Physical Therapy Upper Extremity Fellow

UW Health • Madison, WI

6d

About The Position

UW Health is seeking a Sports Physical Therapy Upper Extremity Fellow for a 100% FTE position, scheduled for 40 hours per week. The fellowship supports professional growth through didactic work, one-on-one clinical mentoring, research activities, outreach experiences, multidisciplinary educational lectures, sports performance experiences, and case presentations. Fellows broaden their sports medicine practice by working with youth, high school, college, and professional athletes.

The fellow develops clinical reasoning and pattern recognition in sports medicine and sports physical therapy, takes part in case presentations and constructive feedback, and builds partnerships with patients and families to optimize function and return to sport. The role provides advanced clinical biomechanics training in upper-extremity specialty clinics serving swimmers, throwers, tactical athletes, and strength-and-power athletes. Fellows also participate in sports performance coaching and training with professional volleyball and baseball players, sports medicine education and outreach, weekly collaboration with board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians and surgeons, physician-extender clinic work, surgical observations, and mentor-guided projects.

The position includes six months of training in Dunedin, Florida, with the Toronto Blue Jays organization from March through August. This experience includes athletic training room care and field coverage for spring training and regular-season games; injury prevention and rehabilitation for Major and Minor League Baseball players; learning with high-performance departments such as mental skills, sports science, strength and conditioning, and nutrition; and observation and learning opportunities with Major League Baseball team physicians.

The position works in UW Health facilities, including the 28,000-square-foot sports rehabilitation facility at East Madison Hospital, which features an indoor turf field, two pools, a basketball court, a golf hitting area, a sprint track, and a functionally based weight room. Applicants must submit a cover letter explaining their interest in the fellowship, three letters of reference, and a current resume or CV.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy or Master's degree in Physical Therapy.
• Licensed or eligible for licensure as a Physical Therapist in Wisconsin upon hire; staff assigned to the Toronto Blue Jays training facility in Florida must also hold or be eligible for Florida licensure.
• Certified athletic trainer, EMT, or completion of an approved Emergency Responder course upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Teach and participate in didactic education to advance clinical reasoning and pattern recognition in sports medicine and sports physical therapy.
• Challenge personal and colleagues’ clinical decision-making through constructive feedback in didactic units and case presentations.
• Build partnerships with patients and families to optimize function and return to sport after acute injuries, surgical procedures, and non-traumatic impairments.
• Learn advanced clinical biomechanics for evaluation and treatment in upper-extremity specialty clinics serving swimmers, throwers, tactical athletes, and strength-and-power athletes.
• Participate in sports performance coaching and training with professional volleyball and baseball players.
• Receive and incorporate constructive feedback from mentors to modify practice patterns.
• Teach in the sports medicine education series and symposium and participate in outreach programs.
• Collaborate weekly with board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians and surgeons, including serving as a physician extender in clinic and observing surgeries.
• Participate in mentor-guided sports medicine projects.
• During the six-month Toronto Blue Jays placement, provide athletic training room care and field coverage for spring training and regular-season games.
• Participate in injury prevention and rehabilitation for Major and Minor League Baseball players.
• Learn with high-performance departments, including mental skills, sports science, strength and conditioning, and nutrition, and observe or learn from Major League Baseball team physicians.

Benefits

• Health and dental insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Retirement plans.
• Two-week paid parental leave.
• Adoption assistance.
• Employee wellbeing resources supporting emotional, financial, and physical well-being.
• Tuition benefits for coursework associated with career advancement.
• Eligibility to earn a referral bonus for referring applicants to open positions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level