The Physical Therapy Pediatric Residency

The Department of Physical Therapy’s Pediatric Residency Program is a post-professional clinical and didactic education program designed to significantly advance the physical therapy resident’s preparation as a practitioner of choice in the field of pediatric physical therapy.

The program combines opportunities for ongoing clinical mentoring with a scientific basis for advanced practice. At the end of the experience, the resident will be academically and clinically prepared to pass the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties’ (ABPTS) Pediatric Clinical Specialist examination.

The 2024-2025 academic year was our program's 17th year running.  We have successfully graduated 19 residents with a 100% program completion rate and a 100% pass rate for those who have sat for the Pediatric Certified Specialist Exam. 

Our program runs from annually from July to the following June.  Applications for the next academic year will be accepted from early fall through December 31^st via the RFPTCAS system.  Interviews are typically in February and our program participates in the Uniform Announcement Program with other Pediatric PT Residency Programs across the country.  The date for offers are typically made the second Monday of March via email for a late June-July 1^st start date.  Please reach out to Stacey Caviston (caviston@email.chop.edu) with any questions.

This program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).  

Eligible applicants must:

• Be graduates of an accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.
• Be licensed or eligible for licensure in Pennsylvania. 

One year of experience as a physical therapist preferred; however, candidates with at least six months of experience in pediatrics or new professionals with at least six months of pediatric clinical education experience will also be considered.

Our mission

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy’s Pediatric Residency Program is to create specialists in the field of pediatric physical therapy. The residency program will develop expert clinicians with advanced skills in critical and innovative thinking as well as patient-centered, evidence-based and autonomous practice. Graduates will exemplify professionalism, compassion, accountability, altruism, integrity, ethical conduct and social responsibility, and will contribute to the profession and to healthcare through their leadership, clinical excellence, teaching, consultative activities, and active pursuit of research and lifelong learning.

The LEND Program

Residents will also participate in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. The LEND program consists of modules on community education, family collaboration and interdisciplinary clinical programs. The LEND program is supported by a grant from the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Our goals

Residency graduates will:

• Demonstrate the ability to provide state-of-the-art evidence-based, family-centered, culturally sensitive care
• Possess advanced skills in clinical decision making and critical inquiry
• Deliver clinical excellence and demonstrate broad expertise in all areas of pediatric physical therapy
• Exhibit the professional and interpersonal skills necessary to be effective leaders
• Serve as a resource for the pediatric professional community
• Effectively educate colleagues and physical therapy students in the area of pediatric physical therapy
• Critically evaluate current scientific literature and demonstrate the ability to contribute to the body of research in physical therapy
• Be academically and clinically prepared to pass the ABPTS pediatric clinical specialist certification
• Demonstrate professional core values and growth through mentorship, continuing education, and lifelong clinical and academic learning
• Be recognized as a practitioner of choice in the field of pediatric healthcare

Our department

The Department of Physical Therapy is committed to:

• Leading the world in the practice and advancement of physical therapy by combining family-centered patient care, high-quality professional education, and innovative clinical research
• Providing state-of-the-art, evidence-based, culturally sensitive patient care
• Developing expertise through clinical, academic, residency and fellowship training
• Lifelong learning and professional growth through mentorship, continuing education and collaboration with educational institutions
• Generating a body of literature that supports evidence-based practice in physical therapy

More than 70 full- and part-time physical therapists provide care to patients across the CHOP Care Network. This health system includes the acute care hospital, the inpatient rehabilitation program, and outpatient services including general outpatient rehabilitation, a sports medicine service line and a day hospital program. Physical Therapy care is provided at the Main Campus and Specialty Care Centers and clinics in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The department includes more than 40 ABPTS-certified clinical specialists in Neurology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics and Sports Medicine, as well as more than 35 American Physical Therapy Association-credentialed clinical instructors. The core faculty has more than 80 years of combined clinical and teaching experience.

Our Hospital 

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, founded in 1855, was the first hospital in the United States dedicated to the care of children. Today, CHOP is one of the leading pediatric hospitals and research facilities in the world and is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s best pediatric hospitals by both Parents magazine and U.S. News & World Report.

CHOP has the only Level I pediatric trauma center in Southeastern Pennsylvania and serves as a regional, national and international referral source for patients requiring cutting-edge medical, surgical and rehabilitative care.

How to apply

All applications will be submitted through RF-PTCAS. Download the following materials and submit as instructed. 

• Residency cover letter
• Admission information
• Application
• Reference report
• Residency and Fellowship Financial Fact Sheet - CHOP Pediatric PT Residency

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia will be participating in the standardized Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program Match for the upcoming application cycle. This will process will fill our available Resident position for our upcoming start date: July 1.  All communication regarding this match process will come through the Match Program, EXXAT, if you receive an interview offer. Good luck, and we look forward to reviewing your application! 

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Stacey Caviston, PT, DPT, PCS
Physical Therapy Pediatric Residency Program
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Children’s Seashore House, Room 216
3405 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-590-3657
caviston@email.chop.edu

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. CHOP requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  CHOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected categories in any employment, training, or vendor decisions or programs. CHOP recognizes the critical importance of a workforce rich in varied backgrounds and experiences and engages in ongoing efforts to achieve that through equally varied and non-discriminatory means.

At CHOP, creating a culture of inclusion and belonging, where everyone feels welcomed, understood, and valued is a core strength. Our strength lies in our people. The variety of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences of our workforce empower our organization and drive our success. This belief is fundamental to how we fulfill our mission in pediatric care.

We strongly encourage all candidates of all backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.