Our Residency in Women’s Health provides an outstanding education to physical therapists interested in focused study of the practice of women’s and pelvic health.
Overview
Residents in the program receive specialized training in treating women with musculoskeletal problems, pelvic floor dysfunction, lymphedema, and osteoporosis. The program is a one-year paid training experience. After completion, residents are eligible to sit for the women’s health specialty exam.
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.
Carlee Hill, PT, DPT
Dr. Hill has completed all three levels of the APTA’s Pelvic Health curriculum. Her clinical interests include outpatient orthopedics, pelvic pain, urinary and fecal conditions.
Curriculum
Residents work primarily in physical therapy clinics at Washington University and complete additional work at other St. Louis outpatient clinics.
Training includes:
- 36 hours of clinical work for 50 weeks in the Washington University Faculty Practice and in other St. Louis outpatient clinics
- Weekly mentoring sessions with Washington University faculty
- Classroom learning via seminars, rounds, colloquia, coursework, and continuing education
- Independent study in focused areas
Program Outcomes
- 100% Pass Rate for the WCS Exam
- 100% of past residents are employed as a Women’s Health provider
- 70% of past residents participate in local and/or national leadership positions
Past Residents contributions to Women’s Health Literature:
- https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/blog/sexual-health/how-genital-body-image-impacts-our-sex-life/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6711374/pdf/nihms-1039931.pdf
- Turner LA, Tylka SL, Miller J. Physical Therapy Evaluation and Treatment of Facial Lymphedema: A Case Report. Poster presentation at APTA Combined Sections Meeting, February 2011.
- Diagnosis Dialog for Women’s Health Conditions: The Process and Proposed Pelvic Floor Muscle Diagnoses, Movement-Related Urinary Urgency: A Theoretical Framework and Retrospective, Cross-sectional Study Aging and the Pelvic Floor https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13670-018-0238-0
- Movement-Related Urinary Urgency: A Theoretical Framework and Retrospective, Cross-sectional Study KR Wente, TM Spitznagle – Journal of Women’s Health Physical …, 2017 – ingentaconnect.com
- Physical Activity and Stress Incontinence in Women.” Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports, July 2019. Tiffany Priest
- Abdominal Core Surgery Rehabilitation Protocols.” Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative, July 2019. Tiffany Priest