The Kennedy Krieger Institute Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program provides a 14-month long intensive and multi-faceted study of pediatric physical therapy.

Our program starts in early-mid July and finishes in August/September of the following year. The comprehensive curriculum prepares residents to provide the highest level of patient and family centered care in a variety of clinical settings. Our residents graduate with the skills to assume a greater role in the care of children and their families in the areas of: evidence-based clinical practice, education, consultation, leadership, and advocacy. 

Clinical Practice and Mentoring: Patient care is organized into rotations differentiated by pediatric practice setting. Each rotation is 11 weeks long. Clinical rotations include early intervention, school system, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient, and acute care (including NICU). Residents also see patients in a variety of specialty clinics over a 3-week period. Residents receive extensive one-to-one mentorship from expert clinicians during each clinical rotation.

Didactic and Scholarly Education: Didactic activities occur throughout the residency program and are integrated into each clinical practice rotation. Residents will: 

  • Participate in Kennedy Krieger's residency program learning modules and The Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy’s Residency and Fellowship Consortium with experts in the field of pediatric physical therapy.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary education through Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program.
  • Participate in Kennedy Krieger PT department professional development and have opportunities to attend grand rounds and other professional lectures provided by Kennedy Krieger and its partners.
  • Participate in the national pediatric residency journal club with residents from across the country.

Teaching Opportunities: 

Teaching activities also occur throughout the residency program. Residents will: 

  • Prepare and lead a scholarly journal club for Kennedy Krieger Institute and the University of Maryland Medical System physical therapy staff in each of 5 primary clinical settings.
  • Prepare and teach pediatric lectures and labs in the DPT program at the University of Maryland. 

Evidence-Based Project: 

Residents complete a year-long evidence-based project in an area of their choice. With support from the residency program director and our research faculty, residents may choose to join a research project already in progress or complete an evidence-based project of their own. Recent projects have been case studies, case series, and systematic reviews. Each resident will present their research at Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Gary Goldstein Research Day along with other LEND trainees, Kennedy Krieger faculty and staff. Additionally, residents are required to submit their work to a state or national conference or submit a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal. Here is a list of our recent graduates’ projects: 

  • Assessing Muscle Strength, Function, and Exertion in Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Case Series
  • Electrical Stimulation in Children with Spina Bifida: A Case Series
  • Exercise Capacity and Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents with Kawasaki Disease: A Systematic Review
  • Can We Measure the Degree of Patient Engagement During Physical Therapy Treatment: A Pediatric Case Series

Volunteer Opportunities: 

Residents are required to participate in at least 2 community-based service or advocacy events during the course of the residency program. Examples of programs and events that our recent graduates have participated in include: