Physical Therapy Residency

Gillette Children’s is an industry leader in caring for children who have disabilities and complex medical conditions. We strive to help patients attain the best outcomes possible. At Gillette, our employees and medical staff have the training and expertise—as well as the dedication—to produce continual improvement and innovation. Dedication to continual improvement is the foundation for our physical therapy residency program. As Gillette grows, we recognize the need to provide educational advancement and training opportunities to physical therapists interested in becoming advanced practitioners in their field.

Gillette offers a one-year residency opportunity for clinicians who desire to:

• Advance their skills
• Learn our specialized approach to physical therapy
• Work directly with Gillette’s unique population of patients  

Our physical therapy residency program is designed to rotate the resident through different settings and levels of care at Gillette. This allows the resident to develop a depth of knowledge and understand a broad spectrum of pediatric physical therapy practices. The residency begins in early August and ends in late July each year.

The resident will also have the opportunity to participate in the University of Minnesota LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities) program, an interdisciplinary leadership training program. 

The mission and objectives of Gillette’s physical therapy residency program are to develop a physical therapist who will:

1. Become a specialist who is able to sit successfully for the pediatric specialist examination.
2. Be knowledgeable in all pediatric settings, with a wide variety of diagnoses.
3. Be able to access, examine and synthesize evidence in order to practice family- and patient-centered care.
4. Demonstrate the capacity to skillfully balance independent practice with the ability to work as an integral part of various interdisciplinary teams.
5. Use principles drawn from academic and clinical experiences to contribute to meaningful participation in the community for our patients and their families.
6. Become a critical consumer of relevant scientific literature and, by virtue of critically assessing the literature, incorporate appropriate new techniques and knowledge into practice.

The chosen residency candidate will:

• Participate in a one-year residency beginning in early August.
• Be considered an employee of Gillette Children’s and receive full benefits.
• Participate in the University of Minnesota LEND program.
• Receive one on one mentoring in areas of specialty physical therapy such as:
  • Inpatient acute care (including the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)).
  • Outpatient clinic.
  • Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation.
  • Adult Services.
  • Specialty clinics.
  • Burn unit observation.
  • Center for Gait and Motion Analysis.
  • School-based observation.

• 100% of residents who entered program have graduated (8 graduates)
• 100% retention rate
• 9 residents accepted into program since program began in 2016
• Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy (PCS) exam pass rate: 100% on the first try based on graduates choosing to take the exam
• Employed in a variety of pediatric physical therapy settings following graduation including inpatient acute care, inpatient NICU, outpatient clinical settings
• Graduates from our program currently hold leadership positions in program development, are mentors to peers and residents, have presented at national conferences and participate in clinical research

Among eligible applicants, Gillette will select a residency candidate based on the following qualifications.

• Education history and performance (previous clinical experience in pediatrics preferred).
• Interpersonal skills.
• Personal attributes, such as integrity and motivation (personal attributes are evaluated based on applicant references and overall interviews).
• A completed residency application through the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS).
• Evidence of excellent critical thinking skills.

Applicants should also satisfy all of the following program requirements:

• Be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education accredited physical therapy program.
• Show proof of licensure to practice physical therapy in the state of Minnesota.
• Meet all eligibility requirements to be employed as a practicing physical therapist within Gillette Children's.
• Complete the application by the deadline (see below).

Gillette Children’s Financial Fact Sheet

Questions?    

For more information, or to learn more about physical therapy at Gillette, call Therese O'Bright at 651-265-7419 or email PhysicalTherapyResidency@gillettechildrens.com.