Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program

What is unique about St. Jude Medical Center Neurological Residency Program?

St. Jude Medical Center is a Center of Excellence, located 30 minutes from the beach in Fullerton, California, and the outpatient facility is located in nearby Brea with an offsite 6,000-square-foot facility dedicated to the neurological population. St. Jude Medical Center takes pride in its core values: Dignity, Excellence, Integrity, Compassion and Service to those in need.

St. Jude Medical Center offers a 12-month program. St. Jude Medical Center residents will have the unique opportunity to gain clinical experience with mentorship covering a variety of patient diagnoses. Resident will provide the full spectrum of care from in-patient, outpatient to community participation. St. Jude Medical Center is staffed with physical therapy specialists, occupational therapy specialists, speech and language pathologists, physiatrists, certified rehabilitation nurses, neuro-psychologist, pharmacists, Department of Rehab specialists and contracts with a variety of durable medical equipment vendors.

St. Jude Medical Center has three indoor therapeutic pools, a pediatric gym with rock climbing wall, wheelchair seating and positioning clinic, a full spectrum gym, a simulated apartment, wellness community fitness, cognitive recovery day program, driving simulator and full auditorium for professional conferences and lectures. St. Jude Medical Center offers a wide variety of programs to assist our neurological population with their life roles: adapted driver’s training, cognitive recovery day program, RTI bike program, exoskeleton gait training program, hand program, upper extremity recovery program, cancer rehab program, pelvic floor program, bowel and bladder program, pain management program, concussion program, vestibular program, aquatic program, physician clinics and variety of diagnosis-specific support groups. St. Jude Medical Center is dedicated to serving the community in mind, body and spirit. 

What are resident-directed activities? 

The resident and mentor will establish activities within the first few months of residency tailored to learning needs and preferences. Activities could be case studies presentations, leading journal club, program development, and/or research. Resident will have the opportunity to participate in specialty clinics: wheelchair seating and positioning, rehab medicine clinic, and orthotic clinic. The resident will be expected to complete two live patient exams, four case study presentations, two in-services, lead six journal club, complete a final project, and pass final exam and Neuro Consortium final exam with 80 percent or better. 

When does the program begin? 

Resident will be expected to have all on-boarding paperwork completed by Sept. 28, 2020, and are expected to start the clinical portion of the Residency on this day. 

When is the application deadline?

Selected applicants will be contacted for an initial phone interview by Mid May and final applicants will be notified by May 15, 2020 regarding an onsite interview June. 

Are residents paid during the program?

Residents are compensated hourly for all clinical care hours (32 hours/ week).
Resident can be a benefited or non-benefited position.

What is a typical schedule for a resident?

During a typical week, the resident will be in clinic five days in clinical practice (32 hours paid) including four hours non paid mentor session hours. The remainder of the week is spent completing resident directed activities as determined by the resident and program faculty. 

Where do the residents practice during the program?

St. Jude Medical Center In-patient Rehab and Acute Rehab (Fullerton, California) and St Jude Medical Centers for Rehabilitation and Wellness Out-patient Services (Brea, California).

What is required of applicants to apply to the program? 

• Provide three references; two must be from past clinical instructors or employers.
• Applicants must have graduated from APTA accredited physical therapy education program
• Valid license to practice in the State of California by August 2020
• Valid CPR 
• Cover letter
• Additional application requirement are found on the ABPTREFE applicant website: abptrfe.org

Are residents expected and qualified to take the NCS exam?

Residents are expected to take the NCS exam within 1-2 years of graduating from the residency program. St Jude Medical Center is a developing program awaiting accreditation by the ABPTRFE and is designed to incorporate the concepts included in the description of specialty practice guidelines for neurologic PT. The Neurologic Physical Therapy Professional Education Consortium component of the program also emphasizes concepts addressed in the NCS exam. Graduation from an ABPTRFE accredited program automatically allows one to take the exam.

How much does the residency cost me?

Tuition: $1,000, payable to St Jude Medical Center by Sept. 28, 2020
Additional curriculum cost: Approximately $2000.00
Living expenses
Transportation expenses
License cost
APTA dues

Is an interview required for applicants?

June 2-18, 2020. Yes. A panel Interview will be held on site at St Jude Medical Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness. Select applicants will be invited to interview following review of all applications.

When will the candidate be selected?

All candidates will be notified by June 19, 2020 by email on the results of the interview and selection. The candidate selected for St Jude Medical Center Neurological Residency will be contacted by phone and email by June 20, 2020. Admission into the residency is subject to the sole discretion of the Residency Admission Committee and Residency Director.

Who are the program faculty and mentors?

Mentors are selected based on specialized field of practice and years of service in that particular area of practice. Each resident will have 4-10 mentors throughout their experience in order to have a broad experience in Neurological physical therapy.

What are my initial responsibilities upon accepting the Residency?

• Send $1000.00 non-refundable registration tuition deposit to Residency Director by Sept. 28, 2020.
• Sign the St Jude Medical Center Neurological Residency letter of Agreement.
• Complete all on-boarding paperwork and requirements If for any reason, at any time, the candidate is deemed by St Jude Medical Center to be ineligible for employment, participation in the residency will be automatically denied or terminated.
• Accepts all terms of employment agreement. 
• Accept the residency financial agreement as to salary, benefits, tuition and additional cost.
• Arrange for housing.

What are Sacred Encounters and why are they special?

St. Jude Medical Center takes pride in every encounter we have with patients, families and caregivers. Our Core values of Dignity, Excellence, Justice, Compassion and Integrity are highly valued throughout our organization. A Sacred Encounter is an opportunity for caregivers (health care provider) to exemplify one of the Core values towards a patient, family member or caregiver. It is a special moment when there is soul to soul connection at the deepest and highest level of connection. We take pride in our caregiver’s sacred encounters making a difference one person at a time.