Please complete and submit the following:
Applicant Contact Information Sheet (pdf)
To submit completed information sheets, proof of vaccinations, and inquire about an observation opportunity, please contact David Kurbatsky, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, at david.kurbatsky@vailhealth.org or (970) 845-9600
Residency/Education
Our Physical Therapists and Certified Hand Therapists are well rounded and experienced with both Sports and Orthopaedics and are committed to providing evidence-based practice, and the latest in educational resources. We pride ourselves in excellent clinical care that focuses on the patient’s goals. We have 11 locations in Eagle County, Summit County and the Roaring Fork Valley with 4 locations providing Hand Therapy.
Whether you are a recent physical therapy graduate or an experienced clinician, our sports physical therapy residency gives you the specialized skills and hands-on experience to provide high-quality physical therapy to athletes in the clinic and on the field.
Guided by knowledgeable faculty and mentors, you will receive rigorous training in physical therapy for athletes, expand your knowledge by conducting and publishing clinical research, make lasting contributions to your community and prepare you to become a leader in Sports Medicine.
CURRICULUM AND TRAINING
Our rigorous sports residency curriculum uses a combination of formal and informal educational, clinical and academic activities, as well as mentored direct care of patients at affiliated clinics, including The Steadman Clinic and Vail Summit Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery. Supervised on-field experience is a key component of the sports residency and will be conducted with local high school athletics, Club sports, and US Ski and Snowboard Teams.
The sports residency consists of key modules for each joint: knee, hip, foot/ankle, shoulder and spine. With addition of adjunct modules that is specific to the Sport Specialist: running analysis, injury reduction strategies, performance improvements, surgical observation/lab, and many others.
A Sports Resident’s typical week includes:
- 20–30 hours of direct patient care
- 1:1 mentored clinical practice in physical therapy
- On-field experience in athletic settings
- Physician clinic observation and grand rounds
- Discussion in theory, technique and literature reviews, Journal Clubs, contribution to on-going research, and other didactic areas.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for the HHSMR program you must be a graduate of an APTA-accredited program in Physical Therapy and eligible for licensure as a Physical Therapist in Colorado.
You must also have one of the following designations for emergency response prior to beginning the residency:
- Certified Athletic Trainer
- Certified Emergency Responder (through the APTA sports section)
- Licensed Emergency Medical Technician
HOW TO APPLY
All sports residents must have a Colorado State License prior to beginning the residency in July.
To apply for the sports residency, visit the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS), create a login and indicate that you are applying for the HHSMRP.
Howard Head Sports Medicine Sports Residency will be participating in the standardized Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program Match for the upcoming application cycle. This will process will fill our 2 available Resident positions for our upcoming start date: July 2025. 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!
Applications open October 1 and close December 1. Interviews will be held in January/February for the upcoming class. The Universal Match Date will be March 1.
If you would like to understand costs and financial implications of this program, please review the documents found in our 'Residency Financial Transparency' section further below on this page.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
At Howard Head Sports Medicine we measure success with APTA specialty exam pass rate, academic and scholarly achievement, professional growth, and employment status. Since inception in 2007, our residency graduates SCS specialty exam first-time pass rate is 96%, and our program pass rate is 100%. We have had 26 sports residents, and 15 former residents are currently working at Howard Head Sports Medicine in various leadership, staff, and faculty roles. Our former residents work in a variety of fields, which include professional sports teams, exercise physiology, Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAMOPT), and successful dual credentialed specialists in Sports and Orthopaedics. As former SCS residents they all have the opportunity to join the US Ski and Snowboard Team as pool therapists.
To apply for the sports residency, visit the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS), create a login and indicate that you are applying for the 'Vail Health Howard Head Sports Residency'.
CONTACT US
For more information, please contact Devyn Kammert, coordinator of the Howard Head Sports Physical Therapy Residency, at devyn.kammert@vailhealth.org or Matt Mymern, PT, DPT, SCS, MHA, CSCS, Howard Head Sports Medicine Program Director at mymern@vailhealth.org.
FORMER HHSMRP RESIDENTS THAT WORK FOR HOWARD HEAD
- Matt Mymern, PT, DPT, SCS, TPI-C
- Brittney Huntimer, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, FAAOMPT
- Rachel Rourke, PT, DPT, SCS, OCS
- Nate Neff, PT, DPT, SCS, MTC
- Hank Scholtz, PT, DPT, SCS
- Brett Muller, PT, DPT, SCS
- Haley Leo, PT, DPT, SCS
- Justin Callison, PT, DPT, OCS
- Alex Detrick, PT, DPT, SCS
- Dane Ringquist, PT, DPT, SCS
- Margeaux Cohen, PT, DPT
- Abigail Bohn, PT, DPT
- Katherine Bertaut, PT, DPT
- Byron Thulborn, PT, DPT
- Matt Mymern, PT, DPT, SCS
- Devyn Kammert, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
- Sonya Greider, PT, DPT, MBA, OCS
- Paul Westgard, PT, DPT, SCS, OCS, CSCS
- Ana Robinson, PT, DPT, OCS
- Laurie Griffin, PT, DPT, OCS
- Jenna Jones, PT, DPT, OCS
- Brett Mueller, PT, DPT, SCS
Whether you are a recent physical therapy graduate or an experienced clinician, our orthopaedic physical therapy residency gives you the specialized skills and hands-on experience to provide high-quality physical therapy to a broad spectrum of patients with orthopaedic issues within a clinical setting.
Guided by knowledgeable faculty and mentors, you will receive rigorous training in physical therapy for all ages, expand your knowledge by conducting and publishing clinical research, and practice your collaboration skills with physician teams to make lasting contributions to your community and prepare you to become a leader in orthopaedics.
CURRICULUM AND TRAINING
Our rigorous orthopaedic residency curriculum uses a combination of formal and informal educational, clinical and academic activities, as well as mentored co-treatment of patients at affiliated clinics, including The Steadman Clinic.
The orthopaedic residency consists of key modules for each joint: knee, hip, foot/ankle, shoulder and spine. With addition of adjunct modules that is specific to in depth specialty in orthopaedics.
An Orthopaedic Resident’s typical week includes:
- 20–30 hours of direct patient care
- 1:1 mentored clinical practice in physical therapy
- Co-treatment with physician teams
- Grand rounds
- Discussion in theory, technique and literature reviews, Journal Clubs, contribution to on-going research, and other didactic areas.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for the Vail Health Howard Head Orthopedic Residency program, you must be a graduate of an APTA-accredited program in Physical Therapy and licensed as a Physical Therapist in Colorado prior to the first day of the program.
In residency candidates, we are looking for highly skilled PT’s; a desire to advance clinical knowledge in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, strong communication skills, initiative, adaptability, and responsibility.
HOW TO APPLY
All orthopaedic residents must have a Colorado State License prior to beginning residency in July.
To apply for the orthopaedic residency, visit the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS), create a login and indicate that you are applying for the 'Vail Health Howard Head Orthopedic Residency'.
Applications open October 1 and close December 1. Interviews will be held in January/February for the upcoming class.
If you would like to understand costs and financial implications of this program, please review the documents found in our 'Residency Financial Transparency' section further below on this page.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Although the orthopaedic residency is novel, Howard Head Sports Medicine has a history of success in our long-standing sports residency. The same high standard of success is expected of our future orthopaedic residency classes. We have a 100% pass rate with our first two orthopedic residents, both of which have been invited back as full-time employees.
At Howard Head Sports Medicine we measure success with APTA specialty exam pass rate, academic and scholarly achievement, professional growth, and employment status. We are collecting data starting with our class of 2023. Our goal is to achieve 100% orthopaedic specialty exam rate year over year, and 100% program pass rate.
CONTACT US
For more information, please contact Sonya Greider PT, DPT, OCS, Residency Program Lead of Howard Head Sports Physical Therapy Residency, at sonya.greider@vailhealth.org or Matt Mymern, PT, DPT, SCS, MHA, CSCS, Howard Head Sports Medicine Program Director at mymern@vailhealth.org.
HHSM ORTHOPAEDIC RESIDENCY FACULTY
- Matt Mymern, PT, DPT, SCS
- Devyn Kammert, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
- Sonya Greider, PT, DPT, MBA, OCS
- Paul Westgard, PT, DPT, SCS, OCS, CSCS
- Ana Robinson, PT, DPT, OCS
- Laurie Griffin, PT, DPT, OCS
- Jenna Jones, PT, DPT, OCS
- Brett Mueller, PT, DPT, SCS
Whether you are a recent occupational therapy graduate or an experienced clinician, our Hand Therapy Fellowship in the mountains of Colorado gives you advanced skills and hands-on experience in the management of hand and upper extremity orthopedic conditions and orthosis fabrication through application of evidenced based practice and clinical reasoning.
PROGRAM GOALS
Through mentoring and training with our clinical specialists, in addition to hands on clinical practice, our program is designed to:
- Provide a systematic curriculum to achieve advanced clinical competency to sit for the Hand Therapy Certification Examination and obtain employment within a hand therapy setting.
- Develop advanced manual therapy skills and ability to excel in custom orthosis fabrication for upper extremity conditions.
- Provide a framework of didactic and experiential learning to become premier healthcare providers using a patient centered approach, innovative ideas and evidence-based diagnosis.
- Provide fellows opportunities to advance clinical knowledge through interaction with other specialists within and outside of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.
- Provide fellows with independent patient care opportunities that allow direct application of experiences and research.
Our rigorous fellowship curriculum uses a combination of formal and informal educational, clinical and academic activities, as well as mentored direct care of patients at affiliated clinics, including The Steadman Clinic and Vail Summit Orthopaedics and Neurology.
A Fellows typical week includes:
- 30 hours of independent patient care
- Minimum 10 hours of 1:1 mentored clinical practice in hand therapy
- Physician clinic and surgery observation
- Discussion in theory, technique and literature reviews and other didactic areas
- Teaching responsibilities
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In fellowship candidates, we are looking for highly skilled OT’s; a desire to advance clinical knowledge in Hand Therapy, strong communication skills, initiative, adaptability, and responsibility.
To qualify for the Hand Therapy Fellowship Program, you must be a graduate of an occupational therapy educational program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®), and licensed, or be eligible for licensure, in Colorado
Current American Red Cross Basic Life Support certification or documentation demonstrating intent to obtain the certification prior the start of the program.
HOW TO APPLY
All fellows must have a Colorado State License prior to beginning the fellowship in July.
Application submissions will need to contain the following information to be considered for a position:
- Evidence of graduation from an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy program or the equivalent.
- Copy of current CV
- Proof of Occupational Therapy licensure OR documentation demonstrating your intent to sit for licensure prior to the program start in July (a copy of your registration to sit for the April NBCOT exam).
- Current Basic Life Support Certification OR documentation demonstrating intent to obtain prior to the program start.
- Letter of intent
- Essay Response
- 3 Letters of recommendation with at least one from a licensed occupational therapist who can comment on your skills, proficiency, and professionalism in a clinic environment.
CONTACT US
Please contact Andrea Granzin, OTR, CHT, CMLDT and Hand Therapy Fellowship Coordinator at andrea.granzin@vailhealth.org or 970-569-7770 for application instructions, essay and additional questions.
Thank you for your interest in Howard Head’s student of physical therapy clinical education program. Unfortunately, due to issues with worker’s compensation insurance law in the state of Colorado, entering into new contracts with schools and universities has been extremely challenging. As a result, we are not entering into any new contracts with institutions for student placements at this time. If your school has a current contract with Howard Head and Vail Health Hospital, and you are interested in a rotation, please contact our center coordinator for clinical education using the information provided below. If you school does not have a current contract and you would like to have the opportunity to learn at Howard Head, we would encourage you to look into our sports residency program as an option for post graduate education once you gain licensure as a therapist.
For more information please contact Shayna Graham, PT, DPT, at shayna.graham@vailhealth.org or (970) 328-6715.
For more information please contact Shayna Graham, PT, DPT, at shayna.graham@vailhealth.org or (970) 328-6715.
Looking to explore the day to day experience of a physical therapist? At Howard Head we open our doors to community members interested in observing at any of our clinics throughout Eagle and Summit Counties. From high school students exploring career options, to adults making a career change, we will match you with a professional to shadow for hours, days, or even weeks to gain insight in our field. During your observation experience you will examine a variety of musculoskeletal injuries, learn about our culture here at Howard Head, and have the opportunity to ask any questions of the experts. This is an amazing opportunity for those individuals interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy.
Residency Financial Transparency
The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education program provides a financial fact sheet to ensure financial transparency for applicants, and to further understand the true costs to undergo residency and fellowship education, please click the links below to review this information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does the program pay their residents?
Howard Head pays the Resident a salary at 75% a full-time entry-level employee status set at a regional competitive level. There is no tuition or fees.
Are benefits provided?
Yes, full medical benefits are provided similar to a staff physical therapist including a yearly wellness credit and allotted PTO days.
Is housing provided?
Employee housing is available at a decreased cost of market value, making it significantly more affordable to live in the Vail Valley.
How is the mentoring scheduled?
Weekly mentoring is scheduled for 4 hours with 1:1 mentoring with a specialist in the module-specific region.
What does the research component look like?
Involvement in research is a requirement of the program. This can be on a spectrum from a full IRB approved study with access to a biomotion lab and research professionals, writing of a case-study or clinical commentary, or a presentation to our staff based on your chosen field of study. Residents meet with the research mentor at the beginning of the program and are assisted throughout the year.
Are there other additional components to the program?
Both sports and orthopaedic residents do a 5-week rotation as a physical therapist in the Vail Health Emergency Department during the Winter months.
What does the sports residency’s event coverage consist of?
Howard Head pays the Resident a salary at 75% a full-time entry-level employee status set at a regional competitive level. There is no tuition or fees.
Are benefits provided?
Yes, full medical benefits are provided similar to a staff physical therapist including a yearly wellness credit and allotted PTO days.
Is housing provided?
Employee housing is available at a decreased cost of market value, making it significantly more affordable to live in the Vail Valley.
How is the mentoring scheduled?
Weekly mentoring is scheduled for 4 hours with 1:1 mentoring with a specialist in the module-specific region.
What does the research component look like?
Involvement in research is a requirement of the program. This can be on a spectrum from a full IRB approved study with access to a biomotion lab and research professionals, writing of a case-study or clinical commentary, or a presentation to our staff based on your chosen field of study. Residents meet with the research mentor at the beginning of the program and are assisted throughout the year.
Are there other additional components to the program?
Both sports and orthopaedic residents do a 5-week rotation as a physical therapist in the Vail Health Emergency Department during the Winter months.
What does the sports residency’s event coverage consist of?
- Weekly high school training room and game coverage
- Full season game coverage of the Yeti Hockey Team, Vail’s semi-professional ice-hockey team
- On-snow with the US Ski and Snowboard team at Copper Mountain
- 4–6-week duration at the Center of Excellence in Park City, UT with the US Ski and Snowboard Teams
- US Climbing Team coverage at the GoPro Mountain Games