Residency
The Residency Program at Howard Head Sports Medicine is a 13-month (starting August 27, 2012) immersion-like experience into the critical areas of physical therapy. Commencing at the end of September, the program incorporates clinical practice, mentoring, sport-specific training and clinical investigation/decision-making. Residents will benefit from meaningful interaction with HHSM associates, as well as orthopedic physicians, biomechanical specialists, sports performance trainers and sports medicine researchers from our partners.
Program Curriculum
Clinical Practice
The resident will provide 20-30 hours of physical therapy services per week at Howard Head Sports Medicine. The goal is to gain experience in the management of sport and orthopedic pathologies.
Clinical Mentoring
One-on-one mentoring time with advanced clinicians with various sub-specialties. Our goal is to develop the resident’s examination, screening, diagnosis, prognosis and return-to-sport training skills.
Sports Specialist Training
The resident will participate in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and triage of sport-related injuries. Experiences include emergency first response and on-field management at high school athletic events; on-mountain coverage at professional ski/snowboard competitions; biking and trail running race coverage; and attendance at the Medical Emergencies in Skiing and Snowboarding (MESS) Conference.
Clinical Investigations
Focuses on the process of evidence-based medicine, including a review of clinically-relevant questions, searching for evidence, critically appraising evidence, applying it to practice and completing a research project. The resident will work closely with researchers from the Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation.
Clinical Decision Making
Exposes the resident to clinical progression and reasoning associated with differential diagnosis and decision-making. After deducing the diagnosis of a clinical case problem and determining how the diagnosis relates to the care of the patient, the resident will collect clinical information related to the evaluation and treatment of the issue and present the information in an oral format. The resident’s written case report will be submitted to a sports medicine publication.
Didactic Coursework
The resident will be responsible for attending educational lectures, encompassing evidence-based practices. The knowledge acquired in the didactic coursework will assist the resident in preparation for the SCS exam. During each specialty section of the CM course, the resident will be required to perform certain didactic activities.
Specialty Practice Observation
Encompasses the multidisciplinary management of the entire athlete. The resident will receive mentorship and observational experiences with orthopedic surgeons from the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic and Vail-Summit orthopedics, athletic trainers, sports performance trainers, biomechanists and sports medicine researchers.
Application Process:
Requirements for application: Licensed Physical Therapists or those eligible for licensure, in the state of Colorado, are encouraged to apply.
Completed applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year until February 17, 2012. Please complete the company application online and send the following to howardheadhires@vvmc.com to complete your application:
- Letter of Intent – Include goals/objectives for the residency program, summary of prior clinical and educational experience, and short- and long-term goals for a sports sub-specialty.
- Current Curriculum Vitae or Resume.
- Three Letters of Recommendation – Must include (1) current or former supervisor (if a recent graduate, from a current or former clinical instructor), and (2) instructor/faculty member from an accredited physical therapist program and/or a physician with whom the physical therapist has worked in the past.
Applicants will be invited for a formal on-site interview by March 1, 2012. Residency interviews will tentatively take place on April 2, 2012.
For more information, please contact:
Victoria Bartel, PT, SCS
Residency Program Director
Email: bartelv@vvmc.com
* Residency program content inquiries
Tina Petersen, SPHR
Director of Human Resources
Email: tina.petersen@vvmc.com
* Administrative inquiries only