Graduate

Sports Physical Therapy
Clinical Residency Program

YOU ARE BOUVÉ

Pursue a career in sports physical therapy with MGH and Northeastern.

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Sports Physical Therapy has partnered with the Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences at Northeastern University to offer a 13-month full-time clinical residency program for physical therapists interested in pursuing a career in sports physical therapy.

This program advances the knowledge and clinical competency of sports physical therapists as well as fostering a culture of continued learning and scientific inquiry while demonstrating a commitment to patients, students, and athletes at all levels.

Through academic, research, and clinical collaboration, we promote robust learning experiences and offer a unique opportunity to be an integral part of an interprofessional healthcare system working with recreational, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes.

Our mission is mission is to impact the health and wellbeing of the global community by developing leaders in physical therapy, movement, and rehabilitation sciences through interprofessional experiential education, translational research, and excellence in clinical practice.

The program consists of didactic courses, reinforced through clinical mentoring and practice/experiences.

Quick View

Degree type:
– Residency (non degree). Prepare to sit for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Sports Specialty Certification Exam
– Accredited by ABPTRFE (American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education
)

Study options:
– On ground (Boston Campus)

– Full-time only
13 months

Application deadline: Dec 1

GRE: Not required
F1 Eligible: No

Financial fact sheet

Clinical Experiences

MGH Sports Physical Therapy clinic responsibilities begin in July and continue throughout the entire sports clinical residency program (13 months). Athletic venue coverage typically begins in August.

Residents will participate in 30 hours of patient care at MGH Sports Physical Therapy clinic each week and 10 hours each week in the athletic training room.  Residents caseload will consist of a wide variety of orthopedic and sports related conditions throughout all body regions.

In addition to the clinic schedule, there will be ongoing athletic venue coverage and athletic training room opportunities. These opportunities occur throughout the thirteen-month residency and are specific to athletic season rather than direct correlation with curricular content. The athletic venue exposure will include but not be limited to the following:

Clinical Mentoring

Mentoring will occur throughout the entire thirteen month experience. Two 120 minutes unopposed mentoring sessions are scheduled with the Residency Faculty weekly. During these sessions the Residency Faculty observes the resident’s active patient care and provides feedback and mentoring to them.

There will be thirty minutes pre and post patient encounters along with the thirty to sixty minutes for the patient encounter itself. In addition to the time that is scheduled each week with the Residency Faculty, there will be ongoing opportunities for mentoring and discussion during athletic venue experiences with other program faculty.

Experiential Education

Residents utilize a variety of experiential learning opportunities to further develop clinical reasoning skills within sports physical therapy including simulation learning and learning assessment activities.  

Through simulation learning students are able to actively engage in patient management of acute sports related injuries and examine and refine their expertise.

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Admissions Requirements

For the RF-PTCAS application, you will need the following documentation:

Resumé/Curriculum Vitae

Three letters of recommendation
One letter should be from a former supervisor or clinical instructor you worked with, one should be from a faculty member at the institution you received your DPT degree from, and then a third of your choice.

Copy of official transcript from the College/University you received your PT degree from. 

Copy of all professional licenses (MA state licensure is required before beginning the residency program)

Copy of APTA membership and APTA of Massachusetts Membership (required)

Copy of completion of one of the following: EMT licensure, ATC licensure, or completion/registration for Emergency Response Course (one of these needs to be completed before beginning residency program).

Essay – please answer each part individually in no more than 300 words each.

  • Discuss your interest in pursuing a sports physical therapy residency.
  • Please discuss the qualities you possess that would make you a strong candidate for the MGH/NU Sports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program.
  • Please list three components that you feel make up an exceptional residency experience.
  • Please provide three personal goals for the 13 month MGH/NU Sports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program.
  • Discuss what it means to be a leader in the field of Sports Physical Therapy.

In addition to the RF-PTCAS, please complete the below PDF application form and submit with $50 non-refundable fee. (Pleas make checks out to “Northeastern University”). 

Application form, fee, and any additional documentation should be post marked by December 1 and mailed to the following address:

David Nolan, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS
DirectorSports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program,
Northeastern University Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehab Sciences
301 Robinson Hall
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115



Got questions?

Please reach out to:

David Nolan, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, SCS, CSCS
DirectorSports Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program

617-373-5268 (Office)
d.nolan@northeastern.edu

EXXAT Match Program

The Mass General Hospital/ Northeastern University Sports PT Residency Program will be participating in the standardized Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program Match for the upcoming application cycle.

This will process will fill our two available Resident positions for our upcoming start date: July 1, 2025.

All communication regarding
this match process will come through the Match Program, EXXAT. If you receive an interview offer, good luck.

We look forward to reviewing
your application!