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Residency/Fellowship Education SIG


Λ‡The Residency/Fellowship Education Special Interest Group of the APTA Academy of Education, APTA provides a forum where residency/fellowship faculty including program directors, coordinators and mentors promote excellence in residency education by providing collaborative opportunities for educational research, exploring opportunities for curricular development, enhancing resident clinical reasoning skills and discussing resources available for assessment in residency education.

Residency and Fellowship Resources 

RFESIG LEADERSHIP
Treasurer/Secretary: Kristel Maes PT, DPT 
Membership Secretary: Martha Bloyer PT, DPT, PCS 
Nominating Committee Chair: Kristina Stein, PT, MPT
Nominating Committee: Jodie Rush PT, DPT, COMT, OCS
Communications Committee Chair: Kris Neelon PT, DPT,OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT

RFESIG Journal Club: December 9, 2025 8:00 pm ET. Register here. Free for RFESIG members, students, and residents; $25 for non-members of the RFESIG.

The December 2025 RFESIG Academy of Education Journal Club will feature Julie Peterson, lead author of Outcomes of Residency Education: Insights Into the Professional Formation of the Physical Therapist Resident (Peterson et al., 2024). Drawing on an exploratory qualitative case study, Dr. Peterson will discuss the study’s three central themes—Growth of Self, Becoming a Member of the Community of Practice, and Facilitation of Learning Through Mentoring—which together illuminate the resident’s transformative professional journey. This live, interactive session will examine the essential features of residency teaching and learning environments that support novice clinicians in developing toward adaptive expertise. Open to RFESIG members and the wider community, the session promotes knowledge sharing, professional development, and reflection on residency best practices. CEUs will be available upon completion of the assessment.

Peterson JA, Black L, Christensen N, Hartley GW, Jensen GM. Outcomes of residency education: insights into the professional formation of the physical therapist resident. J Phys Ther Educ. 2024;38(3):231-238.

RFE SIG Journal Club: Outcomes of Residency Education: Insights into the Professional Formation of the Physical Therapist Resident - APTA Academy of Education

2026

ABPTRFE has and registration links (found on the under "Program and Faculty Resources"):

  • April 16, 7-8 p.m. ET: Mentoring vs. Clinical Instruction: New Resources, Distinctions, and Site Visit Takeaways for Success
  • Aug. 13, 1-2 p.m. ET: Stronger Together: ABPTRFE & CAPTE Integrated Commission Town Hall

Nov. 5, 7-8 p.m. ET: What Tools and Resources Exist for You: Navigating the ABPTRFE Website

 

ABPTRFE In-Person Accreditation Workshop

Join ABPTRFE on Monday, March 9, for this hands-on, interactive ABPTRFE Accreditation Workshop designed for residency and fellowship program administrators, directors, coordinators, and faculty. Building on the online Candidacy and Accreditation Workshops, this in-person session offers practical application and guided work time to draft or refine key sections of your program’s Self-Evaluation Report and exhibits. Participants will benefit from small-group discussions and individualized guidance from ABPTRFE commissioners and staff, gaining valuable insights and strategies to strengthen their programs and navigate the accreditation process with confidence. Learn More and Register Now

  • To provide a vehicle for enhancing communication among those invested in residency/fellowship education.
  • To promote cooperative efforts among residency/fellowship programs in advancing and improving curriculum.
  • To serve as a resource for collaboration in research for the advancement of resident/fellowship education.
  • To assist in the advancement of skilled clinical mentorship for all resident/fellowship faculty.

To view the SIG Standing Rules, please click here.

Distinguished Mentor in Residency/Fellowship Education Award is to be given to recognize excellence in Residency/Fellowship mentoring

 
AWARD ELIGIBILITY / CRITERIA INCLUDE
  1. Each recipient will be an Academy of PT Education member who is currently engaged or has demonstrated life-long engagement in residency/fellowship education.
  2. Each recipient will have distinguished himself or herself through excellence in mentoring residents/fellows in an ABPTRFE accredited program.
  3. Each recipient will have distinguished himself or herself in a clinical specialty area as evidenced by mentoring experience, continued education, practice, patient outcomes and/or residency/fellowship outcomes.
  4. Have been engaged in Residency/Fellowship mentoring for at least 3 years

Individuals who are current members of the Academy of Education Board of Directors, the APTA Board of Directors, or APTA Staff are not eligible for the award and may not participate in the nomination process.

 
NOMINATION PROCEDURE:

To submit nominations for the Academy of Education Awards, please click the link to be taken to our new submission system. You will be required to create an account in order to submit; this login does not need to match your APTA or Academy login. Creating an account will allow you to save your draft submission and return to complete and submit at a later time. Please note: draft submissions must be submitted in order to be considered.

Check back for application window.

Deadline to submit Award Nominations: November 1, 2025

Please contact academy@aptaeducation.org with any questions.

Awards Portal
The Academy of Education (AoE) has created online communities for each AoE Special Interest Group to facilitate communication and build connections with SIG members. 
Check out the RFESIG Community.
Also, APTA members have access to the APTA Community to learn, discuss, and access resources to advance their work. Check out the APTA Residency/Fellowship community.