Graduate

Sports Physical Therapy
Clinical Residency Program

YOU ARE BOUVÉ

Pursue a career in sports physical therapy with MGH and Northeastern.

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Sports Physical Therapy has partnered with the Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences at Northeastern University to offer a 13-month full-time clinical residency program for physical therapists interested in pursuing a career in sports physical therapy.

This program advances the knowledge and clinical competency of sports physical therapists as well as fostering a culture of continued learning and scientific inquiry while demonstrating a commitment to patients, students, and athletes at all levels.

Through academic, research, and clinical collaboration, we promote robust learning experiences and offer a unique opportunity to be an integral part of an interprofessional healthcare system working with recreational, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes.

Our mission is mission is to impact the health and wellbeing of the global community by developing leaders in physical therapy, movement, and rehabilitation sciences through interprofessional experiential education, translational research, and excellence in clinical practice.

The program consists of didactic courses, reinforced through clinical mentoring and practice/experiences.

Quick View

Degree type:
– Residency (non degree). Prepare to sit for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Sports Specialty Certification Exam
– Accredited by ABPTRFE (American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education
)

Study options:
– On ground (Boston Campus)

– Full-time only
13 months

Application deadline: Dec 1

GRE: Not required
F1 Eligible: No

Our goals

The MGH/NU Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program:

  • Supports the mission of the Northeastern University Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences. The Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences’ mission is to impact the health and wellbeing of the global community by developing leaders in physical therapy, movement, and rehabilitation sciences through interprofessional experiential education, translational research, and excellence in clinical practice.
  • Supports the mission of the Massachusetts General Hospital. The mission of the Massachusetts General Hospital is Guided by the needs of our patients and their families, Massachusetts General Hospital aims to deliver the very best health care in a safe, compassionate environment; to advance that care through innovative research and education; and to improve the health and well-being of the diverse communities we serve.
  • Maintains American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) accreditation.

Residents will demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in sports physical therapy.

We will provide residents with a high-quality, interprofessional sports physical therapy experience.

Within five years post completion of the residency program, graduates will demonstrate qualities of an advanced clinician including serving as an educator, providing service to the profession and being active with scholarly activity.

The MGH/NU Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program is sustainable.

Program outcomes

Provide excellent, evidence-based patient care by obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities of an advanced practice physical therapist in sports and musculoskeletal care.

Demonstrate specialist level clinical decision making and psychomotor skill in sports/musculoskeletal examination and intervention.

Add value to the Northeastern University Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences and Mass General Sports Physical Therapy Service. Demonstrate professionalism in communication, instruction and collaboration.

Communicate with others such as patients/clients/athletes, referral sources, payers, administrators, physicians, athletic trainers, and other members of the health care team to effectively advocate for the patient/client/athlete and the profession.

Be prepared to sit for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Sports Specialty Certification Exam.

Didactic Experiences

The twelve monograph series “Current Concepts in Orthopedic Physical Therapy” will be utilized in a self-study fashion with discussion following each monograph.

Residents will also complete the Sports Certified Specialist Examination Prep course monographs. These monographs will also be utilized in a self-study fashion with discussion after completion of each monograph.

As a resident you will also be required to complete two courses at Northeastern University during the residency:

  • PT5165 Sports Medicine: Managing the Injured Athlete
  • PT6233 Advanced Clinical Processes: Special Topics in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Your learning will be further supplemented by weekly journal review sessions. These sessions will be of current literature that coincides with content that follows monograph review as well as content within the academic teaching curriculum. Review sessions will include the resident, Residency Director as well as other clinical staff at the MGH Sports Physical Therapy clinic in order to have a robust discussion and facilitate critical thinking.

Residents will also have consistent access to other educational opportunities to enhance the learning experience. The additional opportunities may include:

  • Department of Orthopedic Surgery Grand Rounds at MGH
  • Sports Medicine and Shoulder Conference at MGH
  • Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine Conference
  • Attendance at local and national conferences supported by the program
  • APTA of MA Annual Conference
  • AASPT Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference
  • APTA Combined Sections Meeting
  • Harvard Sports Medicine Conference
  • MGH Primary Care Orthopaedics Conference

Teaching Opportunities

You will have the opportunity to instruct in the DPT program at Northeastern University. As a lab teaching assistant, you will help in the Musculoskeletal Management courses with the Residency Director, who will provide ongoing mentoring to promote professional development as an educator.

As a resident you will be expected to review and prepare for the material being covered in each lab session which will coordinate much of the didactic curriculum embedded in the residency. You’ll be involved with student presentations, assisting with providing feedback to students on technique, promoting high-level clinical decision making during case discussions, as well as providing feedback specific to performance on written and practical examinations.

ABPTRFE Accredited Program

Program Accreditation

Year Accredited: 2015, 2020
Number of graduates: 15
Graduation Rate: 100%
SCS Exam Pass Rate: 93%


American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education — ABPTRFE

Residents

Erin Holt, PT, DPT — Resident at the Sports Physical Therapy program between MGH and Northeastern

Dr. Erin Holt grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where she participated in basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey. These experiences sparked her strong interest in pursuing a career in sports medicine. From here, Erin attended Penn State University for her undergraduate degree, earning a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology. Additionally, she completed an Honors Thesis centered around improving community physical activity levels through the messaging on wearable devices. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh.

During her final year of study at Pitt, she completed an internship with the University of Pittsburgh’s men’s football team. Working in a collegiate level athletic training room gave her the opportunity to become a part of a multidisciplinary sports medicine team, providing care for high level athletes both on and off the field. She also worked for the Physical Therapy department as a teaching assistant for graduate level courses. Through Erin’s clinical and work experience, she has developed a passion for teaching as well as treating a wide variety of high-level and recreational athletes. Her specific clinical interests include evaluating psychological readiness of return to sport, integrating a cognitive component in ACL rehabilitation, and merging the rehabilitation process with strength and conditioning and sports performance.


08/08/22- Boston, MA - Molly Harkins. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Dr. Molly Harkins grew up in Pittsburgh, PA where she was a multi-sport athlete, eventually deciding to join the rowing team at Duquesne University during her undergraduate years. While at Duquesne, she completed her undergraduate degree in Athletic Training.

Molly completed a full season Athletic Training internship with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an experience which confirmed her commitment to pursue a career in sports medicine and physical therapy. Molly completed her post-graduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, where she earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2022.

During her graduate studies, Molly continued to gain experience working with athletes as an athletic trainer and through clinical experiences. Outside the classroom, Molly enjoyed volunteering with a community organization that provided children with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a variety of sporting events and competitions. Through her experience, Molly has developed the capability and passion for assisting all individuals with achieving their rehabilitation or performance goals. Molly’s current clinical interests are in the areas of return to sport following lower extremity injury, manual therapy techniques as well as integrating rehabilitation with sports performance and strength and conditioning.

Clinical Experiences

MGH Sports Physical Therapy clinic responsibilities begin in July and continue throughout the entire sports clinical residency program (13 months). Athletic venue coverage typically begins in August.

Residents will participate in 30 hours of patient care combined in-clinic and at athletic venue/athletic training room. Resident’s caseload will consist of a wide variety of orthopedic and sports related conditions throughout all body regions.

In addition to the clinic schedule, there will be ongoing athletic venue coverage and athletic training room opportunities. These opportunities occur throughout the thirteen-month residency and are specific to athletic season rather than direct correlation with curricular content. The athletic venue exposure will include but not be limited to the following:

Clinical Mentoring

Mentoring will occur throughout the entire thirteen month experience. Two 120 minutes unopposed mentoring sessions are scheduled with the Residency Director weekly. During these sessions the Residency Director observes the resident’s active patient care and provides feedback and mentoring to them.

There will be thirty minutes pre and post patient encounters along with the thirty to sixty minutes for the patient encounter itself. In addition to the time that is scheduled each week with the Residency Director, there will be ongoing opportunities for mentoring and discussion during athletic venue experiences with other program faculty.

Experiential Education

Residents utilize a variety of experiential learning opportunities to further develop clinical reasoning skills within sports physical therapy including simulation learning and learning assessment activities.  

Through simulation learning students are able to actively engage in patient management of acute sports related injuries and examine and refine their expertise.

Northeastern’s Arnold F. Goldstein Simulation suite is used to set up any number of scenarios.

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Admissions Requirements

For the RF-PTCAS application, you will need the following documentation:

Resumé/Curriculum Vitae

Three letters of recommendation
One letter should be from a former supervisor or clinical instructor you worked with, one should be from a faculty member at the institution you received your DPT degree from, and then a third of your choice.

Curriculum vitae

Copy of official transcript from the College/University you received your PT degree from. 

Copy of all professional licenses (MA state licensure is required before beginning the residency program)

Copy of APTA membership and APTA of Massachusetts Membership (required)

Copy of completion of one of the following: EMT licensure, ATC licensure, or completion/registration for Emergency Response Course (one of these needs to be completed before beginning residency program).

Essay – please answer each part individually in no more than 300 words each.

  • Discuss your interest in pursuing a sports physical therapy residency.
  • Please discuss the qualities you possess that would make you a strong candidate for the MGH/NU Sports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program.
  • Please list three components that you feel make up an exceptional residency experience.
  • Please provide three personal goals for the 13 month MGH/NU Sports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program.
  • Discuss what it means to be a leader in the field of Sports Physical Therapy.

In addition to the RF-PTCAS, please complete the below PDF application form and submit with $50 non-refundable fee. (Pleas make checks out to “Northeastern University”). 

Application form, fee, and any additional documentation should be post marked by December 1 and mailed to the following address:

David Nolan, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS
DirectorSports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program,
Northeastern University Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehab Sciences
301 Robinson Hall
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115



Got questions?

Please reach out to:

David Nolan, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS
DirectorSports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program

617-373-5268 (Office)
[email protected]