What is a Fellowship?
Fellowship is a supervised clinical learning experience designed to produce a master clinician in a specialized field. The fellowship offered is in manual therapy.
Period of Fellowship
The fellowship period is for an initial three-month trial period, followed by a nine-month appointment.
Who May Apply?
Any physical therapist may apply who has completed at a minimum E1 and S1, two additional seminars, has two years of orthopaedic experience, and is intent on completing a Master of Health Science, a Doctor of Health Science, or a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree with the University. Preference will be given to the best qualified applicants. The resident fellow will need to be licensed to practice in Florida.
Organizational Structure
The resident fellow is an employee of USA and is responsible for the functioning of the fellowship clinic on campus. The fellow will participate as a graduate teaching assistant in the entry-level DPT program.
Goals of Fellowship Program
The goals of the fellowship program are to meet the standards of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists (AAOMPT) so that the University may help produce a master clinician recognized by the appropriate professional organization(s). Upon completion of the fellowship the resident can apply to become a fellow (FAAOMPT) of AAOMPT. The USA program is approved by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as a credentialed fellowship in manual therapy.
Responsibility and Learning Activities
Resident fellows are responsible for their progress in the fellowship program. Fellowship is a demanding clinical learning experience designed to bring out the best in each candidate. Expected learning experiences will be developed at the beginning of the fellowship during discussions between the resident fellow and the clinical faculty. However, both the faculty and the resident fellow must remain flexible to possible changes that may occur in the schedule. Resident fellows are not expected to complete all degree requirements (credits and completed research) during fellowship. However, they must complete all the seminars and coursework for Manual Therapy Certification prior to completing their fellowship.
Learning Objectives
Each resident fellow is to develop a learning agreement after being accepted and prior to commencing the fellowship. This agreement will be reviewed with the clinical fellowship program director at the beginning of the fellowship, and will be modified to reflect the learning needs and the offerings of the fellowship. Modification of the agreement may take place from time to time with the agreement of both parties. These learning objectives are to include the type of clinical skills or other specific information or area the resident fellow wishes to focus upon during the fellowship, and to outline the faculty with whom he or she wishes to work.
Learning and Practice
The fellow will achieve in the program 440 patient care hours, of which 130 are mentored hours. 100 spinal hours and 60 extremity hours of didactic work will be in manual therapy.
Journal
All resident fellows must keep a detailed journal documenting the clinical and didactic learning activities.
Journal Club
All resident fellows must participate in the Journal Club that is held every month.
Case Examination
At least four mentored live patient examinations are required during the fellowship.
Salary and Educational Benefits
The salary shall be approximately 80% of the going rate paid to a two-year graduate in the Jacksonville and St. Augustine areas. In addition, the resident fellow shall receive the regular package of benefits offered by USA to its employees.
Recognition
Upon completion of the fellowship the resident fellow will receive a Completion Certificate.
Contact
If you are interested in the fellowship program please contact Catherine E. Patla, (PT, DHSc, OCS, MTC, FAAOMPT) Director of Clinical Fellowship, by email or phone at (800) 241-1027, ext 254.
Deadline
Deadline for application submission is June 2007 for the September 2007 clinical fellowship.
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