Physical Therapy Resident – Neurological Residency Program

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:  Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

Pi Beta Phi Rehab Clinical Staff

Job Summary:

Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute (PBPRI) at Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center is seeking applicants for a PT I term position in the 1-year (12 month) Neurological Residency Program in Physical Therapy. The Neurological Residency Program is a joint venture between Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Belmont University and is designed to prepare the resident to sit for the Neurological Clinical Specialist (NCS) examination.

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Physical Therapy Resident – Neurological Residency Program

Program Start Date: August 2026

Schedule: Monday–Friday, Business Hours

Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried Term Position (12 Months)

Discover Your Path to Becoming a Neurological Clinical Specialist!

Vanderbilt Health’s Neurological Physical Therapy Residency Program—developed in partnership between the Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute (PBPRI) at Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center and Belmont University—is designed for early-career physical therapists who are passionate about advancing their expertise in neurological rehabilitation.

This 1-year (12‑month), full-time, salaried term position prepares the resident to sit for the Neurological Clinical Specialist (NCS) examination through structured clinical practice, didactic coursework, interdisciplinary collaboration, and exceptional mentorship from leaders in the field.

This is an opportunity to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact on patients recovering from acquired brain injury and other neurological conditions.

About Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute (PBPRI)

PBPRI is Vanderbilt Health’s outpatient interdisciplinary neurological rehabilitation program, serving patients with complex neurological diagnoses. Physical Therapists work alongside experts in occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, seating and mobility, and multidisciplinary specialty clinics. The team is known for providing evidence-based, patient-centered care in a collaborative, innovative environment.

What You’ll Do as a Physical Therapy Resident

Clinical Responsibilities

Evaluate and treat patients with a broad spectrum of neurological conditions, including:

• Acquired brain injury and traumatic brain injury

• Stroke

• Multiple sclerosis

• Parkinson’s disease

• Vestibular disorders

• Falls risk and balance impairments

Mentorship & Education

• Minimum of 150 hours of one-on-one clinical mentoring (average of 4 hours/week)

• 75 hours of didactic coursework

• Weekly teaching, lab, and observation experiences throughout Vanderbilt Health, including:

– VUMC Acute Care PT service

– Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital

Specialty Clinics Exposure

Opportunities to participate in a variety of specialty clinics, including:

• Adult Wheelchair Seating and Mobility

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic

• Movement Disorder Clinic

• Facial Synkinesis Clinic

Additional Opportunities

• Interdisciplinary teamwork

• Participation in regularly scheduled webinars

• Participation in the Institute of Knowledge Translation Advanced Neurologic Physical Therapy Curriculum. Vanderbilt covers all tuition.

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is enthusiastic about neurological rehabilitation and motivated to pursue specialization as a Neurological Clinical Specialist. Strong communication, collaboration, and a commitment to evidence‑based practice are essential. This position is based in an outpatient clinic, working closely with an interdisciplinary team to deliver high‑quality neurologic care.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited program

Licensure / Certification

• An active Tennessee State Physical Therapy License is required before hire

Position Overview

• Full‑time, salaried role

• Located in an outpatient clinical setting

• Term position lasting approximately 12 months

• Term roles exceed six months but do not extend beyond one year

• Employment is not guaranteed within or beyond the term limit

• Includes full‑time Vanderbilt Health benefits

Why Join Vanderbilt Health?

At Vanderbilt, you’ll be part of a nationally recognized medical center committed to clinical excellence, professional development, and innovation. Our residency graduates have become NCS-certified clinicians, educators, specialty providers, and program leaders across the country.

Grow your clinical expertise. Advance your specialty training. Shape your career in neurological rehabilitation.

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

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This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.