Sports Physical Therapy Residency

The mission of UD's Sports Physical Therapy Residency program is to develop expert, dedicated community leaders in sports physical therapy through high-quality experiences across the spectrum of athletics, personalized mentorship and a robust and innovative curriculum guided by the best available evidence.

We pursue our mission through the following resident goals:

• Deliver athlete-centered care based on advanced clinical reasoning and specialized knowledge.
• Continuously seek, interpret and implement best evidence practices to enhance athletes' outcomes.
• Exemplify professionalism, foster a collaborative spirit and drive clinical excellence in sponsoring and partner organizations.
• Integrate comprehensive rehabilitation, interdisciplinary collaboration and performance factors to manage the full spectrum of care from initial injury to return to high-level athletic competition.
• Contribute to the advancement of sports physical therapy and the broader healthcare community through service, leadership and dissemination of knowledge.
• Successfully pass the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS) Sports Specialist Certification Examination.

ABPTRFE Status

The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) has granted the University of Dayton Sports Residency 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.

Program Duration

The expected duration of the sports residency is 12 months in total, comprising didactic instruction, patient care and athletic event coverage.

Employment/Direct Patient Care Hours

Residents will be given the opportunity to complete at least 1,500 direct patient care hours, including 200 hours of athletic event coverage. Direct patient care hours and employment are provided through our clinical partners. Salary and benefits are determined by the clinical partner(s).

Teaching Assistantship

The resident will have the opportunity to serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in the University of Dayton DPT Program.

Mentorship

Qualified mentors at each clinical partner site will be vetted and trained by the University of Dayton Sports PT Residency Program. A total of 150 hours of one-on-one mentorship will be completed throughout the program.

Athletic Venue Coverage

Residents provide coverage across multiple athletic environments, including in training rooms, at practices and during competition. Experience is gained across the spectrum of athletics and may include: high school, division I collegiate and professional sports.

Didactic Instruction

Didactic instruction is provided by the University of Dayton Department of Physical Therapy core and adjunct faculty. This is delivered via a 12-credit didactic certificate program comprised of six academic courses specifically designed for advanced instruction in sports physical therapy. Content will be provided in a hybrid format with online lectures, online live journal clubs and and self-study. Additionally, residents will develop hands-on skills through in-person lab intensive sessions. Residents will complete a total of 400 educational hours throughout the program.

Other Educational Opportunities

Residents may have other educational opportunities, such as surgical observation, involvement in ongoing research projects, and athletic screening events. Physical therapists seeking to sit for the ABPTS sports certification examination are required to submit evidence in national First Responder standards and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) guidelines. The program will provide opportunities to meet this requirement if this has not been previously met prior to enrollment.

Applicants to the University of Dayton Sports Physical Therapy Residency program are expected to meet all of the following minimum requirements:

• Completed (or projected completion prior to enrollment in the Residency Program) physical therapy degree from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited institution
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 from graduating physical therapy institution
• Three letters of recommendation
  • One individual who has had supervisory responsibility over the applicant (i.e. supervisor, clinic manager, clinical instructor)
  • One faculty member from the graduating physical therapy institution
  • One professional recommendation of the applicant's choosing
  • References cannot include family, friends, clergy or politicians
• Completion of admissions essays on RF-PTCAS application
• Active American Physical Therapy Association membership
• CPR/BLS Certification
• Completed criminal background check prior to matriculation
• Meet the Technical Standards and Essential Functions for the residency
• TOEFL/IELTS completion, if not graduated from a domestic program

Preferred Applicant Qualifications

Applicants may apply to the UD Sports PT Residency Program if they meet the above requirements. This section outlines the preferred applicant qualifications that are considered when evaluating overall application strength:

• Sports-Related Certifications
• Athletic Coverage or Observation
• Athletic Trainer Certified (ATC) or Additional Related Graduate Level Degree
• Performance Analytics Experience

Where to Apply

Apply through the Post Professional Physical Therapy Residency Common Application System (RF-PTCAS).

Important Application Dates

• RF-PTCAS application: Opens around Oct. 1
• Application deadline: Dec. 1
• Interviews: December-January
• Decisions made: February-March

Application Checklist

Applicants to the UD Sports Physical Therapy Residency program are required to submit the following information through the RF-PTCAS application:

• Official academic records from doctorate of physical therapy program.
  • These records must be submitted directly from the colleges or universities to RF-PTCAS. Hand-carried transcripts, official copies marked Issued to Student, and unofficial copies are not acceptable. Applicants selected for admission will be required to submit all original and final transcripts directly to the program.
• Three letters of recommendation.
  • One individual who has had supervisory responsibility over the applicant (i.e. supervisor, clinic manager, clinical instructor)
  • One faculty member from the graduating physical therapy institution
  • One professional recommendation of the applicant's choosing
  • References cannot include family, friends, clergy or politicians
• Completion of admissions essays on RF-PTCAS
• Active American Physical Therapy Association membership
• CPR/BLS Certification
• Completed criminal background check prior to matriculation
• Meet the Technical Standards and Essential Functions for the residency
• TOEFL/IELTS completion, if not graduated from a domestic program

Core Faculty

Kevin Sheehan

• Program Director, Sports Residency
• Didactic Instructor
• Assistant Clinical Professor
• Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• B.S., Wright State University
• D.P.T., University of Dayton
• sheehank4@udayton.edu

Nick Hess

• Sports Residency Coordinator
• Adjunct Professor
• Mentor Faculty, Orion Sports Medicine
• Board Certified in Sports Physical Therapy
• B.S., Wright State University
• M.S., Wright State University
• D.P.T., University of Dayton

Mary Fisher

• Residency Program Support
• Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy
• Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy
• Professor
• Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• Certified Lymphadema Therapist
• B.A., Wittenberg University
• M.S.P.T., Boston University
• Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Joaquin Barrios

• Residency Didactic Instructor/Research Support
• Professor
• B.S., Creighton University
• D.P.T., Duke University
• Ph.D., University of Delaware

Joseph Day

• Residency Didactic Instructor/Research Support
• Associate Professor
• Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• B.S., Murray State University
• M.P.T., University of Kentucky
• Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Additional Faculty

Philip Anloague

• Didactic Instructor
• Owner, Orion Sports Medicine
• Board certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• B.S., Cleveland State University
• M.S.P.T., Andrews University
• D.H.Sc., University of St. Augustine

Alex Gehle

• Mentor/Didactic Instructor
• Staff Physical Therapist at Orion Sports Medicine
• Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• B.S., Ball State University
• D.P.T., University of Dayton

Ryan Loar

• Mentor
• Staff Physical Therapist at Premier Health Partners
• B.S., Bowling Green State University
• D.P.T., University of Toledo

Joseph Dudics

• Mentor/Didactic Instructor
• Staff Physical Therapist at Premier Health Partners
• Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• Certified Lymphadema Therapist
• B.S., University of Findlay
• D.P.T., University of Findlay

Brian Jans

• Mentor/Didactic Instructor
• Staff Physical Therapist, Premier Health Partners
• Board Certified in Sports Physical Therapy
• B.S., Goshen College
• D.P.T., Western University of Health Science

Kellen Kubik

• Mentor/Didactic Instructor
• Staff Physical Therapist, Premier Health Partners
• Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• B.S., Ohio State University
• D.P.T., Ohio University

Darren Riggs

• Mentor
• Clinic Director, Xcel Physical Therapy
• B.S., East Tennessee State University
• D.P.T., University of Tennessee Health Science Center

• Physician Assistant Practice (M.P.A.P.)
• Biology (Ph.D.)
• Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success.

The resident will enroll in the Sports Physical Therapy Residency Certificate Program through the University of Dayton. The expected total tuition responsibility is $13,740. Read the Sports PT Residency Student Financial Fact Sheet for details.

These costs are current as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Please check with the Registrar for updated tuition costs.