Pediatric Residency Program
The pediatric residency program prepares licensed physical therapists from SAU with advanced knowledge and clinical practice skills in the specialty area of pediatric physical therapy.
By participating in a residency program, therapists gain many of the experiences needed to apply for clinical specialization through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
The Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program is in the accreditation phase to become an APTA post-professional clinical residency program. This program began the credentialing process with the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) beginning in April, 2023.
Currently, this program is only offered for students graduating from the professional DPT Program at St. Ambrose University and with affiliate residency sites. The residency builds upon the 114 semester hours of graduate credit completed in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
Program Mission
The mission of this residency program is to prepare licensed physical therapists with advanced knowledge and clinical practice skills in the specialty area of pediatric physical therapy. Further, the program will enhance clinical reasoning skills, provide experience in teaching and presenting, reinforce use of best evidence in practice, and facilitate life-long learning.
For more information, contact Program Director Candi Gardner, PT, DPT at GardnerCandi@sau.edu or 563-333-6403, or Program Coordinator Katie Powers, PT, DPT at PowersKathleenE@sau.edu or 563-333-6415.
Residency Curriculum
The curriculum consists of a series of three in-person classes in combination with self study and distance learning experiences. In-person courses including radiology, advanced pediatric therapeutics, teaching practicum, and mentored clinical blocks. In-person learning is blended with at home study courses and asynchronous learning modules to provide the advanced training needed for specialization in pediatric physical therapy. Self study will be completed using the Medbridge PCS Prep Course Modules as well as asynchronous and synchronous modules presented by the APTA Pediatric Residency and Fellowship Consortium.
The program utilizes classroom and laboratory training relevant to the specialty area, as well as study groups, case presentations, clinical research, staff supervision and community service. The program will be completed over a 12-month period with a new residency class beginning the spring semester each year.
A critical aspect of the program involves clinical mentoring of residents while they are involved in performing patient care. Residents are mentored by academic and clinical faculty who possess advanced clinical skills (board specialty certification), expertise in teaching, and involvement in scholarly and professional activities.
The clinical component of the residency is currently being offered in collaboration with Genesis Health System and the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency.
ABPTRFE
The American Physical Therapy Association recognizes the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education as the agency for the accreditation of physical therapist residency and fellowship education programs.
The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education determines the standards with which a residency or fellowship education program must comply to be accredited.
More Information
What is a clinical residency?
A clinical residency program is a carefully planned, post-professional clinical and didactic education experience designed to advance the resident's preparation as a provider of patient care services in a defined area of clinical practice. It combines opportunities for ongoing clinical supervision and mentoring with a theoretical basis for advanced practice and scientific inquiry.
Residency programs focus on furthering the resident's expertise in examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention and the management of patients within the area of clinical specialization. By participating in a residency program, therapists gain many of the experiences needed to apply for clinical specialization through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
What is a clinical fellowship?
A clinical fellowship is a planned program of post-professional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists who demonstrate clinical expertise in a learning experience in an area of clinical practice related to the practice focus of the fellowship. (Fellows are frequently postresidency prepared or board-certified specialists.)
What is the difference between a residency and a clinical fellowship program?
A clinical residency program is designed to substantially advance a resident's expertise in examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and management of patients in a defined area of clinical practice (specialty).
The residency experience often prepares an individual to become a board-certified clinical specialist. In contrast, a fellowship program is designed to provide greater depth in a specialty or subspecialty area than that which is covered in a residency program.
Additionally, participants in a clinical fellowship program must be licensed as a physical therapist and possess one or more of the following qualifications:
1) specialist certification
2) completion of a residency in a specialty area
3) demonstrable clinical skills within a particular specialty area.
Contact:
Candi Gardner, PT, DPT, OCS, CMT
Director of Orthopaedic and Pediatric Residency Programs
St. Ambrose University, Center for Health Sciences Education
1320 W. Lombard St.
Davenport, IA 52804
563-333-6403
GardnerCandi@sau.edu
Katie Powers, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT
Program Coordinator for Pediatric Residency Program
St. Ambrose University, Center for Health Sciences Education
1320 W. Lombard St.
Davenport, IA 52804
563-333-6415
PowersKathleenE@sau.edu
Candi L. Gardner, PT, DPT
Dr. Gardner is the Director of the Residency Program and is a faculty member in the Manual Therapy Course Series. She practices in the area of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy with an interest in treating spine and sports conditions. She completed an orthopaedic residency program training to become a Certified Manual Therapist and is an Advanced Credential Clinical Instructor.
Katie Powers, PT, DPT
Dr. Powers is the Coordinator of the Pediatric Residency Program and is a faculty member in the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program. She practices in the area of Pediatric Physical Therapy as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy with an interest in working with premature infants and young children with developmental disabilities. She is an Advanced Credential Clinical Instructor and maintains NDT certification
The Pediatric Residency Program is currently in the accreditation review process through the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education:
3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
800-999-2782, ext 8552 phone
resfel@apta.org
Information on how to file a complaint with ABPTRFE.
The St. Ambrose University Residency in Pediatric Physical Therapy has a total tuition cost of $8,400. The total cost of the program is divided into two payments, and the cost will not change over the course of the program.
ABPTRFE Financial Fact Sheet listing Tuition and Fees can be found by clicking this link.
Contact
Candi Gardner, PT, DPT
Physical Therapy
Center for Health Sciences Education
1320 W. Lombard St.
Davenport, IA 52804
563-333-6403
GardnerCandi@sau.edu