The UAB School of Health Professions’ Department of Physical Therapy and TherapySouth are co-sponsoring the UAB/TherapySouth Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program. This is a unique partnership between UAB’s nationally ranked academic department and one of the leading therapist-owned, outpatient physical therapy practices in the Southeast. Our program is designed to help licensed physical therapists pursue clinical excellence, advance their knowledge, educate other providers, engage in research, and become leaders in the field of orthopedic physical therapy.
This post-professional residency program accomplishes in one year what otherwise might take a therapist many years to achieve professionally. Our program teaches physical therapist residents to provide advanced patient/client management services with excellent quality and value, demonstrate excellence in teaching, and contribute to the development and application of evidence-based patient care and practice management. Residents will rotate through 3 different clinics during the 12-month residency.
Mission
The mission of this program is to provide orthopedic physical therapy clinical specialists who demonstrate advanced orthopedic patient/client management, evidence-based practice, critical inquiry, and teaching skills, and who are empowered to become leaders in their local and professional communities.
Program Outcomes (2020-present)
- Graduation Rate: 83% (n=5/6)
- Orthopedic Specialist Certification Exam Pass Rate: 80% (n=4/5)
- Employment Rate in Orthopedic PT Setting: 100% (n=5)
Program Financial Fact Sheet
The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) has created this Financial Fact Sheet to provide financial transparency to applicants on the true costs to undergo residency and fellowship education. Download the 
ABPTRFE Program Financial Fact Sheet.
Admissions
Application Process
Application Deadlines:
February 16, 2026
Application Procedure:
Applications to our residency program are submitted through RF-PTCAS, the “central application system” for most residencies. Our 2024-25 application period is open from October 2025 to February 16, 2026.
Admissions Process Timeline
- February 16, 2026 - Application due
- February - Candidate interviews
- March - Offer made/applicants notified
- August 10, 2026 - Resident start date (estimate)
Curriculum
The one-year residency curriculum provides 1:1 mentoring across the continuum of care, including neuro ICU and acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient physical therapy, and community-based health/wellness services. Most didactic work will be completed through the MedBridge’s NCS Prep Program , supplemented by in-person discussions and selected, independent readings. In addition, our individualized program provides varying experience in teaching, research, and service in partnership with the UAB Department of Physical Therapy and the UAB-Lakeshore Research Collaborative, and local pro bono clinics.
Additional Information
For detailed information or questions about admissions or curriculum, contact Liz Wylie, PT, DPT, NCS or John Lowman, PT, PhD at
The UAB School of Health Professions’ Department of Physical Therapy and UAB Medicine’s Department of Rehabilitation Services are co-sponsoring the UAB Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program. A unique partnership between UAB’s nationally ranked academic and clinical enterprises, the program is designed to help licensed physical therapists elevate their practice, advance their knowledge, educate other providers, engage in research, and become leaders in the field of neurologic physical therapy.
This post-professional residency program accomplishes in one year what otherwise might take a therapist many years to achiev
e professionally. Our program teaches physical therapist residents to provide advanced patient/client management services with excellent quality and value, demonstrate excellence in teaching, and contribute to the development and application of evidence-based practices. We are currently selecting only one resident for the 12-month appointment.
Mission
The mission of this program is to provide neurologic physical therapy clinical specialists who demonstrate advanced neurologic patient/client management, evidence-based practice, critical inquiry, and teaching skills, and who are empowered to become leaders in their local and professional communities.
Why choose UAB?
- One of the nation’s largest academic medical centers.
- Level I trauma center and certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.
- Consistently named to U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Hospitals’ and nationally ranked in neurology/neurosurgery.
- One of 14 Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems centers.
- One of 16 Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems centers.
- Ongoing reflection and 1:1 mentoring to help develop clinical reasoning, leadership, and interprofessional skills.
- Teaching abilities cultivated in the clinic, classroom, and lab settings.
- Opportunities for research with leading neurorehabilitation investigators.
- Become an APTA-credentialed clinical instructor (CI).
- Participate in UAB’s Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CI Therapy) training program.
Program Outcomes (2019-present)
- Graduation Rate: 100% (n=5)
- Neurologic Specialist Certification Exam Pass Rate: 100% (n=4; 1 more has applied to sit for exam)
- Employment Rate in Neurologic PT Setting: 100% (n=5)
Program Financial Fact Sheet
The ABPTRFE has created a fact sheet to provide financial transparency about the true costs of residency and fellowship education. Download the ABPTRFE Program Financial Fact Sheet.