The Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program (OPTR) at Touro College, New York, NY, has received credentialing from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), which has ended a year-long process. Credentialing is a processed used by APTA to ensure the quality of education that participants receive in residency and fellowship programs in physical therapy, according to a Touro College news release. The orthopedic residency program is one of 75 orthopedic residencies across the country and one of four in the New York area.

The OPTR program of Touro College, established in 2009, is a 2-year, part-time program for physical therapists who want to pursue a postgraduate specialization in orthopedics. Residents participate in clinical coursework, online mentoring, and supervised clinical training in orthopedic physical therapy practice. Frances Corio, PT, PhD, OCS, says, “We are proud to be one of the programs credentialed by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education, as it testifies to the excellence of our program.”

Louis Primavera, PhD, dean of Touro’s School of Health Sciences, states, “Touro’s program is outstanding, and programs like this are viewed as the future of physical therapy education.” The OPTR program is presently only offered at the Bay Shore campus of Touro College.

Jill Horbacewicz, PT, PhD, director of the physical therapy department, believes the physical therapy profession is moving in the direction of developing residencies in specialized areas. Horbacewicz states, “Now that the profession is moving towards residencies for physical therapists, it is a natural progression for us to be one of the first in New York to have our orthopedic residency program become credentialed by the APTA.”

[Source: Touro College]