Fellowship Training

Preparing the next generation of overhead athlete clinical specialists.

Baseball Physical Therapy Fellowships

The goal of post-graduate physical therapy fellowship programs offered through established educational organizations and select MLB clubs is to prepare the next generation of overhead athlete clinical specialists. Mentors are members of the Professional Baseball Physical Therapy Society and provide a challenging yet stimulating experience working as a physical therapist in Spring Training facilities of professional baseball. Current fellowships offered are listed below with contact information.

University of Wisconsin/Toronto Blue Jays Upper Extremity Athlete Physical Therapy fellowship 2023-2024

This is a 14-month physical therapy fellowship program in collaboration with MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays to develop a physical therapist’s skill set to effectively manage the care of athletes in upper extremity sports.

Program:

  • Six months of training at UW Health Sports Rehabilitation in Madison WI (September-February)
    • 32 hours of direct patient care at UW Health Sports Rehabilitation Clinic
      • 2-3 mentored hours a week with direct patient care and with biomechanical throwing analysis
    • 4 hours a week working with Upper Extremity fellowship trained Orthopedic surgery clinic
    • 2-6 hours a week didactic coursework, learning/teaching, research/project development
    • 2-4 hours a week of sports performance training
    • Clinical Teaching within the sports residency program
    • Surgical observation
  • Six months Of Training in Dunedin Florida with the Toronto Blue Jays organization (March-August)
    • Athletic training room care and field coverage of Spring Training and Regular Season Games with Certified Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists
    • Injury Prevention of Healthy Major and Minor League Baseball Players
    • Injury Rehabilitation of Major and Minor League Baseball Players
    • Learning Opportunities with other High Performance Departments (Mental Skills, Sports Science, Strength/Conditioning, Nutrition)
    • Opportunities for Observation/Learning with Major League Baseball Team Physicians
  • Two Months of training at UW Health Sports Rehabilitation in Madison WI (September-October)
    • 32 hours patient care
    • Develop and delivery of didactic course work/projects

Requirements:

  • Current CV
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • WI/Florida License prior to start of the fellowship
  • ABPTS specialist certification or completion of an ABPTRFE-accredited residency in Sports

Preferred:

  • Licensed Athletic trainer, Certified emergency responder or Licensed EMT

USC/San Diego Padres Upper Extremity Athlete Physical Therapy Fellowship

Program Director:
Dr. Jonathan Sum
sum@pt.usc.edu

Apply at:
https://rfptcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

This 12-month physical therapy fellowship program is a collaboration with MLB’s San Diego Padres designed to equip physical therapists with the skills, experience and knowledge to effectively and competitively manage clinical care of athletes in upper extremity sports, specifically amateur and professional baseball. Fellows will train in Southern California with expert clinician mentors from USC specializing in upper extremity for the first six months, then transition to Arizona to train with clinician mentors from the Padres and work with professional baseball players at the Minor League Complex for the last six months.

Curriculum and Training:

This fellowship combines self-study with formal and informal educational, clinical and academic activities. It includes mentored direct care of patients, with an emphasis on upper extremity disorders in the clinic. The fellow will manage injuries and performance training for upper extremity athletes, specifically for community youth and high school athletes, collegiate baseball athletes, professional volleyball and baseball athletes, including unique experiences with rock climbers. The fellow will participate in a robust professional didactic curriculum and will present upper extremity related didactic content during courses. The fellow will also be active in clinical research and complete research requirements.

An Upper Extremity Athlete Fellow’s typical week at USC includes:

  • 32-36 hours of direct patient care management in a USC outpatient physical therapy clinic
  • 2-4 hours of mentored clinical practice in a USC outpatient physical therapy clinic
  • 12-14 hours of on-field, on-court, on-deck, on-site management of upper extremity athletes, which can include weekend coverage
  • 2-4 hours of didactic coursework and/or research activity

A typical week with the San Diego Padres is variable.

Additional weekend courses through the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Continuing Education Department may be required.

This fellowship begins in August and concludes the following July. The fellow will be paid (with benefits) for hours of clinical work only, from August through January with USC, and from February through July with the San Diego Padres.

Requirements for successful completion include passing exams (oral/written/live patient), satisfactory completion of didactic coursework and completion of approved research requirement.

Admissions Requirements:

Prospective Fellows must submit the following:

  • Application to the Fellowship
  • Current curriculum vitae
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Career statement
  • Valid California PT license AND Arizona PT License
  • Proof of ABPTS specialist certification or completion of an ABPTRFE-accredited residency in Orthopedics or Sports

You must also have one of the following designations for emergency response prior to beginning the fellowship:

  • Certified Athletic Trainer
  • Certified Emergency Responder for Athletes (through the APTA American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy)
  • Licensed Emergency Medical Technician

Qualified applicants will be selected for formal interview. Non-U.S. citizens will require the appropriate visa and evidence of English language proficiency in addition to the licensure requirements.

Desirable qualities in an applicant include strong desire to advance clinical knowledge, skills, abilities; demonstrate clinical aptitude and/or potential interest in teaching, clinical research and/or mentoring; strong written and verbal communication skills; and evidence of initiative and self-responsibility.

Costs:

One-year tuition is $3000, payable at the beginning of the program.

You will be responsible for your living expenses and transportation to facilities and locations, both in California and Arizona.

Because of limited public transportation in Los Angeles, a car may be necessary.

Upon request, we can provide suggestions for where and how to find housing.

While a fellow, you may be able to defer any student loans; check with your individual lender(s) on their requirements.

ABPTRFE Financial Fact Sheet

Note: On the ABPTRFE Financial Fact Sheet, the salary range is reflective of variances between employment in California and Arizona.

Apply:

To apply for the USC Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship, visit the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS), create a login and indicate that you are applying for the USC Upper Extremity Athlete Physical Therapy Fellowship.

Applications are due on March 1.

Contact Us:

All application materials and further inquiries or requests for additional information should be directed to Program Director Jonathan Sum.


ATI Physical Therapy – Upper Extremity and Baseball Fellowship (Kansas City Royals/Chicago Cubs/Colorado Rockies)

ATI Faculty:
Daniel Kline
Daniel.kline2@atipt.com

Adjunct Faculty:
Robert Mahoney
robert.mahoney@rockies.com
Logan Nordquist
lnordquist@cubs.com

Apply at:
https://rfptcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

ATI PT was one of the first accredited upper extremity fellowship programs back in 2011 with the Kansas City Royals, and since then have partnered up with the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs. ATI’s fellowship program is a 12-month long fellowship with time being split between Greenville, SC and the organizational facility in Arizona. Fellows will spend their first 6 months in South Carolina with expert mentors and researchers focusing on treating the upper extremity through all ages and diagnoses. In February, fellows will report to their organization’s spring training facility and transition to our expert mentors to hone their baseball rehabilitation skills.

Application Start Date 10/2/2023 and Closes 3/1/2024

Requirements:  Licensure in SC and AZ at start of time at each location, Sport or Orthopedic Certified Specialist or completion of residency program

More Information at: Develop at ATI – ATI Physical Therapy (atipt.com)


Cleveland Guardians/Ohio State University Medical Center

The 12-month Upper Extremity Fellowship begins every September. Fellows are full-time employees of The Ohio State University Medical Center and work in collaboration with Ohio State Sports Medicine, the Cleveland Guardians and their Triple A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. The fellowship begins with clinical care and mentoring from faculty at the Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute. In February, the fellow reports to Goodyear, AZ for a top-notch minor league spring training experience. In April, the fellow returns to Columbus where they will spend the entirety of the Triple A season with the Columbus Clippers, receiving excellent mentoring from the staff. This partnership provides fellows with a rare academic experience, from working at pro spring training camp to serving the Clippers throughout their season, our fellows are there every step of the way — and guided by experienced faculty and staff. The Upper Extremity Fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).

Application deadline is February 2nd.

Requirements:

  • Eligible for physical therapy licensure in the state of Ohio (required by beginning of fellowship) 
  • Have one or more of the following:
    • Current ATC designation 
    • Sports Certified Specialist 
    • Successful completion of a credentialed Sports Physical Therapy Residency 
    • Demonstrate advanced competency in the field of Sports Physical Therapy
      • Minimum of 3 years of clinical practice in a sports medicine and/or baseball setting &; 
      • Completion of Emergency Responder Course or EMT-B training 
  • Hold a current/valid CPR certification 

HSS and New York Mets Baseball Club Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship

Program Overview:

  • This 12-month HSS/New York Mets Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship is designed to provide a world class experience that prepares selected physical therapists for both the clinical and on-field challenges experienced by Major League Baseball’s rehab and performance staff. This fellowship will accelerate professional development through mentoring, clinical rehab progressions, Physician surgical and clinic observations, research opportunities as well as on and off field player management. These experiences will allow each fellow to provide superior patient care and enhanced patient outcomes. This fellowship is designed to prepare each candidate with the tools and training required to work in Major League Baseball.
  • The fellow will spend 6 months at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York, NY followed by 6 months with the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, FL.
  • This fellowship will span from Aug 1- July 31. The application deadline is May 1

Admissions Criteria:

  • Must hold a NY PT license by start of the program and hold a FL license within 6 months of starting. Applicant must be either Board Certified Sports or Orthopedic Clinical Specialist OR have completed an accredited Sports Residency Program

Upper Extremity Fellowship with Cincinnati Reds and Bodycentral

Program Coordinator:
Kristen Waldron
kristenwaldron@bodycentralpt.net

Reds Primary Faculty:
Garrett Valls
gvalls@reds.com
Eric Gonzalez
egonzalez@reds.com

Apply at:
https://rfptcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

The BodyCentral Physical Therapy Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship Program provides the development and enhancement of advanced manual therapy skills, evidence-based rationale for treatments, and clinical reasoning to allow the fellow to evaluate and treat upper extremity athletes across the entire spectrum.  The graduate of the program will be an ongoing resource for the BCPT staff, Cincinnati Reds, and the Tucson and Phoenix communities at large. The application deadline is 6/1/23 with an anticipated start date of 11/1/23. 

Website Information Link:
https://therapypartnersgroup.com/golden-bear-university/residency-fellowship-education/upper-extremity-athlete-fellowship/

Requirements:

  • Applicants must meet the following criteria: Must be able to obtain AZ PT license by start of the program and must be either Board Certified Sports or Orthopedic Clinical Specialist OR have completed an accredited Sports Residency Program

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