvis
- Knee
- Ankle and Foot
- Shoulder
- Elbow, Wrist, and Hand
- TMJ, Thoracic Spine, and Cardiac
- Pain Science, Latest Advances
- Advocacy, Life-Long Learning, Ethics, and Values
- Miscellaneous – Including OCS Board Exam Prep
Additional Educational Opportunities
Other educational opportunities may include the following:
- Office visits and surgeries with The Valley Hospital affiliated physicians and/or departments
- A variety of additional rehabilitation settings, including:
- Inpatient, home health, and pediatric rehabilitation
- Aquatic therapy
- Pelvic health
- Orthotics & prosthetics
- Plus, the opportunity to work on a multi-disciplinary team with cccupational therapists and speech-language pathologists
Orthopaedic Residency Fees
- The 2024-2025 residency program fees are $980. This includes all required didactic and curricular materials as well as the cost of APTA membership, inclusive of the orthopaedic section.
- Applicants are subject to any associated fees with RF-PTCAS. No supplemental application fees are required to apply to the Valley Health System Orthopaedic Residency.
- Please note that in addition to the standard fees, there may be additional costs associated with conferences or other educational experiences that could arise throughout the program. These fees, while not included in the initial pricing, may be necessary for certain optional activities or events. We encourage participants to budget accordingly and take advantage of these valuable opportunities for further learning and professional development.
Why Choose Valley's Orthopaedic Residency Program
- Be a part of an organization that provides care like no other: As an integral part of Valley Health System, the Outpatient Rehabilitation Medicine Department operates within the framework of a large healthcare system while maintaining a close-knit and collaborative environment. Despite Valley’s expansive reach, we prioritize working closely and collaboratively, fostering a sense of interconnectedness among our team members of various facilities. Our commitment to collaboration ensures a seamless and integrated healthcare experience for both our team and the individuals we serve.
- A supportive culture: Valley Health System is proud of our commitment to improving the lives of our patients, our staff, and the communities we serve. When you join Valley, you are joining a team that believes in delivering quality care in a supportive environment where top performance is both nurtured and recognized.
- Advanced clinical experience: Situated in the vibrant community of Bergen County, our location exposes you to a diverse population presenting a broad spectrum of orthopaedic health conditions. As a member of Valley Health System, you will collaborate closely with physicians and various healthcare professionals within our network, ensuring a comprehensive clinical educational experience. In addition, the resident will have the unique opportunity to complete a portion of their educational experiences at The Valley Hospital, a brand new, state-of-the-art facility located in Paramus, NJ.
- Curriculum and clinical hours: The resident clinical treatment schedule incorporates hour-long treatment sessions featuring a 1:1 or 2:1 patient-care ratio. This structure provides a valuable platform for residents to concentrate on and refine their orthopaedic skills and clinical reasoning. Additionally, residents collaborate closely with their mentors during at least two of these treatment hours weekly, with the opportunity for one-on-one interactions with their mentors weekly outside of treatment hours. These interactions serve to deepen their clinical understanding and fine-tune their orthopaedic skill set.
- Exceptional faculty: Our program is distinguished by the inclusion of exceptional faculty members who bring a wealth of diverse experience and knowledge to the table. Our faculty members are chosen for their extensive backgrounds in orthopaedics, ensuring a rich array of expertise.
