Atrium Health Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency

Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist offer a comprehensive women’s health physical therapy residency program in Charlotte, NC, and Winston-Salem, NC. Residents will foster advanced clinical reasoning, clinical excellence and compassionate care while improving the quality and access of health services for all.

About the program

We offer 2 residency slots annually, with one practicing in the Charlotte, NC, metro area and the other in the Winston-Salem, NC, metro area. Residents will spend 12 months enhancing their skill set to treat the full spectrum of women’s health and pelvic health diagnoses. Our residency has a 100% completion rate to date.

Clinicians will participate in:

• Surgical and medical testing observations
• Certification courses
• Collaboration with urogynecology fellows and orthopedic PT residents
• Inpatient pregnancy education and doula PT education
• An independent research case study
• A special project on a topic of the resident’s choice
• Various volunteer opportunities

This residency is aimed to prepare clinicians to become board-certified women’s health physical therapists (WCS).

Admission requirements

• Graduate from CAPTE-accredited DPT program or ACOTE – accredited OT program
• North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy license (proof of license is a requirement of employment)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Must meet all eligibility requirements to be employed as a practicing physical or occupational therapist within Atrium Health
• Strong interest in the women’s and pelvic health patient population

In addition to the above requirements, we recommend candidates have a Pelvic Floor Level 1 course Certificate of Achievement from Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, American Physical Therapy Association, Academy of Pelvic Health, or another educational platform.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation commensurate with clinical load
• Possible employment opportunity on PRN basis before start of residency program

Resident schedule

• 32 hours of independent clinical caseload with access to on-site mentor
• 4 hours of educational content (didactic, shadow, self-study, etc.)
• 4 hours of one-on-one mentorship with residency faculty

Additional study time will likely be required outside of the above hours, and weekly schedules may vary based on education opportunities.

Curriculum

January

• Orientation, Clinical Reasoning, Foundational Skills
• Work alongside orthopedic residents

February to April

• Module 1: Pelvic Floor 1
• Urinary Incontinence
• Prolapse
• Pelvic pain
• Bowel
• Male

May to June

• Module 2: Orthopedic
• Lumbar
• Sacroiliac joint (SIJ)
• Pelvis
• Hip

July to August

• Module 3: Lymphedema & Oncology
• Lymphedema
• Oncology rehab
• Osteoporosis
• Receive CLT Certification from the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy (no tuition fees)

September to November

• Module 4: Special Populations
• Pregnancy
• Postpartum
• Menopause
• Sexual health
• Trauma-informed care
• Pediatric
• Neurology
• Transgender
• Female athlete
• Inpatient opportunity with pregnancy rehabilitation

Application Process

The 2026 residency application is due by January 24th, 2025. In-person interviews will occur in February.

All application documents should be emailed to the centralized application portal for post professional residency programs. with the applicant’s full name in the subject line. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to this email address by the author to ensure validity. Any letters submitted directly by the applicant will not be accepted.

For further inquiries regarding application submissions, please contact our admissions team at WHPTresidency@AtriumHealth.org.

Additional Information

View the Residency and Fellowship Financial Fact Sheet