About the Women's Health PT Residency Program
The Women’s Health Residency Program provides practicing physical therapists with advanced training in women’s and men’s health:
- Exams
- Decision-making
- Manual therapy techniques
The program also places an emphasis on using research and the literature to maintain practice within the scope of evidence-based physical therapy.
UPMC Centers for Rehab Services funds the Women’s Health PT Residency Program, housed within several outpatient clinics.
UPMC CRS McCandless serves as our main training location.
Other clinics where residents may train include:
- UPMC CRS Monroeville
- UPMC CRS Lemieux Sports Complex
- Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
- UPMC CRS Moon
- UPMC CRS Oakland
- UPMC CRS North Strabane
- UPMC CRS Squirrel Hill
Who should apply to the Women’s Health PT Residency Program?
Licensed physical therapists that have already completed an entry-level program who want to:
- Receive further training in the subspecialty of women’s health PT.
- Become board-certified clinical specialists in the area of women’s health physical therapy.
Women's Health PT Residency Curriculum
The Women’s Health Residency Program runs 16 successive months starting in August.
As part of the "Continuing Education” Plan of Study, you'll participate in a planned curriculum specific to the Women’s Health Residency Program. You will also enroll in part of the Advanced Clinical Practice — Musculoskeletal Sequence, sponsored by Centers for Rehab Services.
These courses promote advanced decision-making and manual therapy skills for assessing and treating women's musculoskeletal disorders of the:
- Foot and ankle
- Knee
- Hip
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Sacroiliac joint
- Cervical, lumbar, and thoracic spine
You will also work through the Women’s Health Series including live and self-study modules on:
- Basic and advanced pelvic floor
- Antepartum
- Lymphedema
- Biofeedback
- GI dysfunction
- Cancer
- Bone health
- Female athlete triad
For the live lab part of study, you'll have the chance to do a cadaver dissection. The “Advanced Dissection” course is through the University of Pittsburgh’s Physical Therapy School.
You'll also complete a one-week lymphedema certification course through Klose Training to earn your CLT.
You will earn continuing education units (CEU) for this didactic part of the program.
Along with advanced coursework, you will attend:
- PT grand rounds.
- Doctor appointments and surgery to observe.
- Other relevant training for advancing skills in women’s health physical therapy — such as doctor and surgical observation.
Women’s Health PT Residency faculty will mentor you as you prepare your case reflection for the application of the WCS. They'll also guide you to develop a case study from your reflection for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Finally, you will submit a final project reflecting on your outcomes during your entire clinical time in the program.
Typical weekly schedule for women's health PT residents
- Clinical practice: MW 7:00 a.m.-Noon, F 7:00-11:00 a.m., TR 12-8:00 p.m.
- Mentoring: 3-hour time blocks per week.
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physical Therapy (DPT) Grand Rounds: F Noon-1:00 p.m.
- Didactic residency modules: Fridays, most often from 1:00-5:00 p.m.
- Teaching assistance (Pitt DPT musculoskeletal program): MW 1:00-5:00 p.m. (during spring semester, you will spend Wednesday afternoons in the cadaver lab).
- Specialty practice observations: over the summer after you complete your teaching assistantship.
Women's Health PT Residency Program Director and Faculty
Colleen Schomburg, PT, WCS, CLT-LANA
Program Director
Centers for Rehab Services — McCandless
schomburgcm@upmc.edu
Core Faculty:
- Colleen Schomburg, PT, WSC, CLT-LANA
- Susan George, PT, WCS, OCS
- Andrea Shafran, PT, WCS, CLT-LANA
- Lisa Mager, PT, WCS, CLT-LANA
- Katherine Oswald, PT, FAAOMPT, CLT-LANA
- Megan Glod, PT, WCS, CLT-LANA
- Karen Losego, PT, CLT-LANA
- Diane Borello France, PT, PhD
Application Process, Dates, and Contacts
- Deadline to apply: January
- Interviews for qualified applicants: Early March
- Start date: Early August
- Tuition: $9,600
To learn more, email Colleen Schomburg, PT, WCS — Women's Health PT Residency Program Director.
