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Physical Therapy Residency Program

The Physical Therapy Residency programs are year-long advanced practice clinical residency programs. The Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Geriatrics and Neurologic Residency Programs are accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). These programs are designed to focus on a wide variety of clinical exposure, individualized mentorship, structured didactic education, and professional development. Our local academic affiliations allow residents the opportunity to participate in teaching and lab assisting in an entry-level DPT program.

Residency Mission Statement

To educate thoughtful cardiovascular and pulmonary, geriatric, and neurologic physical therapists who can integrate and synthesize specialty practice, knowledge and skills to provide outstanding, evidence-based physical therapy services to veterans across the continuum of care.

St. Louis VA Physical Therapy Department

The VA St. Louis physical therapy department serves veterans at two main facilities in St. Louis (John Cochran Division and Jefferson Barracks Division), several community-based outpatient clinics, and home-based primary care. With over 30 physical therapists on the team working in a variety of care settings, residents are provided a unique opportunity for clinical experience to learn across the continuum of care.

Physical Therapy Residency Objectives and Outcomes

  1. Prepare residents to become board-certified clinical specialists by providing
    1. Clinical rotations across the continuum of care with a variety of diagnoses consistent with description of residency practice (DRP)
    2. Didactic instruction from multiple modalities including web-based learning with access to multiple platforms, access to ABPTS-recommended textbooks, journal databases, and opportunities for consultation with board-certified specialists and clinicians with advanced knowledge/skills in a specialized area of practice
    3. Structured mentorship across a variety of specialty fields and practice settings
    4. Opportunities for advancing teaching skills including professional presentations, lab assisting, and supervision of DPT students
  2. Raise the quality and standard of care of the VA Physical Therapy department by:
    1. Supporting staff growth in the area of clinical instruction and mentorship
    2. Guiding residents to provide staff in-services on topics specific to the fields of specialty practice
    3. Inspiring other staff therapists to participate in the advancement of the physical therapy profession
    4. Ensure mentors are providing high quality mentorship
  3. Retain newly trained clinical specialists within the VA system, whether in St. Louis or other parts of the country by:
    1. Demonstrating through best practice that VA is a highly desirable employer for a physical therapist
    2. Recruiting and considering all successfully graduating residents for open full- time positions within the VA-STLHCS and/or nationwide within the Veterans Health Administration System
  4. Maintain ABPTRFE accreditation for all PT residency programs by:
    1. Demonstrating compliance with residency quality standards through timely submission of annual reports
    2. Continuously improving the residency programs through submission of annual reports to ABPTRFE and recording meeting minutes
    3. Successfully renewing program accreditation through ABPTRFE
  5. Sustain all VA-St. Louis Physical Therapy Residency Programs by:
    1. Attracting quality candidates
    2. Maintaining appropriate level of clinical specialists and mentors on staff
    3. Providing financial stability through Office of Academic Affiliations
    4. Demonstrating residents’ satisfaction assessed through post-graduation survey
  6. Support the mission of the sponsoring organization by:
    1. The resident meeting productivity standards of the clinic
Program Graduation Rate Board Certification Exam Pass Rate Cumulative 92% 100% Cardiovascular and Pulmonary (accredited through 09/30/2032) 83% 100% Geriatric (accredited through 9/30/2025) 100% 100% Neurologic (accredited through 9/30/2025) 100% 100%

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Residency

Curriculum

  • Clinical
    •  Residents carry a 75% caseload to allow time for mentoring, didactic coursework, teaching, professional presentations, and scholarly projects
    • Primary rotations: inpatient rehabilitation, acute care (including medical and surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic surgery clinic, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
    • Additional experiences: wound care rounds, aquatic therapy, home-based primary care, wheelchair and advanced mobility clinic, spinal cord injury/disease
    • One-on-one clinical instruction and mentorship from interdisciplinary team members and a variety of clinical specialists with area-specific expertise
  • Didactic provided through face-to-face instruction and advanced practice webinars
  • Teaching and lab assisting opportunities at Maryville University with mentorship from Maryville University faculty
  • APTA Clinical Instructor Level 1 Credentialing Course
  • ACLS and BLS Certification

Program Leadership

Director

Mary Beth Currey, PT, MPT 
 
Mary.currey@va.gov

Coordinators

Madeline Menke, PT, DPT
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy 
 
Madeline.menke@va.gov

Ochuko Ojameruaye, PT, DPT 
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy 
 
Ochuko.ojameruaye@va.gov

Geriatric Residency

Curriculum

  • Clinical
    • Primary rotations: inpatient rehabilitation, acute care (including intensive care units, medical, and surgical), home-based primary care, outpatient rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
    • Additional experiences
      • Interdisciplinary clinics: bracing, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, amputee, pain
      • Gerofit, falls education series, wound care rounds, driver’s rehabilitation, lymphedema, wheelchair and advanced mobility clinic, recreation therapy, aquatic therapy, low vision
    • One-on-one clinical instruction and mentorship from interdisciplinary team members and a variety of clinical specialists with area-specific expertise
  • Didactic provided through face-to-face instruction and advanced practice webinars
  • Teaching and lab assisting opportunities at Maryville University with mentorship from Maryville University faculty

Program Leadership

Director

Mary Beth Currey, PT, MPT 
 
Mary.currey@va.gov

Coordinators

Milini Holmes, PT, DPT 
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy 
 
Milini.holmes@va.gov

Angela Phelan, PT, DPT 
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy 
 
Angela.phelan@va.gov

Neurologic Residency

Curriculum

  • Clinical
    • 4 primary rotations: inpatient rehabilitation, acute care (including intensive care units, medical, and surgical), spinal cord injury/disease regional hub, outpatient rehabilitation (including vestibular rehabilitation)
    • Additional experiences
      • Interdisciplinary clinics: bracing, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, amputee, pain
      • Wound care rounds, driver’s rehabilitation, lymphedema, wheeled mobility and seating, recreation therapy, aquatic therapy, low vision
    • One-on-one clinical instruction and mentorship from interdisciplinary team members and a variety of clinical specialists with area-specific expertise
  • Didactic provided through face-to-face instruction and advanced practice webinars
  • Teaching and lab assisting opportunities at Maryville University with mentorship from Maryville University faculty
  • APTA Clinical Instructor Level 1 Credentialing Course

Program Leadership

Director

Mary Beth Currey, PT, MPT 
 
Mary.currey@va.gov

Coordinators

Benjamin Dons, PT, DPT 
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy; Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapist 
 
Benjamin.dons@va.gov 

Sarah Shi, PT, DPT, ATP 
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy 
 
Sarah.shi@va.gov

Benefits

  • Residents are full-time employees of the VA St. Louis Healthcare System and are eligible for health/dental/vision insurance
  • There are no tuition costs or program fees. All webinars and books are provided.
  • Salary: $53,942 (for the 2024-2025 academic year)
  • Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30-4 or 8-4:30, no working weekends
  • Paid leave: 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, 11 federal holidays
  • Opportunity for non-compete hiring in the VA system following successful residency program completion
  • Liability coverage and protection under the Federal Tort Claims Act
  • Provided work laptop, designated workspace, all didactic materials, and access to VA Medical Library
  • All previous residents have been funded to attend APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program Level 1 and Combined Sections Meeting

How to Apply

Interested applicants must apply through the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS). 

RF-PTCAS | Applicant Login Page Section (liaisoncas.com)

Important Dates

  • Application review begins through RF-PTCAS on February 1st and continues until all positions are filled. If you are interested in a residency program, please reach out to program leadership to inquire about available positions.
  • Program Start Date: July/August pending licensure

Admission Requirements

  • Citizen of the United States of America
  • Degree from a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy program
  • Current unrestricted physical therapy license in a state in the United States of America prior to start date
  • Completed application through RF-PTCAS
  • Performance-based interview
  • Comply with all VA St. Louis Healthcare System employment requirements, including completion of required federal forms

Other Resources

VA Office of Academic Affiliations: Office of Academic Affiliations Home (va.gov)

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