University of Miami — Upper Extremity Athlete Physical Therapy Fellowship

Program Overview:

The University of Miami Department of Physical Therapy offers a 12-month Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship designed to develop expert clinicians in managing upper extremity athletic injuries. The fellowship is currently in the process of ABPTRFE accreditation.

Location & Structure:

• Didactic modules are held on the main campus. 
• Clinical mentoring occurs at:
  • University of Miami Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
    • Predominantly with baseball
  • Lennar Medical Center, Coral Gables, Florida
• Fellows work with board-certified sports and orthopedic specialists, gaining exposure to high-level athletic populations. 
• There are also opportunities to interact with Major League Baseball organizations over the course of the year. 

Compensation:

• Salary with benefits is provided.
• There is no tuition cost for the fellowship.

Dates & Application:

• Program duration: January to December (12 months) 
• Application window: June 30th – September 1st annually 
• Application deadline: September 1st 

Requirements:

• US Citizenship
• Graduation from an accredited physical therapy program
• ONE of the following: a current ATC designation, current license as an EMT, OR certification as an Emergency Responder
• Current FL State Physical Therapy license in good standing or demonstrate an ability to obtain Florida licensure
• Possess ABPTS Sports or Orthopedic board certification or completion of prior ABPTFRE accredited sports/orthopedic physical residency

Curriculum:

• Structured didactic education (lectures, case conferences, journal club, etc.) on campus. 
• High-volume clinical mentorship, including evaluation, treatment, and on-field athlete coverage. 
• Networking and collaboration with professional sports organizations. 

Application & Contact:

• To apply, prospective fellows should follow instructions on the University’s PT residency/fellowship site.
  • https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqmiBYkbYnwN9wAxQiCB7c8mlnY4PUFXiQEpQVdx-SsUbkjA/viewform
• Contact:
  • Joseph M. Mirando, PT, DPT, OCS (Fellowship Director) — jmirando@med.miami.edu 

Why Choose This Fellowship:

• Comprehensive upper-extremity exposure: Fellows work in collegiate athletics and gain direct experience in high-level sport settings (including MLB).
• No tuition burden, with full salary and benefits ensures financial support.
• The fellow does not have to move to another state mid-way through their fellowship and the fellowship lines up to end when most professional baseball jobs are posted. 
• Strong mentorship from experienced, board-certified physical therapists in sports and orthopedics.
• Fellow is fully integrated within the University of Miami’s Baseball team. 
• Location: climate, beach, sport culture, and elite university resources.