Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy
Mission
The mission of the Rochester Regional Health Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy program is to mentor the professional development and advanced clinical training of neurologic physical therapists. Residents will exemplify the core values of physical therapy professionalism and may capably contribute to the field of neurorehabilitation through leadership and skill as practitioners, educators, and clinical scholars who understand, value, and practice guided by current evidence.
Program Overview
This twelve-month program combines experiential clinical practice with advanced foundational knowledge and skill-based instruction. This full-time residency experience includes part-time employment for 26 patient care hours per week to provide physical therapy services to adult and pediatric individuals treated through the CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited inpatient and outpatient neurorehabilitation programs of Rochester Regional Health. Residents are also required to work one weekend day per month at an enhanced weekend pay rate. Residents receive a minimum of 150 hours of 1:1 clinical mentoring and 300 didactic and instructional hours in the classroom, laboratory, and webinar-based settings. The program provides a sufficient and appropriate patient population to address all components of the Description of Residency Practice (DRP) for neurologic physical therapy, and is guided by physical therapists with clinical expertise in neurorehabilitation, including multiple board-certified clinical specialists in neurologic physical therapy (NCS). The program provides residents observational and participation opportunities in Neurology Rounds, Neuro-Radiology rounds, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Rounds, Neuromuscular Disease Clinic, Parkinson's Disease Support Group, and Stroke Support Group. The program also provides residents with didactic instruction related to vestibular rehabilitation and concussion, as well as direct patient care experience and clinical mentoring for patients in the vestibular and concussion programs, led by physical therapists with vestibular certification through the Emory University program. This residency program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellow Education (ABPTRFE), the accreditation body for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for post-professional residency and fellowship programs in physical therapy.
In addition to the didactic instruction and clinical modules delivered by the residency program faculty, residents also participate in the Neurologic Physical Therapy Professional Education Consortium as part of the residency program's didactic curriculum. Residents are responsible for the tuition cost of the webinar and journal club portions of the Neuroconsortium, which is $1,530. There are no other required tuition costs for the residency program. However, residents may elect to register for an additional 5 online labs through the Neuroconsortium, for an optional $820 additional cost (for a total Neuroconsortium cost of $2,350). Visit www.neuroconsortium.org for additional information.
Program outcomes include: 11/13 program participants have successfully graduated from The Rochester Regional Health Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy. The program demonstrates a 100% first-time pass rate for program graduates who have sat for the NCS exam.
Application Details
The program utilizes the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS) as the sole admission process for application to the program. Please visit rfptcas.liaisoncas.com to apply.
Application deadline: January 15, 2026
Internal application review: January – February 2026
Applicant interviews: February – March 2026
Final selection and notification: Completed by March 15, 2026
Program start date: September 14, 2026
Maximum number of positions per year: 1
Admission criteria: Applicants must be a legal resident of the United States, be a graduate of an accredited physical therapy program, and hold a current license to practice physical therapy in the state of NY by the start date of the residency. A NY state limited permit does not satisfy this licensure requirement.
Resident Testimonials
Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident 2024-2025
"Choosing the Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency was one of the best decisions I have made for my professional growth. I was drawn to the program’s multi-mentor model and individualized resident approach. Throughout the year, I was challenged to think critically while always feeling supported by an incredible team of mentors. Working with clinicians who each brought different strengths and perspectives pushed me to develop my own clinical identity and refine my approach to neurologic rehabilitation. The one-on-one mentorship and dedicated coursework helped me bridge the gap between didactic learning and expert clinical practice.
As the sole resident, the program was tailored to my learning needs which accelerated my growth. By the end of the program, I not only felt confident in pursuing my NCS certification, but also equipped with the tools to continuously grow as a clinician who can adapt to new challenges. I am deeply grateful for the mentorship, support, and experiences I gained through this residency. It truly shaped me into the physical therapist I am today, and I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to advance their skills and their confidence in providing the best care for individuals with neurologic conditions."
Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident 2022-2023
"When searching for residency programs, I was drawn to Rochester Regional Health's program right away due to their unique multi-mentor model, single resident set-up, and "clinical foundations" coursework. After meeting the team via a Zoom call, I immediately knew they were a perfect fit for me. As a new graduate, I had a passion for working with patients with neurologic diagnosis, but lacked the confidence in my ability to skillfully manage complex cases independently. My experience throughout my residency at Rochester Regional Health helped sculpt my clinical reasoning and problem solving skills throughout a year that equally challenged and supported me. The multi-mentor model allowed me to expand my knowledge through a robust team with a variety of interests and strengths, all while being supported throughout the highest level of research that I was able to "deep-dive" into during one-on-one discussions during the "Foundations of Clinical Knowledge" course. Being the only resident allowed the residency to meet me where I was and support my unique passions and interests. I felt well prepared to take my NCS by the end of my residency. Even moreso, I learned invaluable skills- transcending beyond treatment ideas and hands-on skills and into more abstract skills of expert practice including how I view my patients, their impairments, as well as how to appraise and apply new/existing literature. My growth in these areas make me confident that as the field of neurologic physical therapy grows and changes, I will be able to skillfully navigate these changes in a way to continually maximize my patients' outcomes and my own knowledge-base. I could not be more grateful for my time at Rochester Regional Health for shaping me into the clinician I am, and I would recommend this residency program for anyone looking to grow their expertise in management of patients with neurologic conditions."
Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident 2021-2022
“I am very grateful for my experience in the Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program. The neurologic population is rewarding to work with, but can be challenging, especially as a new graduate. The support and mentorship I received in this residency accelerated my growth as a clinician, helping me to approach these challenges head on. As the sole resident, the program was tailored to my individual needs and interests, allowing the faculty to meet me where I was initially and from there, develop my knowledge and skills. The mixture of clinical, didactic, and mentorship experiences was very beneficial for my learning, and I believe these prepared me well for the NCS Exam. The multi-mentor model is a unique aspect of this program that I found to be extremely valuable, as each of the mentors have different perspectives and treatment styles from which I was able to learn and integrate into my own identity as a physical therapist. These factors set this residency program apart from others, and together they have helped me grow in my clinical reasoning, hands-on skills, and overall confidence as a clinician. I am proud of what I accomplished during my residency, and I am thankful to have joined this team full time after completing the program. I would strongly recommend this residency to anyone who is eager to enhance their clinical practice within the neurologic population.”
Rochester Regional Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident 2017-2018
"I was fortunate to have been accepted to the neurologic physical therapy residency at Rochester Regional Health and am so grateful that I had this opportunity. I had dedicated mentors who were willing to share their expert knowledge and training with me, whether this was through formal mentored treatment sessions, informal discussions, or time set aside after treating hours to practice skills in the clinic. This was invaluable to me as a new graduate and I believe it truly set me up for success post-completion of the residency. Rochester Regional Health stands out from other residency programs due to its mission to truly make the resident a better clinician. The residency prepared me to feel very confident in taking on a full-time position in outpatient neurologic physical therapy upon completion as well as sitting for (and passing!) the NCS exam. The residency at Rochester Regional Health has undoubtedly enhanced my professional career, made me a more skilled clinician, and exposed me to opportunities that I most likely would not have had the chance to experience otherwise."