Brooks Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the University of North Florida, introduced the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) Fellowship in January 2010.  The program provides an eclectic educational experience for individuals interested in attaining increased skills in the practice area of orthopaedic manual physical therapy.

What is a PT Fellowship?

As defined by the American Physical Therapy Association, a clinical fellowship is a planned program of post-professional clinical and classroom education for physical therapists who demonstrate clinical expertise, prior to commencing the program, in a learning experience in an area of clinical practice related to the practice focus of the fellowship. Fellows are frequently post-residency prepared or board-certified specialists. A fellowship program must possess a curriculum that: 1) is focused, with advanced clinical and didactic instruction within a subspecialty area of practice; 2) is intensive and includes extensive mentored clinical experience; and, 3) provides a sufficient and appropriate patient population to create an environment for advanced clinical skill building.

Who is eligible to apply for a fellowship program?

Since a fellowship is an advanced level of training that is focused on a sub-specialty of a larger specialty area of practice, the expectation is that an individual would have completed a residency within a specialty area of practice that coincides with the sub-specialty focus of the fellowship program. An individual could also demonstrate, via a professional portfolio, that their professional development experiences over a period of time have provided them with the level of learning and skill formation associated with performance of a formal residency program. Individuals interested in pursuing this route should contact the Brooks Residency/Fellowship Manager to learn more about the specifics of the professional portfolio development process.

Fellowship Program Infrastructures

The program is 1 year in length and the individuals enrolled will be practicing within Brooks Rehabilitation during the course of the program. The primary training offered within the program consists of three components that include didactic/psychomotor classes, clinical mentoring and supervision, and directed learning activities. Success in the program will be measured by both written and practical exams as well as the grading of other required program activities.