Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy, DSc.P.T.
Brooke Army Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Program Director: LTC Jose Durbin, U.S. Army
Deputy Program Director: MAJ Andrew Golden, U.S. Army
Through an affiliation with Baylor University, students enrolled in the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, complete additional requirements and may qualify for a Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy degree. The Graduate School of Baylor University provides academic oversight for the program. The uniqueness of this program necessitates significant differences in policies and procedures. Please refer to the most current Student Handbook published by this graduate program for details.
Objectives
Our mission is to produce postgraduate-level, specialty-trained orthopaedic manual physical therapists who provide state-of-the-art, advanced care and clinically relevant research to benefit the Military Health System. We accomplish this through the advanced training and education of clinical experts, mentors, adult educators, and researchers. Our goal is to continue the U.S. Army’s legacy as a leader in orthopaedic manual physical therapy and neuromusculoskeletal evaluation, and to promote evidenced-base clinical practice and research that benefits patients and the physical therapy profession.
Admission
Candidates for admission to the program must hold an entry level doctoral degree in physical therapy (D.P.T.), or a transitional doctor of physical therapy degree from a program accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education. They must have a minimum of four years experience in orthopaedic physical therapy upon entry into the program and be a board-certified specialist through the APTA in Orthopaedics, Sports, or Electromyography. Applicants must present a grade point average and scores on the GRE General Exam that are predictive of success in this program. Candidates must also meet the entrance requirements of the Graduate School of Baylor University. Uniformed services candidates are selected by a competitive board process by their respective uniformed service.
Curriculum
The curriculum was developed as a clinical fellowship in orthopaedic manual physical therapy based on the Description of Advanced Specialty Practice (DASP) in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists.
The training focuses on an advanced clinical reasoning model with emphasis on a patient-focused, hypothesis-based examination and careful observation of the effects of physical therapy intervention. The academic curriculum emphasizes anatomy, biomechanics, and physiology, with a foundation in clinical research and critical review of the literature. The program was credentialed as a residency by the American Physical Therapy Association in September of 1999, and as a fellowship in 2004. It is recognized by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. The sixty semester-hour program is divided into four semesters. Fellows are required to complete an individual research project, approved by an institutional review board, and submit the study for publication in an indexed peer-reviewed journal. The Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DSc.P.T.) degree will be granted upon successful completion of all credit courses, plus successful completion of an oral defense of their research project.
| Semester I | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHT 6191 | Independent Study I | 1 |
| PHT 6391 | Clinical Fellowship I | 3 |
| PHT 5341 | Differential Diagnosis in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy | 3 |
| PHT 5326 | Functional Physical Therapy Anatomy and Biomechanics: Lower Quarter | 3 |
| PHT 5382 | Evaluation and Mobilization: Lower Quarter | 3 |
| PHT 5230 | Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice and Clinical Research | 2 |
| PHT 5191 | Special Topics: Seminar I | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester II | ||
| PHT 6192 | Independent Study II | 1 |
| PHT 6392 | Clinical Fellowship II | 3 |
| PHT 5331 | Quantitative Evaluation | 3 |
| PHT 5327 | Functional Physical Therapy Anatomy and Biomechanics: Upper Quarter | 3 |
| PHT 5383 | Evaluation and Mobilization: Upper Quarter | 3 |
| PHT 5323 | Pathophysiology of Therapeutic Exercise | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester III | ||
| PHT 6193 | Independent Study III | 1 |
| PHT 6393 | Clinical Fellowship III | 3 |
| PHT 6332 | Field Research in Physical Therapy | 3 |
| PHT 5321 | Aspects of Pharmacology and Nutrition in Physical Therapy | 3 |
| PHT 5392 | Evaluation and Mobilization: Advanced Lower Quarter | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Semester IV | ||
| PHT 6194 | Independent Study IV | 1 |
| PHT 6394 | Clinical Fellowship IV | 3 |
| PHT 6333 | Advanced Professional Paper Project | 3 |
| PHT 5393 | Evaluation and Mobilization: Advanced Upper Quarter | 3 |
| PHT 5349 | Radiology for Physical Therapists | 3 |
| PHT 6101 | Advanced Practicum in Physical Therapy | 1 |
| PHT 6111 | Advanced Orthopaedic/Sports Medicine and Surgery for Physical Therapists | 1 |
| PHT 5192 | Special Topics: Seminar II | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 61 | |