Fellowship in Clinical Diagnostics and Orthopedic Manual Therapy

The International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine – US Fellowship in Clinical Diagnostics and Orthopedic Manual Therapy is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association as a post-professional clinical fellowship program for physical therapists in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy.

The mission statement for IAOM-US Fellowship Program is based on a commitment to excellence in clinical practice and professional development. In response, the IAOM-US Fellowship Program is committed to advancing physical therapy practitioners in evidence-based clinical diagnostics and orthopedic manual therapy.

The fellowship program is committed to:

  1. Guiding the fellowship candidate to a foundation of applied and clinical sciences that serve as the basis for effective clinical expertise.
  2. Providing physical therapy professionals with the opportunity to develop advanced skills and processes in the clinical diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal disorders.
  3. Offering the candidates a framework for excellence in patient care in collaboration with professional members from other health care disciplines.
  4. Establishing for the candidates a model for professional leadership, whereby they can serve as frontrunners in clinical management of musculoskeletal conditions and disorders.
  5. Delivering to the a model of mentoring, not only to serve as the foundation of their own clinical experiences, but additionally as the template for the clinical mentoring they provide to future clinicians.
  6. Building within the fellowship candidates a paradigm for effective teaching, thus equipping each candidate with the tools necessary for success as an educator of patients, colleagues and the public.
  7. Providing physical therapy professionals with the opportunity to acquire certification in advanced clinical practice, as well as ‘Fellow’ status with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists.

Upon completion of the Fellowship Program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Explain pathoanatomy, pathophysiology, and pathomechanics of the conditions and disorders associated with each specific joint complex.
  2. Apply pathoanatomy, pathophysiology, and pathomechanics concepts to the examination and treatment of each disorder.
  3. Conduct a thorough and concise clinical examination of each specific joint complex. Analyze clinical examination findings in a comprehensive fashion
  4. Differentiate the various disorders of each joint complex.
  5. Classify each patient’s condition based on examination findings using a differential diagnostic model.
  6. Perform an accurate surface anatomy examination of each joint complex.
  7. Construct a complete, evidence-based management strategy for each patient based on the clinical examination findings.
  8. Demonstrate advanced proficiency in manual therapeutic techniques, which can include
    1. Preparatory techniques
    2. Joint-specific treatment techniques
    3. Local treatment of soft tissue lesions
  9. Develop a comprehensive, tissue-specific exercise program that is diagnosis specific.
  10. Evaluate the effectiveness of each patient treatment, thus providing a foundation for management modification.
  11. Value the role and interactions provided by other members of the health care team, including Physical Therapy Assistants, Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Clinical Psychologists, and Social Workers.
  12. Perceive the value and clinical application of relevant literature.
  13. Contribute to the body of clinical knowledge through clinical writing and scholarship, teaching and or research.
  14. Establish ethical boundaries for effective manual therapy practice within the scope of his or her state’s guidelines.
  15. Serve as an advocate for manual therapy practice in the healthcare community and sociopolitical system.

Applications to the IAOM-US Fellowship Program in Clinical Diagnostics and Orthopedic Manual Therapy will be considered only if the following prerequisites are met.

  • Physical Therapy degree from an accredited school
  • Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) certification or successful completion of a Orthopaedic Residency program accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship[ Education, a division of American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) (for Applicants starting the program after 01/01/2020)*
  • Experience as a practicing physical therapist for no less than 4000 hours
  • Successful completion of at least six IAOM-US courses and successful completion of IAOM-US certification examination for the Spine or the Extremities or of six IAOM-US courses (choice of two of the following modules: lower extremity (3 courses); upper extremity (3 courses); upper spine (3 courses); lower spine (3 courses).
  • Current physical therapy license*
  • Criminal background check (depending on the facility requirements where fellowship clinical rotation occurs)
  • Member of the IAOM-US
  • Member of the APTA**
  • Member of the AAOMPT

Completed application forms, all supplemental information, and application fees must be enclosed in the application submission packet.

  • IAOM-US Application fee ($150.00) (Please note that the RF-PTCAS WebAdmit system has an additional $135.00 online application processing fee)
  • Letter clearly stating your intent to apply for the fellowship program
  • Current resume including your experience as a physical therapist (indicate the number of hours of physical therapy practice), a complete list of continuing education conferences attended and/or presented (see application)
  • Copy of current physical therapy license*
  • Proof of IAOM-US membership
  • Proof of APTA membership**
  • Proof of AAOMPT membership
  • One (1) letter of recommendation from a colleague, supervisor or other healthcare provider such as a physician who can attest to your enthusiasm and qualifications to complete the fellowship program. Letter of recommendation should be included with your application.
  • Copy of IAOM-US Extremity or Spine Certifications or of six IAOM-US courses (choice of two of the following modules: lower extremity (3 courses); upper extremity (3 courses); upper spine (3 courses); lower spine (3 courses) in Orthopedic Manual Therapy
  • Completed and signed application

*International applicants currently residing and practicing outside the United States where physical therapy license does not exist, this requirement does not apply to you. Contact the IAOM-US at info@iaom-us.com for more information.

**This requirement does not apply to International applicants residing and practicing outside the United States.

The IAOM-US Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Fellowship program application is now processed through a centralized application service for postprofessional residency and fellowship education programs accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The majority of physical therapist residency and fellowship education programs are participating in RF-PTCAS for the 2014-2015 application cycle. This process allows physical therapist residency and fellowship applicants to use a single web-based application and one set of materials to apply to fellowship programs. You will need to create an account and generate username and password to apply.

If you have difficulties, contact the IAOM-US at 866-426-6101 or info@iaom-us.com.

Application Deadline

Application deadline for the IAOM-US Fellowship Program is June 1 and December 1 to the Fellowship Admission Committee of the IAOM-US.   Applications are processed within the next three months and potential acceptance voted by the committee within that period.

Once accepted in the IAOM-US Fellowship program, you need to apply and enroll in the ScD program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center by March 15. To be accepted to the ScD program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, the applicant’s GPA needs to be a minimum of 2.7.  Your fellowship starts on the date you sign the fellowship contract with the IAOM-US.  You will then be allowed between 11 and 36 months to complete the following requirements of the Fellowship Program:

Successful completion two of HPPT 6111-6116, which comprise the clinical rotation components of the Fellowship (315 Fellowship Program hours each for a total of 630 hours).

Each clinical rotation includes

    1. A minimum of 75-hour, 1-on-1, intensive clinical experience at the mentor’s clinical site (conducted over 2 successive weeks at the mentor’s clinical site).
    2. A 240-hour distance clinical experience with ongoing mentor contact through on site contact or web-based technology (conducted over the remaining 14 to maximum 50 weeks in the semester(s) at the fellowship candidate’s clinical site). This will include discussions of cases presented by the fellowship candidates as well as presentations and discussions of OMT topics (journal club).
    3. Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy for at least 9 IAOM-US courses and attendance to all 12 IAOM-US courses is required before starting the second fellowship clinical rotation. A minimum spacing of 1 semester will be required between these two Fellowship clinical rotations. As a consequence, the candidate will be required to practice skills and reflect on the first course experience prior to engaging in the second course experience.
  1. Successful completion of HPPT 6404: Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Screening (60 fellowship Program hours). This course enhances physical therapists’ knowledge and clinical skills designed to assist in the screening of patients for orthopaedic conditions, which require examination by a physician. This course includes 24 laboratory and lecture contact hours over a 3-day contact session at the TTUHSC site and 36 web-based contact hours at the candidate’s clinical site. In the course the candidates engage in selected readings, and threaded discussions on the web.
  2. Successful completion of HPPT 6317: Radiological Anatomy (45 fellowship Program hours). This course will examine the technology and applications of imaging for understanding normal and pathological human anatomy. Plain-film imaging, MRI, CT, and diagnostic ultrasound will be appropriately applied to this discussion. A systematic approach to understanding various images across different joint systems will be provided. In addition, specific normal and pathological anatomy for the spine and extremities will be viewed on x-ray, MRI, and CT, along with special topics in diagnostic ultrasound. Emphasis is placed on defining normal and pathological anatomy associated with various joints systems as it relates to musculoskeletal conditions. This course includes 16 laboratory and lecture contact hours over a 2-day contact session at the TTUHSC site and 29 web-based contact hours at the candidate’s clinical site. In the course the candidates engage in selected readings, and threaded discussions on the web.
  3. Successful completion of HPPT 7305: Curriculum Design and Teaching in Allied Health (45 Fellowship Program hours). This course includes 16 laboratory and lecture contact hours over a two-day contact session at the TTUHSC site and 32 web-based contact hours at the candidate’s clinical site. In the course the candidates are exposed to theories, principles and applications that relate to teaching Physical Therapy students and professionals. The candidates engage in selected readings, writing exercises, and threaded discussions on the web. The candidates are required to draft curriculum components for a topic of his or her choice, including objectives, learning experiences, and lab experiences. Finally, the candidates are asked to teach over a pre-selected content area, where they evaluated in their teaching skills.
  4. Successful completion of HPPT 7301: Seminar in Clinical Research Design (30 Fellowship Program hours) auditing the course. This course includes 16 laboratory and lecture contact hours over a single weekend at the TTUHSC site and 14 web-based contact hours at the candidate’s clinical site. In the course the candidates are exposed to methods in clinical research. This includes processes of designing a research project, develop research questions and hypotheses, obtaining, processing, interpreting, and using clinical data. The candidates engage in selected readings and writing exercises selected by the fellowship mentor. The course additionally includes a 2-day contact session for lecture and lab at TTUHSC in the middle of the semester. The candidates are required to draft design components for a research project of their choice, including background information, research questions, hypotheses and methodology presented at the contact session using tools such as power point presentation.
  5. Successful completion of a minimum of six IAOM-US courses that were not part of the pre-requisites for acceptance in the IAOM-US fellowship program, including successful completion of IAOM-US certifications for these six courses (160 hours). If you have taken more than 6 IAOM-US courses, you will be asked to re-take IAOM-US courses as you are required to take 6 IAOM-US OMT courses during the maximum three-year period of the fellowship training. For the IAOM-US OMT courses you have already taken, you will have the choices of which course you re-take, but it should be 3 spine related and 3 extremity related OMT courses. You will have the following options to repeat the courses: (1) Register ($100 fee with paper course manual or $50 fee with electronic copy of manual for each course) and attend an IAOM-US course and stay with the instructor during lab practice time so to learn from watching others, observe details of corrected techniques, etc…, receive certificate of attendance ; or (2) Take the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ScD on-line portion of the IAOM-US course, and act as proctor and coordinator for the threaded discussions; or (3) If you are already in the IAOM-US faculty program, act as an assistant/faculty during the course as needed.
  6. Successful completion of up to 4 IAOM-US Sensorimotor control courses will be considered on a case by case basis as an alternative to required IAOM-US OMT coursework that has been previously completed prior to enrollment in the IAOM-US Fellowship Program. The 4-course sensorimotor control curriculum is designed to enable clinicians to execute a systematic, comprehensive, and evidence-based sensorimotor control program aimed at functional recovery for their patients suffering from pain, dysfunction and performance deficits in the spine and extremities. The courses will implement state of the art sensorimotor control and learning principles to address patients’ specific sensorimotor control needs in a diagnosis-inclusive fashion. A progressive approach to manual detection and functional examination will be discussed and practiced. The clinician will learn how to design, implement a progress a program that addresses neuromotor and somatosensory fundamental reactivation. Corrective strategies will be implemented in response to functional examination findings. Management will be completed with fundamental performance improvements and functional recovery advancements. Various different dynamic manual facilitation and functional strategies will be discussed relevant to each patient’s clinical presentation and clinical cases will be reviewed.
  7. Successful completion of up to 2 IAOM-US Beyond Manual Therapy: Strategic Communication as a Clinical Tool courses will be considered on a case by case basis as an alternative to required IAOM-US OMT coursework that has been previously completed prior to enrollment in the IAOM-US Fellowship Program. The 2-course Strategic Communication as a Clinical Tool curriculum is designed to enable clinicians to utilize specific language patterns to decrease resistance and resolve patients’ barriers to change, gain exact knowledge for utilizing patients’ beliefs to enhance motivation and improve outcomes, decrease non-compliance with challenging patients by employing communication skills that address the six levels of change, create motivation by re-framing injury or illness as an opportunity for positive change, understand motivation styles and communication strategies to successfully intervene and encourage active patient participation by presenting treatment plans complementary to patients’ beliefs in a diagnosis-inclusive fashion. A progressive approach to complementary strategies to examination and management will be discussed and practiced. Various different psychosocial strategies will be discussed relevant to each patient’s clinical presentation and clinical cases will be reviewed.
  8. Successful completion of Fellowship Written Examinations 1 and 2. (80 Fellowship Program hours). Four months of IAOM-US website coverage with mentor supervision.
  9. Successful completion of 6 patient practical examinations. (4 Fellowship Program hours each for a total of 24 hours). These examinations are conducted during the 1-on-1, intensive clinical experiences in HPPT 6111 and 6112.
  10. Successful completion of 4 peer-reviewed clinical commentaries. (15 Fellowship Program hours each for a total of 60 hours).
  11. Successful completion and submission of a case study to a peer-reviewed journal. (125 Fellowship Program hours). The case study is completed from the candidate’s clinical site. After completion, the candidate submits a manuscript to a peer reviewed journal for publication.

 

Application fee — ScD program TTUHSC

$50

Application fee — Fellowship program IAOM-US

$150

Application fee — RFPTCA (APTA central website)

$135

HPPT 6404 — Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Screening (4 university graduate credit hours)
      Texas Residents (Section 001)

$965

      Non Texas Residents (Section 002)

$1940

HPPT 6317 — Radiological Anatomy (3 university graduate credit hours)
      Texas Residents (Section 001)

$730

      Non Texas Residents (Section 002)

$1455

HPPT 7305 — Curriculum Design and Teaching in Allied Health (3 university graduate credit hours)
      Texas Residents (Section 001)

$730

      Non Texas Residents (Section 002)

$1455

HPPT 6111* — Clinical Internship (1 university graduate credit hours)
      Texas Residents (Section 001)

$270

      Non Texas Residents (Section 002)

$720

HPPT 6112* — Clinical Internship (1 university graduate credit hours)
      Texas Residents (Section 001)

$270

      Non Texas Residents (Section 002)

$720

6 IAOM-US courses

$3,594

IAOM — US Fellowship Tuition — Administrative Fee**

$2,875

Clinical Examination of 6 IAOM-US Courses

$900

*Mentorship during EACH clinical internship includes the following:

  1. 65 hours of required one-on-one on-site clinical contact
  2. 30 hours of one-on-one contact, which can be accomplished either (1) on-site, or (2) through web-based mentorship. Online mentorship is an additional $50 per hour per Fellowship candidate. Division of the hours is determined in coordination with the Fellowship director. Half of the online mentoring fee must be paid before first online mentoring session. The remaining half must be paid before the end of the 30 hours. The same applies for the second 30-hour mentoring session.

**Administrative Fee must be paid upon acceptance into the program.

Duration of each clinical internship can be a minimum of 15 weeks to a maximum of 52 weeks. A minimum of a 12 week interval is required between the two clinical internships.

ESTIMATED TOTAL COST (without web-based mentorship hours)

Texas Residents $10,669
Non Texas Residents $13,994
If you have been considering an application to the IAOM-US Fellowship Program, you may have noticed that the Program asks the Fellows to pay for enrollment. This is very different from most other Fellowship programs, in that the traditional programs typically reimburse the Fellows for participation.

At face value this appears costly to Fellows in the IAOM-US Program. However, you need to take a closer look at what this really means. Let’s say as an experienced clinician you earn $75,000/year in salary, $3000-5000/year in pension contributions, $3000-5000 in bonuses, and receive health insurance coverage for your entire family. This adds up to $81,000 to $87,000 compensations plus insurance for your employment, not to mention higher earnings if you are a manager or practice owner. To attend a traditional Fellowship Program, you will likely be paid a part-time salary. Let suggest that you are offered $40,000/year plus your individual health insurance, not to include any other perks or benefits, to attend a one-year traditional Fellowship Program in Orthopedic Manual Therapy. In effect, you will be paying $41,000-$47,000 for one year of attendance in that Fellowship Program if you consider all of the salary and benefits you would lose in changing your employment status. In addition, you would be required to uproot your family and move them for one year to that location, if you intended to keep your family members together for that year of attendance. Moreover, you would have to negotiate their insurance coverage, as well as school for the children and new social activities.

In light of this, the IAOM-US opts to offer a Fellowship Program that allows colleagues to maintain their present employment arrangements and experience learning in the framework of their own caseload. So, this arrangement enables you to maximize your learning in your familiar context and minimize stresses on your personal and family members’ lives, while maintaining your current earnings, benefits and vestitures. In exchange, you as a Fellow would pay a total of $10,669 (Texas residents) to $13,994 (non-Texas residents) over 3 years when taking requisites of the Fellowship program. This amount includes:

  • The cost of all required university-based classes that are taken over the 3-year period to complete the Fellowship Program, which can be applied towards earning a terminal Doctorate of Science (ScD) Degree at a collaborating Division I University;
  • Fellowship administrative costs encountered while in the 2- to 3-year Fellowship program; and
  • Extensive mentoring time experienced during that same Fellowship program time.

This means that you are allowed to continue earning your salary over the time required to complete the Fellowship program (2-3 years). Based on the figures above, this translates into earnings of approximately $400,000 to $440,000 across that time, from which you will pay the previously mentioned total Fellowship costs (less than 7% of your total earnings during that period). Thus, the IAOM-US offers you an opportunity to develop expertise in evidence-supported orthopedic diagnostics and manual therapy practice, potentially earn a ScD degree through a collaborative university and reduce your overall total costs in time and resources for participation in a credentialed Fellowship Program.

Graduates:
1. Gail Apte, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
2. Jim Bjornson, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
3. Jean-Michel Brismée, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
4. Amy Clark, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
5. Dale Gerke, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
6. Julie Goebel, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
7. Russell Hanks, PT, FAAOMPT
8. Holly Jonely, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
9. Kenny Kichura, PT, FAAOMPT
10. Patrick Morgan, PT, FAAOMPT
11. Robert Moss, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
12. Patricia Nelson, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
13. Chris Owens, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
14. Valerie Phelps, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
15. Keith Poorbaugh, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
16. Elizabeth Sargent, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
17. Denise Schneider, PT, FAAOMPT
18. Becky Sherwin, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
19. Phil Sizer, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT
20. Tanya Smith, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
21. Matt Stump, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
22. Suzanne Trotter, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
23. Jack Wade, PT, FAAOMPT
24. Sarah Wyant, PT, FAAOMPT

Positions held:
1. Faculty position at Universities: 8
2. Higher administrative positions held: 13
3. Clinical Instructors & mentors: 15

Graduation rate: 96%

Graduates:
1. Gail Apte, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
2. Jim Bjornson, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
3. Jean-Michel Brismée, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
4. Amy Clark, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
5. Dale Gerke, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
6. Julie Goebel, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
7. Russell Hanks, PT, FAAOMPT
8. Holly Jonely, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
9. Kenny Kichura, PT, FAAOMPT
10. Patrick Morgan, PT, FAAOMPT
11. Robert Moss, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
12. Patricia Nelson, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
13. Chris Owens, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
14. Valerie Phelps, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
15. Keith Poorbaugh, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
16. Elizabeth Sargent, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
17. Denise Schneider, PT, FAAOMPT
18. Becky Sherwin, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
19. Phil Sizer, PT, PhD, FAAOMPT
20. Tanya Smith, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
21. Matt Stump, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
22. Suzanne Trotter, PT, ScD, FAAOMPT
23. Jack Wade, PT, FAAOMPT
24. Sarah Wyant, PT, FAAOMPT

Positions held:
1. Faculty position at Universities: 8
2. Higher administrative positions held: 13
3. Clinical Instructors & mentors: 15

Graduation rate: 96%