The one-year Physical Therapy Geriatric Residency gives you opportunities to appreciate the diverse manifestations of disease and disability affecting geriatric patients.

Program highlights

You experience the distinct variations in acute and chronic disease across health care settings at Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix, Arizona, including:

• Hospital-based outpatient
• Skilled nursing
• Home health care
• Acute and critical care

You experience physical therapy interventions unique to each phase of rehabilitation.

Completion and certification

Upon completion of the program, you will have:

• Knowledge of theoretical principles, including the pathology and physiology of aging across cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, integumentary and neurologic systems as related to the unique characteristics and needs of the geriatric patient
• Training in the practical skills needed for geriatric physical therapy, including clinical case management; patient, family and caregiver education; advocacy; referral; consultation; and documentation related to geriatric care delivery to provide optimal and quality care for all patients
• Experience in practice according to the ethical principles and legal requirements of the profession compliant to federal and state regulation and Mayo Clinic policies, values and standards of care

After successfully completing this residency, you receive a certificate of completion from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences.

Graduates are eligible to take the Geriatric Specialist Certification Examination administered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).

Program outcomes

All residents have successfully completed the program without remediation. There is a 100% pass rate for geriatric clinical specialty board examinations for all graduates as of 2021. All graduates have obtained full-time employment in their choice practice setting following graduation.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE), the accrediting body for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

See accreditation information for Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.