GENERAL INFORMATION

Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Region is proud to offer a clinical fellowship designed to provide highly trained orthopaedic physical therapists with advanced knowledge and have experience with a concentrated clinical environment.

The curriculum of this fellowship is designed to provide physical therapists with advanced training in clinical reasoning, examination, manual therapy, movement science and pain sciences. This program utilizes a broad-based, eclectic curriculum that will provide graduates with the ability to integrate advanced skills in advanced orthopaedic manual therapy techniques combined with advanced skills in movement analysis, motor control, biomechanics, and pain sciences to patients with spinal dysfunction in the acute to chronic states. The small group classroom and lab training sessions and one-on-one clinical supervision allow the clinical faculty to focus their instruction toward the individual needs of each fellow. This program is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association.

This fellowship begins in March of each year and runs for 50 consecutive weeks. The clinical training in this fellowship program is fulfilled in two ten-hour days per week and the classroom and lab training occurs during 41 weekend days and 3 weekdays. This format allows the fellows the time and flexibility to maintain or pursue their individual research, academic, clinical practice or personal commitments. Up to six fellows are accepted to participate in the program each year. Two of the fellows are employed and provides patient care at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles facility, Kaiser Permanente South Bay facility and the Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles facility. The fellows are paid for the hours that they provide patient care at the Clinical Specialist Fellow rate (In 2022, the minimum pay rate for a fellow is  $49.449/hour with benefits or $59.338/hour without benefits). The registration fee for the program is $2000.00.

CURRICULUM OUTLINE

Each fellow receives:

  • 366 hours of classroom/lab instruction
  • A minimum of 132 hours of 1:1 supervision while treating patients
  • 896 hours of unsupervised clinical practice (Includes time working at free clinic)
  • Upto 100 hours of patient care – collaborating with the Kaiser Permanente Family/Physical Medicine and Orthopaedics Department clinics

The content of the classroom instruction in this fellowship encompasses the following areas:

  • Clinical Reasoning
  • Movement Analysis
  • Motor Coordination
  • Clinical reasoning
  • Manual examination and treatment of the spine
  • Manual examination and treatment of the extremities
  • Kinesiology/Clinical Biomechanics
  • Gait/Human Locomotion
  • Movement Analysis
  • Motor Learning
  • Motor Control
  • Movement Impairment Syndromes
  • Movement Impairment Diagnosis
  • Movement Impairment Intervention Strategies Basic sciences and clinical research
  • Pain Sciences
  • Clinical research

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Prospective Applicants

All applications for the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Residency and Fellowship Programs will now be submitted using the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application System (RF-PTCAS).  Additional information and tutorials regarding use of the RF-PTCAS can be accessed through the ABPTRFE website.

To begin your application, you can directly access  RF-PTCAS using the following link:  RFPTCAS

Letters of Recommendation

Your letters of recommendation will be directly submitted by the author to RF-PTCAS.  You will be required to submit contact information regarding you references into RF-PTCAS.  The author will be sent a link to electronically access and submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.  Once submitted, the letter will be automatically linked to your application

*** You are encouraged to follow up with the author to ensure the letter is completed and submitted.

Application Evaluative Criteria

The applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of the Department Administrator(s), Clinical Faculty, and Chiefs of Service of the Kaiser Permanente Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department where your application is submitted.

    1. Academic
    2. Post graduate training
    3. Clinical experience in orthopaedic / sports therapy
    4. Teaching experience
    5. Research experience
    6. Community Service

Kaiser Permanente is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, and disability or health status.

Minimal eligibility requirements for acceptance into the program include:

    1. Licensure as a Physical Therapist by the Physical Therapy Board of California.
    2. Comply with all Kaiser Permanente employment requirements.

Desirable applicants include those who…

    1. Have completed a clinical residency in orthopaedic physical therapy.
    2. Have attained Board Certification as a Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.
    3. Possess superior verbal and written communication skills.
    4. Have experience with being a clinical supervisor of therapists and therapy interns.
    5. Have experience in data collection, analysis, and publication.
    6. Have participated in activities that have positively addressed a need in the community.

The application deadline is August 31st of each year.


Download 2024/25 Fellowship Handbook

ABPTRFE FINANCIAL FACT SHEET

 

PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Aleem Dinani MPT| Program Director
Jason Tonley DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT | Program Coordinator

 

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Program Graduation Rate:

  • Since 2011:
    • Enrolled:       65Fellows
    • Graduated:    58 Fellows
    • Graduation Rate – 98%
Updated Mar 2024