Acute Care Physical Therapy Residency Program

Program Mission

The mission of the Tampa General Hospital Acute Care Physical Therapy Residency Program is to provide residents with advanced evidence-based education to become leading acute care physical therapists of innovative, patient-centered, and evidence-based physical therapy to hospitalized patients within our community across a broad spectrum of diagnoses, age, and medical co-morbidities.

Learn More About TGH

Program Overview

TGH’s Acute Care Rehabilitation Department, or Hospital Based Rehabilitation, comprises over 100 therapists between physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT) and speech language pathology (SLP). Together, we manage a daily caseload of 450 patients throughout the acute care setting. During the 13-month program, the resident will rotate through the department’s various teams managing patients in various service lines.

• ICU: Multiple Medical, Medical Surgical, Vascular, Cardiac, Cardiothoracic surgery, Neurologic and Burn
• Step-down ICU Units: Medical, Cardiac, Vascular and Trauma
• Floors: Various Oncology service lines, Cardiac telemetry, Medical telemetry, Medical/Surgical, Neurological, Trauma, Orthopedic Trauma, Elective Joint, Transplant, Ante/Post partum, Gastrointestinal surgery, Emergency Department and Observation Units.
• 4-week Elective: Choose your own adventure and return to the service line of your choice

The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) provides financial transparency to applicants on the true costs to undergo residency and fellowship education. To learn more about participant costs and financial assistance, download the Residency Financial Fact Sheet.

Residents will work closely with mentors on our faculty throughout the duration of the program. To get to know your mentors, download the Acute Care PT Residency Faculty Directory.

Ready to apply? Apply through the RF-PTCAS today.

Program Outcomes

Employment Information

The resident will be employed by Tampa General Hospital and will qualify for the benefits package provided by TGH. As a TGH team member, all TGH policies and procedures will apply to the resident. The resident will be involved in patient care activities approximately 28 hours a week. The resident will be expected to work weekends in alignment with department requirements. The additional hours will be dedicated to educational opportunities and scholarly activity.

At TGH, equal employment opportunities are ingrained in our treatment of individuals, ensuring that everyone, irrespective of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or other protected characteristics, has an equal opportunity in employment-related decisions and activities. This commitment extends to hiring, promotion, training, and all aspects of the employment relationship, reflecting our dedication to fostering a diverse workplace that offers an equitable environment for all.

TGH is proud to be recognized as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, Greatest Workplaces for Women, and Best Employer for New Grads. View our full list of employer awards and rankings to learn what makes TGH a top workplace in the U.S.

Resident Testimonials

"Completing the TGH Acute Care PT residency program was the best decision I could have made for my growth as an early career physical therapist. I was offered excellent mentorship, learning opportunities, and gained experience with a large variety of patient diagnoses. The emphasis on evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning was particularly impactful in preparing me for a successful career. I highly recommend this program to anyone aspiring to become an evidence-based, specialty trained acute care therapist." - Madi W., Class of 2023

"I had the opportunity to complete the Acute Care Residency for Physical Therapy as part of the first cohort and had an incredible experience. Prior to entering the program, I was hesitant in my clinical skill in acute care as a physical therapist, following the 13-month program I discovered a profound passion for this setting and new-found confidence in myself, as I was always learning something new, meeting patients from a plethora of backgrounds and working alongside some of the most skilled clinicians in the rehab field. My mentors consistently supported by application of evidence-based research and relationship building with other clinicians in a mission to advocate for my patients and provide the world class health care demonstrated at Tampa General Hospital. I highly recommend the program." - Katie K., Class of 2023

"My Acute Care Residency experience provided me with a wide skill set across the hospital spectrum. I was able to learn from board certified specialists practicing at the top of their game and learn clinical pearls from each. I no longer feel like a 'new grad' and the sense of imposter syndrome has dissipated." - Karla J., Class of 2023

Contact Information

For additional information, please contact:

Kelly Tucker, PT, DPT, WCC
Program Coordinator TGH Acute Care PT Residency Program

Jamie DeFraties, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic PT
Program Director PT Residency Programs
acutecareptresidency@tgh.org
(813) 844-7226