Pediatric Residency
As a resident in the pediatric physical therapy residency program at Creighton University, you’ll be part of an innovative, intense and engaging educational program.
You’ll be immersed in clinical practice across various practice settings (outpatient, acute care including NICU, home health & natural environment, school-based, inpatient rehabilitation, and an opportunity to participate in the Dominican Republic) to facilitate clinical reasoning skills through mentorship.
The program is designed to advance your knowledge and skills in pediatric physical therapy and fast-track you to clinical specialization.
Pediatric Residency Program Details
The 12-month residency program begins August 1 and ends July 31. As a resident, you will be a valued member of our team. You will be a salaried Creighton employee with benefits, and there is no additional tuition requirement for this experience.
- The resident completes 30 hours per week of clinical practice and 12–14 hours of experiences that include teaching, labs, didactic training and a common curriculum with other residency (PT and OT) programs.
- Clinical Practice: The resident rotates through out-patient, school-based and early intervention, and acute care—primarily NICU, throughout the year with additional experiences in specialty clinics, in-patient rehabilitation, and an optional international experience.
- Opportunities to participate in the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy through critical appraisal topic related to the Academy’s journal club.
- Graduates are eligible to sit for the clinical specialist exam through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists.
- Professional licensure in the state of Nebraska is required.
Clinical Partners
- Creighton Pediatric Therapy (outpatient and aquatics)
- CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy (Neonatal intensive care unit)
- Key Complete Therapies (pediatric home health & natural environment)
- Boys Town National Research Hospital (school-based, preschool groups)
- Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals (inpatient rehabilitation)
- Children’s Hospital and Medical Center (acute care, specialty clinics)
- Optional experience in the Dominican Republic at the Institute for Latin American Concern
First-time Pass Rates on the PCS Exam
| Exam Testing Year | Non-Resident | Resident | Creighton Resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021* | 82% | 89% | 100% |
| 2020 | 71% | 92% | 100% |
| 2019 | 74% | 100% | 100% |
| 2018 | 72% | 92% | 100% |
| 2017 | 73% | 77% | 100% |
* No residents in 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Residency Completion Rates
- 2022 - 100%
- 2021 - No residents in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2020 - 100%
- 2019 - 100%
- 2018 - 100%
- 2017 - 100%
- 2016 - 100%
Pediatric Program Outcomes
- Discuss and apply foundational, behavioral, and clinical sciences and critical inquiry principles related to advanced clinical practice
- Demonstrate accurate performance of all elements of the patient management model (examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and outcomes) in a variety of practice settings related to advanced pediatric practice
- Demonstrate “proficient” clinical reasoning skills necessary for advanced clinical practice
- Provide effective teaching/communication to patients, peers, and students
- Demonstrate skills of leadership or service at the local, state, or national level to optimally serve children and their families
- Demonstrate skills of advocacy at the local, state, or national level to optimally serve children and their families
Mission and Goals
The mission is to develop graduates who will advance pediatric physical therapy practice through demonstration of excellent clinical reasoning and clinical teaching skills, dedication to patient advocacy and service, and leadership in the profession. Program faculty, mentors, and residents will excel in managing the uncertainty and complexity of clinical practice, utilizing technology to advance patient care, and demonstrating clinical innovation in practice. The program prepares its graduates to become recognized specialists and leaders in pediatric physical therapy practice.
The program will become a nationally recognized leader in pediatric physical therapy residency education by:
- providing an innovative curriculum emphasizing clinical reasoning, excellence in teaching, and advanced knowledge and skills in pediatric physical therapy practice.
- exemplifying excellence in clinical practice across various practice settings integrating innovation and managing uncertainty and complexity to enhance patient participation.
- assuring that program faculty, mentors, and residents are engaged in patient advocacy and service activities to meet the needs of society.
- preparing residents to attain ABPTS certification.
Teaching and Research Opportunities
Residents in the Creighton Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program can participate in several teaching activities, including:
- Serve as primary laboratory assistant in the entry-level related pediatric laboratories across the three semesters of the DPT program.
- Provide lecture content in specific pediatric clinical practice areas.
- Serve as a clinical instructor to entry-level physical therapy students in the Dominican Republic experience in a pediatric setting (this is an optional experience).
Research participation can include submission of a poster/platform presentation to a conference (local, state, regional or national) OR submission of a manuscript to a journal.
Sample Weekly Schedule
Didactic Schedule
The pediatric physical therapy residency is a clinical residency program based in an academic physical therapy department, using one course with multiple teaching methods for the didactic curriculum. In this innovative curricular model, a “common core curriculum” engages all residents across multiple specialty programs (geriatric, orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, women’s health) in curricular modules.
Additionally, the resident participates in an interprofessional pediatric curriculum with occupational therapy fellows. Lastly, a pediatric physical therapy residency specific curriculum provides advanced content in areas not covered in the common core or the IPE pediatric curriculum.
| Common Core Curricular Modules (Examples) | Interprofessional Pediatric Modules (Examples) |
|---|---|
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Hear from a Pediatric Resident
Landon Pillsbury, PT, DPT
Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Inspired by the Catholic and Jesuit tradition, our community believes that each human being is a profound gift from God, deserving of both dignity and opportunity. We thus seek to acknowledge and celebrate diversity at Creighton—building the spaces and relationships required for every person to thrive. All physical therapist residents are treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
Contact Information
Jennifer Furze, PT, DPT, FAPTA
Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist
Professor
Vice Chair
Pediatric Residency Coordinator
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178
402.280.4835
ABPTRFE Accredited Program
The Creighton University Pediatric Residency Program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in pediatrics.
