Modern Physical Therapy is a far-cry from its humble beginnings at the turn of the 20th Century— and even twenty years ago. The rapid progress of the profession has been spurred by myriad of reasons, such as advances in research, technology, and a growing demand for licensed professionals. Perhaps the most important factor contributing to the positive evolution of modern physical therapy stems from individual physical therapists seeking post-professional opportunities to improve their knowledge, skills and abilities in a specialty area of practice.
Physical therapists, like those of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), refuse to be complacent, and strive to raise the bar for the profession. Receiving its accreditation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Programs in October 2013, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is now the first and only Sports Residency Program in the state of Georgia— and one of the few in the country—dedicated to the care of young athletes.
Led by Julie Johnson, PT, MPT, SCS, CSCS and Program Director, and a team of 19 faculty members, the Sports Residency Program has just certified its first participant. Dr. Kelli McLaren, PT, DPT completed her residency and passed the sports specialty examination given by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, becoming a Sports Certified Specialist.
Dr. McLaren began her residency in August of 2013 and has logged over 2,000 hours of clinical rotations in the Sports Medicine department, community sideline coverage and adjunct didactic educational experiences in other departments of CHOA. The choice to further her post-professional education mirrors a growing trend within the physical therapy profession to specialize since 1985.
Currently, Georgia offers six other residency programs of various specializations through Mercer University, Emory University and PT Solutions. The addition of this specialized certification program to Georgia’s physical therapy education opportunities is a testament to our members’ commitment to professional development, high standards and lifelong learning.
To learn more about the new Sports Medicine Residency program, visit our friends at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta by clicking here.
To view a complete list of all available physical therapy residency programs offered in Georgia, visit the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education page by clicking here.
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