LEND Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency

About the program

For physical therapists who aspire to become leaders in the specialty of pediatrics, we offer a full-time, one-year residency at the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) at the OHSU Institute on Development and Disability (IDD). The residency begins and ends in late August or early September. Diversity is a core value of the IDD at OHSU.  We believe that the educational environment is enhanced when diverse groups of people with diverse ideas come together to learn.

The Physical Therapy (PT) Residency functions within the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. The LEND Program promotes leadership, research skills, and clinical expertise in graduate level health care professionals who intend to devote their careers to working with children, youth and adults with a variety of health conditions including developmental disabilities.

A logo that reads "ABPTRFE Accredited Program."

This residency program, established in 2006, is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association and has 100% graduation rate.

See a copy of our American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) Financial Fact Sheet.

Our program is a mentored clinical residency anchored in the CDRC interdisciplinary outpatient clinics. The clinics address issues related to children, youth and adults presenting with health conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, hemophilia, Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, neonatal high-risk (follow up)  learning and attention difficulties, craniofacial disorders, and genetic and metabolic disorders. The resident will also have mentored clinical training in the acute care setting at Doernbecher Children's Hospital (DCH) as well as Early Intervention and school-based settings within the Portland metropolitan area.

With mentored clinical experience as the primary focus, the PT Resident will:

  • Develop skills in examination, evaluation and intervention for children, youth and adults presenting with various health conditions in a variety of settings   
  • Enhance knowledge in all phases and domains of normal child development including physical, communication, behavioral, self-care and cognitive.  
  • Develop awareness of, and collaborate with, the 12 other disciplines in the LEND Program
  • Enhance appreciation of the impact of neurodevelopmental disabilities across the life span
  • Develop expertise in addressing pediatric health care episodes such as hospitalization, trauma, and acute illness  
  • Practice with knowledge of the importance of family, culture, and the community by addressing attitudes, economic factors, access to services, cultural awareness and legislation  
  • Develop skills in interviewing and collaborating with families for best management of health issues related to children, youth, young adults and adults with various health conditions.

  • Our program prepares residents to sit for the Pediatric Clinical Specialty (PCS) exam through participation in multiple clinical and didactic experiences across settings.  We believe taking the PCS is a personal choice and therefore it is not a benchmark of our program.

Program outcomes

  • Number of residency years: 16
  • Number of graduates: 15
  • Number of LEND Fellows: 16
  • Residency Program graduates working in pediatric physical therapy: 93%
  • Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy (PCS) exam pass rate: 100% on the first try based on 8 former residents choosing to take the exam.

The Physical Therapy Resident is an integral member of the interdisciplinary LEND cohort. Mentored opportunities include:

  • Clinical Research: either by collaborating on an existing research project or by designing a protocol and testing their own research question. 
  • Leadership Project (past projects have included exploring language related to disability, disability and inclusion, starting a non-profit for recreational activities)
  • Community Engagement: an outreach project in the local community
  • Weekly Interdisciplinary Seminars: interactive sessions including guest speakers, interdisciplinary collaboration, case studies, advocacy work, skill building and leadership activities
  • Family Mentoring Experience: the resident will interact on multiple occasions with a family who has a child with a disability.  This provides an opportunity to learn from the experts and further enhance understanding of family centered care.
  • Policy and Advocacy: past opportunities have included workshops, visits to the state capitol to meet with legislatures, attending the AUCD conference and Disability Policy seminar.
  • Practice with knowledge of the importance of family, culture, and the community by addressing attitudes, economic factors, access to services, cultural awareness and legislation  
  • Develop skills in interviewing and collaborating with families for best management of health issues related to children, youth, young adults and adults with various health conditions.

Additional opportunities have included:

  • Mentorship in academia, opportunity to guest lecture to PT students, volunteer in a pro-bono  clinic, and/or serve as a lab TA
  • Frequent in-services, Pediatric Grand Rounds, journal club, and "Brown Bag" presentations from faculty, staff, and guests on topics related to the health concerns of children
  • Opportunities to participate in conferences and continuing education related to pediatric physical therapy
  • Community outreach activities including (but not limited to) Go Baby Go!, AMBUCS bike program, Buddy Walks for Down syndrome, Special Olympics.

How to apply

Applicants must:

  • Be a graduate of an APTA accredited physical therapy program
  • Be eligible for physical therapy licensure in Oregon. Licensure is necessary for participation in the residency program

Please submit the following:

  • RF-PTCAS application through the website. Please DO NOT answer the following questions on the RF-PTCAS application:
    • What do you wish to gain in a residency/fellowship program?
    • Discuss aspects of your background and professional experience that particularly qualify you for participation in a residency/fellowship program.
    • What are your future plans as they relate to a specialized/subspecialized area of physical therapy?

Instead of those three questions, please submit:

  • A formal letter of intent (maximum of 2 pages) sent to the director using the following guidelines:  
    • outline your background and areas of interest,
    • state your goals for the Residency
    • describe your vision of how the Residency experience will enhance your career.
  • Letters of reference from three individuals who can comment on your candidacy for the Residency.

The letter of intent and letters of reference can be uploaded to the RF-PTCAS application.

Selected applicants will participate in an interview on the OHSU campus as part of the application.

A resident salary with OHSU benefit package is available for the residency.

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Kerry Haugh, P.T., D.P.T.
Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
LEND Training Coordinator, Physical Therapy
OHSU Institute on Development and Disability
707 S.W. Gaines Street
Portland OR 97239
503-494-7863

Bethany Sloane, P.T., D.P.T.
Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
LEND Training Coordinator, Physical Therapy
OHSU Institute on Development and Disability
707 S.W. Gaines Street
Portland OR 97239
503-494-3232

You can also email inquiries about the residency program to pedsPTres@ohsu.edu