VCU College of Health Professions

The Virginia Commonwealth University
Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
 2025-2026 residency year

Advance to the next phase of your professional career by participating in the Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Residency Program. Primary practice settings include VCU Health Pediatric Acute Care and Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) at VCU Outpatient and Specialty Clinics. Affiliated clinical sites provide additional clinical exposures to Early Intervention, School System and Inpatient Rehabilitation practice settings. Residents are enrolled in the Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program (Va-LEND)

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31, 2024

Program Mission

The mission of the Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency is to provide licensed physical therapists a pathway to achieve pediatric specialization. Program graduates will be professional leaders contributing to society by providing culturally-sensitive, family-centered care; facilitating high value health related outcomes; and actively participating in evidence based practice, social engagement, teaching, and research. Program goals and outcomes are assessed annually as part of a continuous improvement plan and strategic initiatives are updated as needed to maintain and/or exceed current ABPTRFE standards.

Program Description

This 12.5 month program provides opportunities for the resident to gain experience with a diverse and complex patient population by providing direct clinical practice hours and/or clinical observation in the 5 practice settings of acute care, outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, early intervention, and the school system.

Residents will have mentored teaching responsibilities and exposure to research activities at VCU College of Health Professions Department of Physical Therapy

The curriculum will include enrolment of the resident in the Va-Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Va – LEND) program.

The program is composed of blocks that group educational and clinical components and are threaded throughout the resident experience. Total Program Hours = 2198 to 2208 hrs. 

Eligibility for Admission

• Graduate from an accredited physical therapy program
• Licensed as a physical therapist (or eligible) in the Commonwealth of Virginia
• US Citizen (required to participate in federally funded LEND program)
• Member of APTA and the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of the APTA
• Strong professional interest in pediatric population, experience working with children, and express a desire to become a Pediatric Clinical Specialist.
• Recent graduates (practicing less than 1 year) applying to the pediatric residency must:
  • have completed a >= 8 week pediatric clinical placement
  • include a recommendation from their clinical instructor
  • have evidence of practice at “entry level” on their clinical performance evaluation  

How to Apply:

RF PTCAS Application Requirements: The applicant can access the application through the following site:

https://rfptcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

Timeline:

• Application deadline: December 31, 2024
• Internal application reviews: January 6-10, 2025
• First Round interviews: January 20-24, 2025
• Second Round interviews: February 21, 2025
• Offers extended: Week of March 3, 2025
• Start date: August 5, 2025

Program Director: 

Chad Taylor, PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy Virginia Commonwealth University, taylorcc2@vcu.edu

Supplemental Application Fee

• There is an additional application fee of $100.  Please pay using the link below.

https://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/dptSahpEcom/Home.aspx?processFlag=1&itemID=2

Program Director

Tamara Buck, PT, DPT, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Virginia Commonwealth University; buckt@vcu.edu
Board Certified in Pediatric Physical Therapy

Tamara Buck is a physical therapist and ABPTS Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatrics with 32 years of clinical experience. She has been teaching pediatric physical therapy content in an entry-level DPT program for the past 8 years. She earned her DPT with an emphasis on Pediatric Sciences in 2016. Tamara is also in the dissertation phase of her PhD studies at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She completed her qualifying exams in Pediatric Sciences and has taken multiple classes in teaching and learning focused on health professions education. Tamara has a strong history of being a clinical instructor and continues to be active as a new professional mentor. She is committed to increasing physical activity for children and families who do not meet current guidelines for healthy living and threads this passion into her active research efforts.

Residency Coordinator

Ryan Lockwood, PT, MSPT, CSCS (Ryan.Lockwood@vcuhealth.org)

Ryan Lockwood, PT, MSPT, CSCS is a Physical Therapist and clinic manager at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHOR), Fredericksburg Therapy Center.  He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the NSCA and has also completed certification in Pediatric Vestibular Rehab Competency from the APTA.  Ryan graduated from Ithaca College in 1998 with a master’s degree in physical therapy and has spent his entire career in outpatient pediatrics.  Ryan has worked for CHOR since 2003.  Ryan has special interests and training in car seats, concussion, pediatric sport rehab/injury prevention, gait training/rehab, equipment, casting and orthotics/splinting.  Ryan assisted with the development and planning of the pediatric residency, has been a mentor within the program, and is now the coordinator of the pediatric residency since 2021.  Ryan assists with some teaching of pediatric course content in the VCU Department of Physical Therapy.  Ryan is a member of the APTA, American Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, and Virginia Physical Therapy Association.

Mentors

Acute/Inpatient: Jenny Resetar, Katie Shearon, Cathy Van Drew, Shaaron Brown

Outpatient: Michelle Froede, Aileen Jones, Lucille O’Neil

Early Intervention: Katie Drummond, Traci Morse

2025 Peds Residency and Fellowship Financial Fact Sheet

VCU Pediatric Residency Program Graduate Outcomes

The VCU Pediatric PT Residency accepted the first residents in 2019.