What began with the launch of Ivy and Hospital for Special Surgery’s Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program in 2019 has grown into a broader commitment to advanced clinical education, including accredited orthopedic training and a dedicated sports residency program.
In 2019, Ivy Rehab and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) launched a new Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program with a shared goal: give physical therapists a structured path to deepen their orthopedic expertise through advanced coursework, mentorship, and hands-on clinical learning.
That first program marked the beginning of something bigger.
Today, Ivy Health and HSS continue to work together to support advanced clinical development in both orthopedic and sports physical therapy, helping clinicians build deeper specialty expertise while preparing for board certification.
Where It Started
The original Ivy + HSS Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency was designed as a one-year, post-professional program combining structured didactic education, clinical mentorship, and real-world application.
The program has since become an established part of Ivy’s clinical development model.
Today, the Ivy + HSS Orthopedic Residency Program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). The current program reports a 97% completion rate and 97% OCS exam pass rate and prepares residents for the ABPTS Orthopedic Certified Specialist examination.
The Partnership Grows Into Sports
In 2023, the partnership expanded with the first cohort of the Ivy + HSS Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program.
The 12-month program combines clinical training, mentorship, and evidence-based learning to help physical therapists develop advanced sports medicine expertise and prepare for the ABPTS Sports Certified Specialist examination. Its curriculum includes virtual and in-person learning, journal and case review, and HSS sports content and education.
This program also reports a 97% program completion rate and 97% SCS exam pass rate. As of the current published program information, the Sports Residency is in candidacy for initial ABPTRFE accreditation.
More Than a Credential
Residency is about more than preparing for an exam.
It gives clinicians time and structure to sharpen clinical reasoning, learn alongside experienced mentors, challenge how they approach complex cases, and bring new knowledge back into everyday patient care.
That investment in clinicians is part of a larger commitment across Ivy Health to make ongoing learning part of the way care gets better.
Today, Ivy’s advanced clinical training extends beyond orthopedics and sports to pediatric physical therapy, pediatric occupational therapy, and pediatric speech-language pathology, with programs built around mentorship, structured education, and hands-on clinical experience.
Still Growing
What started with one orthopedic residency in 2019 has become a broader platform for specialty development across Ivy Health.
The goal has stayed remarkably consistent: give clinicians the support, expertise, and opportunities they need to keep getting better at what they do.
Because clinical excellence isn’t something you reach once. It’s something you keep building.