Physical Therapy Upper Extremity Fellow

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority • Madison, WI

5d

About The Position

The Sports Physical Therapy Upper Extremity Fellow participates in didactic education, one-on-one clinical mentoring, research and sports medicine projects, outreach, multidisciplinary lectures, sports performance experiences, and case presentations. The fellowship is designed to advance clinical reasoning and pattern recognition and broaden sports medicine practice through work with youth, high school, college, and professional athletes.

The fellow develops advanced clinical biomechanics skills in upper extremity specialty clinics serving swimmers, throwers, tactical athletes, and strength and power athletes. The role includes sports performance coaching and training with professional volleyball and baseball players, collaboration with sports medicine physicians and surgeons, physician-extender work in clinic, and surgical observations. Fellows receive and apply constructive feedback from mentors and participate in teaching through the sports medicine education series, symposium, and outreach programs.

The position is 100% FTE, 40 hours per week. Scheduled shifts are Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 AM–6:30 PM; Thursday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; and Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM. For six months, March through August, the fellow trains in Dunedin, Florida, with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. 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 opportunities with high-performance departments, and opportunities to observe or learn from Major League Baseball team physicians.

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; 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.

Responsibilities

• Participate in and teach didactic education focused on clinical reasoning and pattern recognition in sports medicine and sports physical therapy.
• Challenge and develop clinical decision-making through constructive feedback in didactic units and case presentations.
• Build alliances 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.
• Participate in sports performance coaching and training with professional volleyball and professional baseball players.
• Receive and modify practice patterns based on constructive feedback from mentors.
• Teach in the sports medicine education series, sports medicine symposium, and outreach programs.
• Collaborate weekly with board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians and surgeons, including physician-extender work in clinic and surgical observations.
• Participate in mentor-guided sports medicine projects.
• Provide athletic training room care and field coverage for spring training and regular-season games with certified athletic trainers and physical therapists during the Florida training period.
• Participate in injury prevention and rehabilitation for Major and Minor League Baseball players.
• Learn from high-performance departments, including mental skills, sports science, strength and conditioning, and nutrition, and observe or learn with 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.
• Referral bonus for referring people who apply for open, posted positions.

What This Job Offers

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