Pediatric Residency FAQ’s
Do you accept applications from new graduates?
- Yes! We have selected candidates who are new graduates as well as candidates with some independent work experience. For new graduates, strong pediatric clinical experiences, strong letters of recommendation from pediatric clinical instructors, and evidence of substantial exposure to the pediatric population are important for a competitive application. All candidates must demonstrate clinical capacity and readiness to carry an independent caseload in the pediatric outpatient setting upon matriculation to the program.
Is there an opportunity to participate in research in UNC’s Pediatric PT Residency program?
- Yes! Several mentors have ongoing research and projects that the resident can participate in and learn more about during the year. The resident is expected to develop at least one scholarship product (eg., abstract, presentation, or manuscript submission) that may relate to a case study that the resident develops or that is part of a mentor’s research.
Will I have the opportunity to develop teaching skills?
- Yes! The pediatric resident provides at least one lecture on pediatric content in the UNC DPT program and presents one case study at the UNC DPT grand rounds. Other potential opportunities include assisting with pediatric labs in the DPT program and supervising pre-PT students during the Helping Kids with Hemiplegia camp. The program’s LEND Fellowship also requires one short presentation on a PT topic to a multi-disciplinary audience.
In what setting does the resident work?
- The pediatric resident carries an independent pediatric outpatient caseload at the UNC Center for Rehabilitation Care.
What other settings will I practice in?
- The pediatric resident will have hands-on clinical mentorship in early intervention, acute care, school systems, and outpatient settings. See the fact sheet for more information.
Will I have the opportunity to be trained in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?
- The acute care module includes one week of clinical mentorship in the NICU to expose the resident to this population, but there will not be enough exposure in this area to develop independent evaluation and treatment skills with this population. The early intervention module includes training in UNC’s Special Infant Care Clinic, the NICU’s high-risk infant follow-up clinic.
Is there flexibility in the program’s curriculum to allow the resident to tailor their experience towards specific areas of interest?
- Not really. There are so many wonderful opportunities in our university and health care system that the resident’s schedule is pretty full. Between these opportunities and ABPTRFE’s requirements, there is not a lot of wiggle room. There are 2 “make up” weeks throughout the residency when written exams are scheduled. If the resident chooses, they may schedule additional experiences during this time.
Will I have the opportunity to interact with other residents and fellows?
- Yes! Between the UNC Division of Physical Therapy and UNC Health, there are 5 physical therapy residency programs, 1 PT fellowship, and 2 OT fellowships. Some curriculum modules like clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, and teaching and learning are combined to include all residents and fellows.
Are your graduates successful?
- We think so! Our graduates boast a 100% PCS exam pass rate and work in all different areas of pediatric PT including schools, outpatient, and acute care. Our graduates have published research, participate in DPT program teaching, and provide clinical education.