Our mission is to develop specialty practice, board-certified physical therapists who are leaders and educators in clinical practice and provide evidence-based, exceptional, and affordable care to improve the health of the communities they serve.
Corewell Health West Michigan Physical Therapy Residency Programs are designed to accelerate your growth as a clinician and prepare you for advanced practice in your chosen specialty. Each program combines immersive clinical experience, structured didactic learning, and personalized mentoring to help you develop the clinical expertise and confidence to excel in your career.
As part of the largest health system in Michigan and located in Grand Rapids, our residents benefit from:
Program Highlights
Our residency programs are ideal for physical therapists who are passionate about advancing their clinical expertise, making a meaningful impact on their communities, and becoming leaders in the profession.
The Corewell Health West Michigan Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program is currently under development and is actively seeking candidacy status through the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).
This program is not currently accredited by ABPTRFE. Notification of candidacy status is expected May 2026.
Enrollment of our first cohort is expected August 31, 2026.
For more information about our program and how to apply, please contact:
Jodie Dixon, PT, NCS
Program Coordinator
Jodie.Dixon@corewellhealth.org
The didactic component of the curriculum uses AOPT’s Current Concepts of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, 5th edition, JOSPT Clinical Practice Guidelines, and select MedBridge knowledge tracks. The program provides the resident assistance in obtaining these resources at a discounted rate.
Residents practice at two clinical sites concurrently throughout the entire residency year, creating a unique opportunity for professional growth and continuity of care. This structure allows residents to follow patients across the full rehabilitation continuum—from immediate post-operative care through return to sport and every phase in between. Residents gain experience managing both acute and chronic conditions across a wide age range, from adolescent athletes to older adults.
Working in two distinct clinical environments also provides exposure to diverse patient populations, varied practice settings, and multiple clinical teams. This fosters adaptability, strengthens collaborative skills, and enables residents to build lasting, meaningful relationships with healthcare providers across disciplines.
The didactic curriculum is strategically sequenced to progress from foundational concepts to advanced clinical integration. Clinical cases align with curriculum content, ensuring that residents continuously apply and reinforce knowledge while developing strong clinical reasoning skills in real-world contexts.
Residents receive a minimum of 200 hours dedicated to one-to-one mentoring with clinical faculty over the duration of the program with 150 of these hours conducted in a patient-care setting. All program mentors are board-certified orthopedic physical therapists who are strong clinical educations in addition to being content experts in their area of practice.
In addition to the didactic curriculum and mentoring, residents also complete:
As of September 2025:
The program monitors graduates’ ongoing professional development, performance on the ABPTS Orthopedic Specialist Exam, and their career roles for up to five years.
Minimum Requirements:
Application Requirements:
Applications are due on March 31.
For questions about a specific specialist program, please reach out to the appropriate program coordinator:
The Corewell Health West Michigan Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in orthopedics.
Learn more about how to apply and what you need to include in your application.