Hendrick Health and West Texas Rehabilitation Center Orthopaedic Residency

The Hendrick Health and West Texas Rehabilitation Center Orthopaedic Residency (HHWTRCOR) Program is non-degree program located in Abilene, Texas. HHWTRCOR was created as a collaboration between three independent organizations, Hendrick Medical Center (HMC), West Texas Rehabilitation Center (WTRC) and Hardin-Simmons Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (HSU). All three organizations pride themselves on hard work, measurable outcomes, and Christian ministry. Our program faculty offer extensive diversity in their physical therapy backgrounds, which is a strength of this residency program.

The common goal of HHWTRCOR is to provide a rigorous curriculum which develops highly-skilled, compassionate orthopaedic physical therapists who provide excellent orthopaedic care grounded in evidence-supported practice and service to the community.

HHWTRCOR offers a varied orthopaedic comprehensive advanced learning experience with 14 highly accomplished, certified and experienced mentors across three program sites. Residents experience a wide variety of orthopaedic diagnoses and patient populations encompassing all ages while developing advanced evaluation, differential diagnosis, varied manual therapy, dry needling, soft tissue mobilization, and other therapy techniques. Through the program’s academic experience, the resident will engage in teaching and research opportunities while mentoring DPT students. The program’s clinical experience offers extensive one-on-one mentorship, challenges in problem solving and critical thinking, and practice in evidence-supported skills while becoming a proficient, autonomous practitioner.

Our mentoring faculty hold an array of advanced credentials of teaching including FAAOMPT, OCS, ScD, C-DN, COMT, CHT, WHS, TPI, PRPC, MEd, CSCS, and K-Vest.

Geographically, Abilene is located about 2 hours west of the DFW area. Abilene is home to Dyess Air Force Base and three private universities, offering a wide range of experiences to the orthopaedic clinician.

The Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE or Board) met on Jan. 18, 2023, and granted initial accreditation for Hendrick Health and West Texas Rehabilitation Center Orthopaedic Residency for a period of 5 years through Jan. 2028. Now, you can apply online for the residency.

Applications open for February 2024 start.

  • Spring 2024 Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023, for start date of Feb. 19, 2024
  • Fall 2024 Deadline: June 15, 2024

Program Contact

Dr. Marsha Rutland

Professor of Physical Therapy 325-670-1337

Degrees

  • Non-degree program offered in conjunction with Hendrick Health, West Texas Rehabilitation Center, and Hardin-Simmons Department of Physical Therapy. Selected residents receive an Orthopedic Residency Certificate of completion.

Why do your physical therapy orthopaedic residency in Abilene?

Mission

The program will provide an evidence-supported, up-to-date curriculum to develop highly-skilled, compassionate orthopaedic physical therapists who provide excellent orthopaedic care grounded in evidence-supported practice and service to the community we serve.

Physical Therapy room

Core Values

*Excellence
*Integrity
*Compassion
*Evidence-Supported Practice
*Service

Program Details

The resident position will be paid by Hendrick Medical Center and West Texas Rehabilitation Center (WTRC) at 80% of the rate of a new graduate. The intern will work 8 hours per week teaching at Hardin-Simmons University as the resident is going through residency training of 32 hours/week at Hendrick Medical Center and West Texas Rehabilitation Center (WTRC). This intern/resident position will assist in teaching first and second year HSU DPT students and providing care at the HSU pro-bono PT clinic.

The residency program is a one-year commitment to Hendrick Medical Center, West Texas Rehabilitation Center (WTRC), and Hardin-Simmons University with completion after 12 months in the program.

Essential Duties/Basic Responsibilities

Assist as Teaching Assistant in Kinesiology, Anatomy, Musculoskeletal I and II, and provide pro-bono services in the HSU PT Campus Clinic.

How long is the residency? 12 months

When does the program start? February 2022 and then annually beginning in February.

HHWTRCOR Program Goals

The goals of the HHWTRCOR residency program for the resident include the following:

  1. The residency supports the missions of all facilities involved in the program.
  2. The program maintains ABPTRFE accreditation.
  3. Provide residents with high quality, consistent experiences at all clinic locations.
  4. The program is sustainable.
  5. Residents demonstrate proficiency in knowledge and skill required for specialist orthopaedic clinical practice.
  6. In 3 years following graduation, graduates demonstrate continued growth in the profession.

HHWTRCOR Prerequisites 

  1. Physical Therapy degree from an accredited Physical Therapy program
  2.  Current PT licensure in the state of Texas
  3. Have no felony convictions or other legal issues that would prevent the candidate from practicing PT, and in good standing with the Texas PT Board
  4. Recommendation letters (1 from faculty, 1 from CI or professional colleague)
  5. One-page document explaining why they are a good candidate for this program
  6. Resume with cover letter/Curriculum Vitae
  7. Current CPR/BLS certification
  8. Member of APTA, ortho section and TPTA
  9. Transcripts

Goals of the Resident within a year of program completion

  1. Successful completion of the APTA Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) Exam.

Goals of the Resident over the course of the program curriculum  

  1. Successful completion of IAOM-US/ODNS dry needling courses and pursue certification (if applicable).
  2. Complete program hours- 1:1 mentorship, unsupervised, academic, etc.
  3. Serve as a research project mentor for current HSU physical therapy students.
  4. Teach a 1 hour CCU course at HSU’s Lunch and Learn Series and provide an in-service at both facilities.
  5. Serve as a teaching and lab assistant for PT students in the HSU DPT curriculum during spring, fall and summer semesters.
  6. Teach a minimum of 2 learning enhancements for HSU PT students.
  7. Provide a minimum of 10 community service hours.
  8. Provide Pro-Bono physical therapy care through HSU Campus Clinic at a minimum of 10 times.
  9. Complete the weekly didactic work- on-site and self-study as outlined by the Resident Benchmark Table.

Link to apply: https://rfptcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login​

  • Spring 2024 Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023, for start date of Feb. 19, 2024
  • Fall 2024 Deadline: June 15, 2024
  1. Graston, SFMA, Functional Movement Screen (FMSTM), ASTYM, ZeroG, AlterG Antigravity Treadmill, Blood Flow Restriction (BFR), Kinesio Tape provider, K-vest, Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), Myofascial DecompressionTM, TRX provider.
  2. Manual therapies: Institute of Physical Art (IPA), International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine (IAOM-US), Cyriax, Maitland, McKenzie, American Academy of Manipulative Therapy: Spinal Manipulation Institute, Manual Therapy Institute, Kaltenborn, Mulligan, Paris.
  3. Vasyli orthotics
  4. Dry needling through Myopain, American Academy of Manipulative Therapy: Dry needling Institute, Kinetacore, ODNS,
  5. Diagnostic Ultrasound-DUS
  6. Pelvic Health

Program Director and Mentor – Hendrick Health

Miranda Harvey, PT, DPT, OCS, CFMT, FFMT, FAAOMPT

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Orthopedic Certified Specialist
  • Certified Functional Manual Therapist
  • Fellow of Functional Manual Therapy
  • Fellow of American Academy Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapist
  • APTA APH CAPP-Pelvic

Brad HicksWTRC Clinical Site Coordinator and Mentor

Brad Hicks, PT, DPT

  • WTRC Clinical Site Coordinator and Mentor- West Texas Rehabilitation Center
  • DPT, Hardin Simmons University, 2002
  • Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist
  • Myofascial Decompression Certified
  • Certified Dry Needler (Myopain)
  • Titleist Performance Institute Certified
  • Certified Kvest level 1, 2, 3
  • Provider for TRX, Graston M1 techniques, Kinesiotape, Zero G gait and balance system, blood flow restriction, and manual therapy

Marsha D Rutland-Professor of Physical Therapy at the Holland School of Sciences & MathematicsProgram Coordinator and Mentor

Marsha Rutland, PT, ScD, OCS, COMT, C-DN

  • Program Coordinator and Mentor  Hardin-Simmons University
  • BS in PT (Southwestern UT Health Science Center-Dallas) 1979
  • MEd – Hardin-Simmons University, 2002
  • ScD: Doctor of Science in Orthopedics -Texas Tech University Health Science Center
  • Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS)- ABPTS
  • Certified Dry Needler (IAOM)
  • COMT: Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist
  • CSCS: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Provider for TRX, Graston, Kinesiotape

Joe McCormick-Professor of Physical Therapy Holland School of Sciences & MathematicsAcademic Site Coordinator and Mentor

Joe McCormick, PT, ScD, DPT, COMT, OCS

  • Academic Site Coordinator and Mentor-Hardin-Simmons University
  • DPT, Hardin-Simmons University
  • ScD: Doctor of Science in Orthopedics -Texas Tech University Health Science Center
  • Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS)- ABPTS
  • COMT: Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist
  • Certified Dry Needler, American Academy of Manipulation Therapy Dry Needling Institute

Other Clinical Mentors

  • Marco Jimenez, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT
  • Erin Bailey, OT, CHT
  • Melissa Lesley, PT, MPT,  WCS
  • Caleb Tiemeyer PT, DPT, OCS
  • Meghan Lynette Cordes, PT, MPT, WCS, CLT, ATRIC
  • Brady Holcombe, PT, DPT, OCS
  • Leigh Ann Greer, PT, DPT, C-DN
  • Justin Tammany, PT, ScD, DPT, OCS
  • Kelsey Dow, PT, DPT, OCS
  • Kristin Emerson, OT, CHT

“This program and the various opportunities afforded to me have laid the foundation for my clinical and professional growth. I have developed clinical reasoning, mental agility, and metacognition that will continue to grow with my career due to this foundation. Most importantly this program has developed my humility as a clinician.” – Christian M.