Orthopedic Residency
UCF Physical Therapy
Overview
The University of Central Florida (UCF) and Orlando Health (OH) Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program enables physical therapists to advance their knowledge and develop their clinical skills in the area of outpatient-based orthopedic rehabilitation. The residency is designed to prepare residents in the advanced practice of orthopedic physical therapy as clinical specialists committed to optimizing patient care and improving the quality of life of individuals in the community. The selected residents are mentored by highly specialized and recognized clinical and didactic faculty within the field of orthopedic rehabilitation.
The mission of the UCF and OH Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is to deliver intensive hands-on training, advanced didactic immersion, and participation in doctoral level academic mentoring that develops highly skilled, orthopedic clinicians who possess the ability to conduct and disseminate high level research, and implement evidenced-based interventions, while producing superior patient outcomes and optimizing the health and quality of life for the individuals within our community.
Program Goals
- Strengthen the healthcare community by creating a positive experience and providing highly effective care for patients with orthopedic injuries and diagnoses, specifically in the area of orthopedics as defined by the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice (2001).
- Train highly qualified clinicians ready to achieve board certification in orthopedic physical therapy by implementing a curriculum that meets the requirements for orthopedic certified specialist certification by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
- Develop clinical decision-making skills through consistent supervision, and advance orthopedic physical therapy practice by integrating evidence based practice, along with foundational knowledge and skills.
- Promote inclusiveness and foster involvement in the community by providing residents the skills needed to become a resource for patients.
- Demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning by preparing residents to become competent educators and mentors in teaching patients, colleagues and physical therapy students.
Program Objectives
- The program will deliver education and training using the recommended outcome measures and evidence-based interventions in patient-client management of adults with orthopedic injuries and diagnoses. The program will result in proficiency in dealing with the variety of orthopedic patients commonly seen in outpatient rehabilitation. The academic faculty will provide instruction and guidance in scholarly activities such as research and teaching in the UCF Division of Physical Therapy, while the clinical faculty will provide clinical supervision of the residents within the designated clinical sites in the Orlando Health System.
- The program will focus on improving the quality of care of individuals with orthopedic injuries and diagnoses by utilizing outcome measures represented in the domains of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and using evidence-based interventions addressing an individual’s impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions.
- The program’s curriculum, which includes didactic and clinical components, will acknowledge all aspects of the APTA Orthopedic Physical Therapy’s Description of Specialty Practice. The program’s academic faculty will provide instruction in the area of therapeutic exercise, orthopedic skills, and management of patients with orthopedic conditions and guidance in clinical research. The program’s clinical faculty will provide mentorship in the areas of clinical skills and evidence-based practice.
Highlights
The 12-month residency program includes an R1 doctoral university (UCF), along with a robust internal orthopedic practice among both the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and the Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute.
- Earn salary with full benefits, as variable full-time employees of Orlando Health
- Enrollment as students within UCF Division of Physical Therapy program
Residency Outcomes
100% graduation/completion rate
Current Residents
Maya Edwards
Maya is originally from Tallahassee, Fla, and earned both her Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Science and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from UCF. She is currently an orthopedic resident, committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care through a holistic and evidence-based approach. Maya’s passion for physical therapy was shaped by her own experiences as a patient and by working with individuals recovering from injury — experiences that deepened her understanding of the physical and emotional challenges of rehabilitation and strengthened her ability to build trust and guide patients through recovery. Outside the clinic, Maya enjoys staying active and has a long-standing love for rowing, a sport she competed in for 10 years. It continues to serve as an outlet for both physical and mental wellness, reflecting her belief in the power of movement to support a balanced, healthy life.
Maysam Kermalli
Maysam was born in New York but moved to Florida at a young age, which has been home since. He earned both his bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise science and completed his DPT at UCF in 2025. He has a strong passion for orthopedics and sports rehabilitation, with notable clinical rotations in UCF Athletics and at the Training Center. He also gained experience in the athletic training room and on the court during practices and game days with UCF Men’s Basketball. Outside of physical therapy, Maysam enjoys working out, traveling, and watching sports. His favorite sport is football, and he is a Dallas Cowboys fan.
Clinical Experience
- Clinic hours conducted at a downtown campus, with time spent split between the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and the Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute
- Patient caseloads consisting of simple and complex orthopedic conditions from pediatric to geriatric, in addition to non-operative and postoperative diagnosis
- Weekly one-on-one formal mentoring with an assigned mentor for four hours of blocked patient care time with one-on-one treatment setup
Didactic Experience
The didactic portion of the residency includes three semesters (12 months) of coursework at UCF, in addition to regularly scheduled in-person lectures presented by subject matter experts. As a top institution, UCF has earned the following designations:
- Carnegie Foundation Classification of Institutions of Higher Education: Very High Research Activity and Community Engagement.
- US Department of Education: Hispanic Serving Institution
The residents will be enrolled for a total of two credit hours per semester. The curriculum is based upon the following:
- Description of Residency Practice (DRP) published by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education
- Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) in Orthopedic Physical Therapy published by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
Patient and Client Management
There will be three semesters of coursework related to patient and client management. The patient management content will be taught by UCF Division of Physical Therapy and Residency Program faculty members who are recognized experts in orthopedic physical therapy. The didactic curriculum will follow the clinical experience at Orlando Health where the didactic topics reflect the diagnoses of patients seen during the clinical rotation.
Research
The residents are expected to be an active participant, and complete a relevant and appropriate case study and/or research capstone project at the end of the residency program. The residents will work with a research advisor and a subject matter expert throughout the residency. The residents will have the opportunity to participate in other ongoing UCF Division of Physical Therapy program research activities, including data collection at current Orlando Health research projects.
Teaching
The residents will have a special opportunity to teach basic and advanced therapeutic exercise and orthopedic skills courses in the UCF Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The residents will be mentored by the respective course instructors in preparing an instructional plan to teach several modules related to their current clinical work experience at Orlando Health.
Professional Service and Community Engagement
Residents are encouraged to present in state level presentations and be active in professional organizations and community service.
Application
Eligibility
In order to qualify for application, you must be a graduate of an APTA-accredited program in physical therapy and hold a license of physical therapy in the state of Florida by the start of the program.
The program seeks highly motivated clinicians who are pursuing the development of advanced critical thinking skills, demonstrate attributes of a potential leader, and possess a strong desire to advance clinical knowledge, skills and abilities.
Resident Selection
A Residency Admissions Committee (RAC) will select residents based on the recognized criteria. An interview with the RAC is required for all candidates and is conducted by individual invitation from the RAC.
Faculty
Our orthopedic residency faculty include expert physical therapists with various board certifications within both orthopedics and sports, in addition to other advanced certifications pertinent in the field of orthopedics. Many of the academic and clinical faculty regularly present at local, state, and national level conferences regarding orthopedic physical therapy.
