University of Miami – Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy Residency Program

The mission of the UM – JRH Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Residency is

“To provide post-professional training to licensed physical therapists to advance their knowledge, skills in patient/client management, and clinical reasoning to enable them to assume a greater role in the area of cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical practice, evidence-based practice, leadership, education, administration, and consultation.”

The residency program is designed to prepare participants to become skilled cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists by providing focused academic and clinical experiences. Residents will function as an integral member of an interdisciplinary team to assure coordinated and integrated care for the patient. Through development of skills in critical inquiry and participation in clinical research, residents are better prepared to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. Residents completing the program will be prepared to complete the Specialist Certification Examination in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy.

1. Facilitate the Resident’s ability to integrate foundational science, learning and developmental theory, and evidence-based clinical practice in cardiovascular and pulmonary care through structured academic and clinical experiences.
2. Provide opportunities through direct patient care or specialty observation for the Residents to develop advanced skills as a direct service provider and/or consultant in a variety of practice settings with a variety of patient populations, as required in the current Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Description of Specialty Practice and Description of Residency Practice.
3. Provide opportunities to develop advanced skills as an educator utilizing appropriate educational strategies that are congruent with the setting (community-based, clinical and/or academic) and needs of the learner to effectively deliver content to increase knowledge and skills of caregivers, students, colleagues, and other interdisciplinary care providers:
   
   1. Family/care giver education.
   2. Peer education including in-services.
   3. Community education programs.
   4. Teaching students enrolled in a doctoral level physical therapy program.
4. Provide opportunities to develop skills in critical thinking and research to enable the Residents to contribute to the cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy profession in the future.
5. Provide a curriculum that addresses all areas of the current Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Description of Specialty Practice and Description of Residency Practice, to successfully complete the Specialist Certification Examination in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).
6. Provide academic and clinical training in advanced skills in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy that meet or exceed American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) accreditation standards.
7. Provide the surrounding community (South Florida) and beyond with residency trained physical therapists who excel in cardiovascular and pulmonary practice, clinical education, cultural competence, and utilize a biopsychosocial approach.

Program Overview

This program is designed for physical therapists who are pursuing advanced clinical training in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy (CVP PT). The program’s curriculum and experiences have been curated in order to maximize the resident’s exposure to the diverse areas of advanced clinical practice in this area as well as lead and participate in hospital rounds, case presentation, and journal clubs, and teach in the entry level DPT program at the University of Miami. The practice areas that the resident will gain exposure to include outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, adult cystic fibrosis clinic, acute care at two different major academic medical centers, and critical care at one of the largest public hospitals in the world. As the University of Miami has affiliated physical therapy residencies in geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, sports, and neurology, the CVP Resident can also expect to interact and engage in learning experiences alongside resident clinicians and mentors from the other disciplines. The design of the program is such that the resident will be well equipped to be an advanced, evidenced based clinician in CVP PT and will also be prepared to sit for and pass the board certification exam to become a certified clinical specialist as defined by the APTA/ABPTS.

Credentialing

The UM-JRH CVP Residency Program received accreditation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) in 2021 as the first Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Program in Florida. The program starts in early to mid-August and runs for 50-60 consecutive weeks. Resident’s pay no tuition fee while enrolled in the Program.

Length of Study

The program starts in early August and runs for 50-60 consecutive weeks.

Salary

Residents will be working at Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital for 6 months and University of Miami Hospital for 6 months and receive an adjusted salary. Residents do not carry a full-time case load in order to allow time for didactic coursework, research, presentations and projects.

Benefits

Residents are eligible for benefits through University of Miami during their Residency “year”. This includes employer supported health and dental insurance, and paid time off (vacation, paid leave, and six holidays).

• Cardiovascular and pulmonary anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology.
• Physical examination and diagnostic testing and imaging of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.
• Cardiovascular and pulmonary pharmacology.
• Principles of cardiopulmonary exercise testing and prescription.
• Principles and evidence for cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Breathing exercises and airway clearance techniques.
• Physical Therapy interventions in the acutely ill patient.
• Critical illness and physical therapy considerations for patients on advanced life support devices, including mechanical ventilation, mechanical circulatory support (ECMO, VADs, IABP, etc.), and other invasive devices.
• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary implications in special populations including neurologic, pediatric, orthopedic, oncology, and sports.
  
• Primary prevention and complimentary therapies in cardiopulmonary patients.

Applicants Admission Criteria

• Minimum of one year acute care experience as a licensed physical therapist preferred.
• References supporting the applicant’s clinical, decision-making, communication and teamwork skills.
• An interest or experience in clinical research.
• Meets eligibility requirements to be employed as a practicing physical therapist at JRH and UMH.
• Proof of active Florida licensure.
• APTA and CVP section member preferred.
• BLS certified, ACLS certification preferred.

Disability Requirements

Students requesting disability accommodations must do so by filing a disability accommodation request in writing with the program coordinator at the time of application.

Core Academic Faculty

• Sabine Gempel, PT, DPT, Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist(Program Director)
  
• Meryl Cohen, PT, DPT, FAPTA, Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist 
  
• Lawrence P. Cahalin, PT, PhD, Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist
  
• Amanda Clifton, PT, DPT, Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist & Board Certified Pediatric Specialist
  
• Nicole DeLuca, PT, DPT, Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist
  
• David W. Mandel, PT, Ph.D.
  
• Kathryn E. Roach, PT, Ph.D.

Core Clinical Faculty

• Yessenia Orozco, PT, DPT, Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist (Program Coordinator)
  
• Brady Anderson, PT, DPT, Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist
  
• Thais Garcia, PT, DPT, Board Certified Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist
  
• Tamira Prince, PT, DPT
  
• Lucia Seasly, PT, DPT