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Our Mission

The mission of the UNC School of Medicine Department of Health Sciences and UNC Hospitals Rehabilitation Services residency programs is to provide a superior, comprehensive specialist training and mentorship to licensed clinicians to meet the health and wellness needs of the people of North Carolina and beyond. For the UNC Neurologic Physical Therapy residency, this mission is applied to physical therapists and their work with patients with neurologic conditions.

Residency Program Philosophy

The faculty and staff of the Division of Physical Therapy and UNC Hospitals are committed to developing residents who are recognized leaders within neurologic physical therapy. Residents will develop excellence in examination, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, teaching and the integration of best evidence into the patient care they provide. They will develop as a resource for the community in neurology and will contribute to the profession through entry-level and clinical teaching, writing, and leadership. Graduates of the residency program will be prepared to sit for the ABPTS Neurologic Certified Specialist (NCS) examination.

Program Structure

The program’s curriculum is designed in modules that address all areas of the Neurology Description of Specialty Practice (DSP). The modules include:

  • Academic mentorship in the topics of clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, teaching, and learning
  • Clinical mentorship in acute care
  • Clinical mentorship in acute inpatient rehabilitation
  • Clinical mentorship in outpatient settings

Additional mentored time is devoted to teaching and other areas of interest (service, research, etc.) as agreed upon by resident and his/her mentors. Didactic work is a combination of online study, small group modules with residents in other areas, and individualized face-to-face instruction by module mentors. Ongoing assignments and rotation-specific assessments provide the resident with regular benchmarks to ensure their learning progresses throughout the year. There are two written exams and two live patient exams administered at approximately the middle and end of the program. The resident is responsible for 30 hours a week of clinical work during the residency program in an outpatient setting, in addition to didactic, teaching and service responsibilities.

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Admission Information

  • Application opens October 1, 2024
  • Application deadline is December 15, 2024
  • Interview date is Friday, February 21, 2025

Program Alumni:

  • 2019-2020: Kayla Chee, PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy
  • 2020-2021: Ann O’Neil, PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy
  • 2021-2022: Rachel Donnelly, PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy
  • 2022-2023: Reece Long, PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy and Emily Ryall PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy
  • 2023-2024: Michael James, PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy

Program Outcomes:

  • 100% first-time pass rate for alumni that have taken NCS Exam
  • The program completion rate for the residency program is 86%.

Additional Program Contacts:

  • Neurologic Residency Director: Karen McCulloch, PT, PhD, MS, FAPTA, Board Certified Emerita
  • Neurologic Residency Coordinator: Audrey Czejkowski, PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy
  • Administrator Post-Graduate Programs: Kristel Maes, PT, DPT

Helpful Resources:

ABPTRFE Accreditation Status:

The University of North Carolina Neurologic Physical Therapy residency program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in neurologic rehabilitation.

 

Questions?

Be sure to check out the “Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Fact Sheet” under the helpful resources. Please contact Kristel Maes if you have any additional questions.