Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program

The Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program at CVHCS aims to develop neurologic physical therapy specialists who demonstrate excellence in clinical practice treating patients with complex neurologic conditions, contribute to evidence-based practice, and serve patients with comprehensive and compassionate care. The program will provide advanced mentorship across the continuum of care, comprehensive didactic learning materials, and individualized teaching opportunities to prepare residents for specialist certification who will become valuable resources to the community.

• Provide high quality mentoring in neurologic clinical practice
• Provide education focusing on evidence-based and patient-centered care in all elements of the patient/client management model
• Graduate residents with competencies in advanced neurology practice who are prepared to seek certification as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS)
• Develop lifelong learners, educators, and knowledge brokers in the field of neurologic physical therapy
• Achieve and maintain accreditation as a Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency according to ABPTRFE standards

Our core curriculum reflects areas of importance in the care of the individual with neurologic dysfunction.  Learning methods will include 1:1 mentoring, independent readings, didactic education, opportunities for teaching and research, and exposures with interdisciplinary team members to understand the comprehensive and collaborative care involved in treating the whole person. 

The curriculum has been designed around the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA’s) Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) for Neurologic Physical Therapy with readings, exposures, and didactic material aligning with clinical settings for comprehensive clinical experiences.   The following knowledge areas will be included:

• Foundational sciences
• Behavioral sciences
• Clinical sciences
• Sciences related to clinical inquiry
• Professional roles, responsibilities, and values
• Patient-client management

Residents can expect to provide neurologic physical therapy and receive mentoring across the continuum of care and in multiple settings. The year-long residency will be divided into four rotations as follows:

• Inpatient: Brain injury / Polytrauma / Stroke
• Inpatient + Outpatient: Spinal Cord Injury
• Outpatient: Multiple Sclerosis / Movement Disorders / CNS disease
• Acute care: Various Neurologic Diagnoses

Weekly experiences will vary through the rotations and will follow a general schedule consisting of:

• 20 hours direct patient care
• 3-4 hours 1:1 mentoring
• Up to 4 hours research / educating / journal club
• 3-4 hours didactic education
• 4 hours observation
• 4 hours independent study

• Citizen of the United States of America due to employment requirements by VHA
• Graduate of, or demonstrate imminent graduation from, an accredited physical therapy program recognized by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
• Fully licensed by any state in the union to practice Physical Therapy
  • If the candidate is a student at the time of application, the applicant must successfully take and pass the licensure exam or be scheduled to sit for the July test date
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support certified
• Not be on probation or under a learning contract at their current facility or program
• Demonstrate evidence of neurologic interest and pursuit of additional training/experiences in this area

The U.S. government is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, membership in employee organizations or other non-merit factors.

In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the federal government requires all agencies to reasonably accommodate known physical or mental limitations of qualified disabled employees or applicants. The VA is committed to providing appropriate reasonable accommodations for everyone who requires them.

• $54,099 salary (base pay)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off: 13 vacation, 13 sick days, 10 federal holidays
• Use of a government-owned laptop
• VA online medical library access
• Virtual learning module access
• Free parking
• Use and laundering of facility-issued scrubs and lab coats

Complete the online application through the APTA Residency/Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS)

Application Acceptance:               October – March

Interview (onsite/virtual):            April

Notification of Acceptance:          May

Program Begins:                               July

Lindsay Ebersole, PT, DPT, NCS

Residency Program Director

Email: Lindsay.Ebersole@va.gov

ext., 7071

Lynette Villadelgado, PT, DPT            

Chief, Physical Therapy Department

Email: Lynette.Villadelgado@va.gov

ext., 7662