The Washington University Program in Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency aims to promote graduates’ ability to diagnose movement conditions and systematically provide evidence-based interventions that optimize patients’ movement and functional status.

Overview

Residents receive specialized training in a broad range of orthopedic conditions with our outstanding faculty mentors. The program curriculum will include 1-1 mentorship to facilitate advanced orthopedic practitioners. The curriculum will synthesize content related to ABPTRFE’s description of residency practice in orthopedics, the movement system, and manual therapy as instructed by a fellowship-trained manual therapist to assist residents in a framework of classification and treatment. The goal of the curriculum is to integrate key content that assists the residents in providing clients with a physical therapy diagnosis and diagnosis specific intervention strategy. After completion of this one-year paid program, residents are eligible to sit for the orthopedics specialty exam.

Mentors:

Dale Thuet PT, DPT, OCS

Dr. Thuet is the inaugural coordinator for the Washington University Program in Physical Therapy (WUPT) Orthopaedic Residency. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management in 2004 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Washington University in 2009. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy and Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University and an active clinician at the outpatient clinical practice at 4240 Duncan. He is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedics and active in the orthopaedic section of the APTA, as well as a member of the residency and fellowship SIG. His clinical interests include general orthopedics with a concentration in cervical and upper extremity diagnosis, thoracic outlet syndrome, concussion, and vestibular conditions.

Sylvia Lin, PT, DPT, OCS

Dr. Sylvia Lin received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2000, Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 2002, and her clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2011, all from Washington University. She received her Certification as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist from the AmericanBoard of Physical Therapy Specialties in 2010. Her work has been published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, PM&R, Physical Therapy, and Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Dr. Lin is currently an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. She divides time between outpatient clinical practice treating musculoskeletal pain patients and teaching orthopaedic content in the professional DPT curriculum at Washington University. She has given local, state, national, and international presentations on lower extremity injury rehabilitation and return to sport. She volunteers her time educating coaches, parents, athletes, and the community about youth injury prevention strategies.

Jen Dubbert, PT, OCS

Jen received her Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Therapy from Maryville University in 1999 and completed the Washington University in ST. Louis Physical Therapy Program Movement System Fellowship in 2018.  She has been the Site Coordinator for Clinical Education for all WUPT clinics since 2018 as well as the Clinic Manager for Washington University Physical Therapy -O’Fallon clinic location.  She has been a mentor for Clinic Associates at the WUPT clinics as well as for the Movement System Fellowship and Women’s Health Residency, as well as a lab assistant and lecturer in the Washington University Physical Therapy DPT curriculum.  She is the program liaison for the WUPT PrIDe affinity group. Her interests include TMJ, upper extremity diagnoses, hip diagnoses, golf injuries and running injuries. 

Patricia Zorn PT, DPT, MAppSci (MT), FAAOMPT

Patricia Zorn PT, DPT, MAppSci (MT), FAAOMPT has been in private practice in St. Louis, Missouri for 21 years.  She received her B.S. in P.T. from Maryville University in 1983 and is fellowship trained in manual therapy from Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship program in 1987.  Patty received her Masters in Manipulative Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia in Adelaide in 1995.  She completed her DPT through EIM post-professional program in February 2015 with an emphasis in Executive Private Practice Management.  She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy and has served as education committee chair and Ethics Committee chairperson.  Patty has served on the Residency and Fellowship program credentialing committee for the APTA and multiple task forces for the AAOMPT.  She has taught joint mobilization / manipulation and its integration with Movement Science at Washington University in St. Louis for 23 years and in multiple fellowship programs.  She has been an invited speaker for APTA conferences and continuing education coursework.

Curriculum

Residents will treat a variety of orthopedic conditions within the physical therapy clinics at Washington University. Training also includes:  

  • 150 hours of 1-1 mentoring
  • Participation as a lab instructor and lecturer in Washington University’s entry-level DPT program
  • Didactic work including seminars, weekend courses, manual therapy practice, small group sessions
  • Opportunities for clinical rounding, surgery observation, and journal clubs with Washington University Physician, providers, and other residents
  • Independent study culminating in a scholarly product

2024-2025 Residency Financial Fact Sheet

Residents will also have online access to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Residency Curriculum Course.

Please contact PT-OrthoRes@email.wustl.edu if you have any questions.

Program Outcomes

Orthopaedic Residency Completion Rate: 100%