Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency

“Participating in this residency program has been such an incredibly rewarding experience. The mentorship, curriculum, and many unique experiences I've had over the past year have completely transformed my clinical reasoning, knowledge, skills, and confidence as a clinician. The blend of orthopedics, sports, and pediatrics in this program prepares you to treat patients across the lifespan and a wide range of ability while also allowing you to really dive into the specifics that make the youth athlete population so unique. This is all made possible by the amazing PT Residency team here at Nationwide Children's who were so supportive throughout the entire journey. It has been such a privilege to learn from and get know this amazing group of people. I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this residency program and would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone else looking to take that next step in their physical therapy career.”

Allie Hull, PT, DPT (2024-2025)

“Completing the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been an incredible privilege. My journey—from once being a patient to now developing my professional career within this same organization—has been deeply meaningful. Working with such a unique patient population during such pivotal stages of their lives has been one of the most rewarding parts of my experience. The residency is supported by faculty and staff who are not only highly skilled, but also invested in each other’s growth, both professionally and personally. I’ve been given countless opportunities to explore and cultivate my clinical passions within physical therapy. The hospital’s interdisciplinary structure also fosters a collaborative environment, ensuring our patients receive high-quality, consistent care. I’m truly grateful for the chance to grow as a clinician in such a supportive and enriching environment.”

Sydney Fojas, PT, DPT, ATC (2024-2025)

“Choosing to complete an Orthopedic Residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been the best first step in my career as it allowed me to continue to learn and develop as a new clinician. I have always had an interest in treating our youth population, whether an athlete, recreational participant, or a child learning to engage in physical activity, and I chose to pursue residency to improve my skillset in working with this unique population. I was able to partake in one on one mentoring sessions with residency faculty who are experts in their field and who have been able to share their knowledge with me. I expanded my knowledge base with our weekly lectures and research project and challenged my critical thinking skills during Grand Rounds. The residency program was committed to helping me become a better clinician, leader, and presenter, and gave me opportunities to grow in my personal interest areas including throwing athletes, pelvic health physical therapy, and youth physical literacy. Pursuing residency, specifically here at Nationwide Children’s, has helped me to grow into a well-rounded, knowledgeable, and most importantly a more confident clinician.”

Elizabeth Fraas, PT, DPT, OCS (2023-2024)

“I truly loved and cherished my time as one of the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residents at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. It was easily the best decision I could have made after completing PT school and I would choose to do it all over again in a heartbeat. The program offers incredible opportunities to learn and develop your skills as a clinician, speaker, educator, leader, and person. My favorite part about the program is that you can seek out learning and experience in areas that you are passionate about. I chose to spend extra time learning more about isokinetic testing and concussion. The team of mentors that you are surrounded with aide in facilitating your growth as a professional and person with their years of experience and board-certified clinical specialist knowledge.”

Jeffrey Wergin, PT, DPT, OCS (2023-2024)

“Nationwide Children’s Hospital has always held a special place in my heart, having been a former patient myself. Everyone at Nationwide is extremely welcoming and compassionate, and dedicated to providing the best possible care to every patient. This includes the expert physical therapists and residency faculty, who held diverse backgrounds and are committed to helping others learn and succeed. I knew I wanted to do a residency at Nationwide so I could better serve this unique and special patient population that I was passionate about working with. The residency program provided numerous opportunities to grow through mentorship and lectures with expert clinicians, participate in research projects, and gain teaching and presenting experiences. This experience greatly helped me to become a more knowledgeable and well-rounded clinician and set me on a path for continued growth.”

Quinton Kane, PT, DPT, OCS (2023 Graduate)

“What initially drew me to apply for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital orthopedic PT residency was the unique opportunity to treat youth patients with orthopedic and sports conditions. After completing the program, I can say that this program provides so much more than just that. I found that the faculty was incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, with expertise in a wide variety of practice areas including adolescent pelvic health, performing arts, running, throwing, scoliosis, chronic pain, and many more. I had the benefit of receiving one-on-one mentorship from the faculty throughout the course of the program and I found their mentorship to be invaluable to me as a new clinician. I found the work environment at Nationwide Children’s to be encouraging and positive, and I felt welcomed by the department as a whole. The residency director and co-coordinators went out of their way to make the experience tailored to me and my professional goals through presentation and lecturing opportunities, as well as helping me set up shadowing experiences with clinicians in areas of interest to me. They gave their time to have frequent check-in meetings with me and my co-resident in order to provide guidance and seek our feedback. I was very impressed by the program and would recommend it to any hard-working physical therapist who wishes to expand their skills and knowledge in order to provide optimal evidence-based patient care.”

Natalie Fountain PT, DPT (2023 Graduate)