Q: Would I get to rotate into each specialty clinic or just some?
A: The specialty clinics are the pillars of the curriculum and residents will get experience in each one: Observation, then co-treating, then leading the visit. Related joints (i.e., shoulder with swim clinic) are covered in each specialty clinic via didactic and lab experiences that focus on biomechanics.
Q: How is the didactic material taught?
A: All of our curriculum is taught by live people with years of sports medicine expertise in-house. Almost all of it is taught by other PTs and ATCs on our team — colleagues you work with each day. Some instruction is by professionals from the university, either in athletics or the PT school. Most of the main units for the joints — knee, shoulder, spine, etc. — are taught combined with the Ortho residents. None of the didactics rely on third-party or online companies.
Q: Can I choose to spend more time emphasizing one clinic?
A: After rotating through each, there is usually time in the last couple of months where the resident can request to revisit and focus more on one specialty. This is arranged on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Is there a teaching component in your residency?
A: There are many opportunities to teach in the clinic and as part of the didactic aspects when combined with ortho residents. Because sports residencies are unique from others in having time spent in the training room and event coverage out of the clinic, there is less time to teach outside the clinic. However, our program does partner with the UW Athletic Training program each year where residents are encouraged to plan, organize and teach a lab unit.
Q: What is the event coverage like?
A: Residents are assigned to one large local high school and provide both training room and event coverage there for the various varsity sports through the school year. There are also additional opportunities to cover events such as Ironman Wisconsin, Madison Marathon, club tournaments for ultimate frisbee, rugby, lacrosse, etc.
Q: What’s a typical schedule?
A: A typical schedule usually consists of 30 hours per week in the clinic treating patients Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The didactic component is largely on Thursdays (and some Fridays), with training room hours on Thursday afternoons. Events can occur on any weekday, but most often occur on Friday nights (especially with football) and some Saturday mornings or all-day Saturday tournaments periodically.
Q: How does your program schedule mentoring?
A: There are two main clinic locations and residents spend about half the program at each location. At each of these locations, there are 2-3 mentors who each usually mentor 1½-2 hours per week on the resident schedule, which often involves some pre-planning discussion, new and return patient visit and discussion afterward. In addition, monthly meetings are scheduled with mentors and residents for reflection and patient updates. Finally, a mid-term meeting is scheduled to ensure consistency in mentoring while residents transition to their new clinic location.
Q: Is there a research component?
A: Each resident may choose between the Research Track or the Coverage track. Those who choose the research track will have a more accelerated timeline and set of expectations for producing a published paper by the end of the program (as well as presenting this at a subsequent CSM). Those choosing Coverage will spend more time in event coverage at certain sports seasons and will have a less ambitious research expectation, but will still be expected to have a project, attend the weekly meetings, and have a product at the finish that can be presented or perhaps published later. We can discuss these options in more detail through the application process.
Q: Which facilities will I be at?
A: The main clinic locations are East Madison Hospital and Science Dr Medical Center. Your starting location is assigned prior to your arrival.
Q: Do we work with the UW athletes?
A: Much of the research is based on data from, and/or collecting data and measurements on, athletes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. However, in terms of coverage and rehab, we generally do not work with the athletes because they have their own rehabilitation and athletic training staff on campus.
Q: What other opportunities exist?
A: Every year there are different opportunities, including assisting on writing a book chapter, special research or other projects, educational presentation from traveling clinicians or professors, discounted fees at sports medicine conferences, etc.
Q: What are you looking for in a candidate / resident?
A: Strong candidates tend to have a high interest in sports either as an athlete, coach or researcher. We value the unique and diverse experiences that each candidate may bring to the program. Strong letters of recommendation are highly valued.
Q: Does it matter what school / state I’m from?
A: There is no preference to UW students, Wisconsin residents or any particular PT program.
Q: Can I take the licensure exam in July?
A: If you are a new graduate, you must take the exam in either April or January (if you graduate in December). You cannot start the program with a temporary license, thus you will not be able to take the exam in July.
Q: Do I need to have my EMR/EMT/ATC to apply?
A: You do not need any of these to apply. However, we do request that you have at least one of these certifications upon entry to the program as part of your qualifications in providing event coverage.
