Clinical Residency in Women’s Health

Our Residency in Women’s Health provides an outstanding education to physical therapists interested in focused study of movement-related conditions associated with women’s and pelvic health.

Overview

Advance your clinical expertise through an established residency that combines intensive patient care, individualized mentorship and specialized education in women’s and pelvic health physical therapy.

The WashU Medicine Women’s and Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Residency is a one-year, paid training program designed for physical therapists seeking advanced preparation in pelvic health, pregnancy and postpartum care, lymphedema, osteoporosis and other conditions addressed within women’s and pelvic health practice. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Women’s Health Clinical Specialist examination.

A Movement System Approach to Pelvic Health

WashU Medicine Physical Therapy is known for integrating the human movement system into education, research and patient care. Residents learn to assess how movement and postural impairments may contribute to pelvic health symptoms and incorporate those findings into diagnosis and treatment.

WashU faculty and alumni have contributed to the evidence supporting this approach, including research on movement-related urinary urgency and a pilot trial of movement-based pelvic floor physical therapy.

Specialized Clinical and Interprofessional Experiences

Residents develop their skills through a broad range of clinical, educational and community experiences, including:

• Weekly mentorship with experienced women’s and pelvic health physical therapists
• Patient care within WashU Medicine Physical Therapy and other St. Louis clinical settings
• Training in pelvic floor examination, ultrasound imaging, biofeedback and electrical stimulation
• Participation in the Casa de Salud Pro Bono Clinic
• Experience with the Peer Empowered Endometriosis Program
• Exposure to lymphedema care through an institution recognized as a Lymphedema Network of Excellence
• Observation and collaboration in obstetrics and gynecology, urogynecology, urology, gastroenterology, oncology, pain management and acute care
• Coursework and continuing education in pelvic health, lymphedema, movement system impairment, manual therapy and pain science
• Teaching opportunities within the WashU Medicine Doctor of Physical Therapy program
• An independent project based on the resident’s professional interests

Mentors

Theresa Spitznagle, PT, DPT, WCS
Dr. Spitznagle is an active leader in the APTA Section of Women’s Health and served as the Chair of the Women’s Health Specialist Council for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Her clinical interests include outpatient orthopedics, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence.

Jennifer Miller, PT, DPT, WCS, CLT
Dr. Miller is a board certified women’s health specialist and certified lymphedema therapist specializing in the direct care of men, women, and children with pelvic floor dysfunction, musculoskeletal conditions, and lymphatic disorders.

Stacy Tylka, PT, DPT, WCS, CLT-LANA
Dr. Tylka, a certified lymphedema therapist and board certified women’s health specialist, treats patients with musculoskeletal dysfunction, pelvic pain, incontinence, lymphedema, and oncologic conditions. She is active in the APTA Section of Women’s Health and the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and has held multiple leadership positions.

Curriculum

Residents work primarily in physical therapy clinics at WashU Medicine and complete additional work at other St. Louis outpatient clinics.

Training includes:

• 40-hour a week commitment with 4-hour blocks for education, Oct -May, for an average of 36 hours of clinical work for 50 weeks in the WashU Medicine Faculty Practice and in other St. Louis outpatient clinics
• Weekly mentoring sessions with WashU Medicine faculty (included in the 40-hour-a-week commitment)
• Patient Simulated Pelvic Muscle Examination Training
• Classroom learning via seminars, rounds, colloquia, coursework, and continuing education
  • Klose Lymphedema Certification
  • Academy of Pelvic Health 1, 2 webinars and labs, Intrapartum Topics of Obstetric PT
  • Movement System Impairment Courses
  • Manual Therapy courses (spine, pelvis, and extremities taught by a FOMPT) 
  • Pain Science
  • Ultrasound Imaging
  • Rounds & Seminars: OBGyn, Urogyn, PMR
  • Educational opportunities to promote PT
    • Observations: OBGyn, UroGyn, Urology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Pain PT, Acute care
    • Pelvic Lens Classes in the Entry Level DPT Program
    • Peer empowered endometriosis program
• Independent study in focused areas
  • OB-Gyn coursework
  • Journal clubs
  • Final Project
  • Canvus course materials
  • Final Project on topic of choice ( Pelvic health Educational programs, Case report, Business Plan, Synthesis of the literature)

2025-2026 Financial Fact Sheet

A Record of Resident Success

Our graduates are prepared to advance women’s and pelvic health through clinical practice, research, education, leadership and advocacy.

Program outcomes include:

• 100% overall and 95% first-time pass rates on the Women’s Health Clinical Specialist examination
• 94% residency completion rate
• 100% of graduates initially employed as women’s and pelvic health providers
• 87% of graduates participating in local or national leadership roles

Graduates Making an Impact

Residency graduates have built careers that extend well beyond the treatment room. They are advancing pelvic health through clinical leadership, scholarship, education, entrepreneurship and community advocacy.

Examples include:

• Uchenna Ossai, PT, DPT, WCS, CSC, pelvic health physical therapist, educator and founder of YouSeeLogic
• Karla Wente, PT, DPT, WCS, co-author of research examining the relationship between movement impairments and urinary urgency
• Nikki Erbes, PT, DPT, WCS, contributor to research on movement impairments in women with and without urinary urgency and frequency
• Martina Mapa, PT, DPT, WCS, CLT, a board-certified pelvic health physical therapist whose work includes clinical care and patient education
• Bridget Ochuko, PT, DPT, a leader with InspireHer, a Global Women’s Health Initiative working to expand pelvic health education and access to care

Their work reflects the breadth of possibilities available to graduates prepared to lead in this growing specialty.

Build Your Career in St Louis

St. Louis offers the clinical and academic resources of a major health care community with an accessible cost of living and a strong quality of life. Residents can enjoy nationally recognized restaurants, diverse neighborhoods and many free attractions, including Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo and several museums.

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