Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency

Adventist Health Glendale's Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program focuses on providing clinical training for physical therapists that accelerates their professional development in becoming a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. Since our program’s initial accreditation in 2010, all of our residents have graduated and passed the orthopedic board certification examination.

AHGL is an accredited physical therapy orthopedic residency by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).

View Adventist Health Glendale’s financial fact sheet.

General Details

The residency begins in January and runs for 50 consecutive weeks. The curriculum combines educational hours, 1:1 mentoring hours and patient care clinic hours with orthopedic physical therapy patients.

Residents are employed in a full-time benefited position by Adventist Health Glendale.

Residency Goals

• Highest standards of professionalism in orthopedic physical therapy.
• Highest level of evidence-based orthopedic physical therapy.
• Develop advanced clinical competence in orthopedic physical therapy.
• Prepare residents for successful completion of the board certification in orthopedic physical therapy.
• Maintain Adventist Health Glendale’s 100% pass rate on orthopedic certified clinical specialist examination.

The residency consists of the following three domains:

1:1 Mentorship (150 hours) - With APTA board certified orthopedic clinical specialist

Patient Care Clinic Hours in orthopedic physical therapy (1,600 hours)

Educational Hours (350 hours)

• Core and Professional Competencies.
• Foundational Knowledge.
• Psychomotor Skills and Skills Checklist.
• Lectures and Labs.
• Conferences and Seminars.
• Live Patient and Written Examinations.
• Capstone and Item Writing Projects.
• Case Study Presentation.

Eligibility/Application Requirements

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• Entry-level physical therapy degree from CAPTE-accredited program.
• California Physical Therapy licensure.
• Residents must onboard as Adventist Health Glendale associates no later than August before the start of the residency year.
• New graduates must be NPTE board eligible no later than July before the start of the residency program the following January.

Applications will be evaluated based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

• Academic and clinical education.
• Clinical experience in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy.
• Leadership and community service experiences.

To apply for the upcoming residency year, please visit RF-PTCAS for application details and deadlines.

Contact Us

Kirk R. Bentzen, PT, DPT, MBA
Program Director
Physical Therapy Residency Programs – Orthopedic/Sports
BentzeKR@ah.org

Adventist Health Glendale’s Therapy & Wellness Center
2560 Colorado Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90041

Phone: (323) 255-5409
Fax: (323) 255-5732