Orthopedic Residency Program

NAIOMT is proud to announce our Orthopedic Residency program in conjunction with Messiah University.

The 2025 Application window is now open!

Application Deadline: May 1, 2025

Start Date: July 7, 2025


Please CLICK HERE to Apply

The NAIOMT/Messiah University Orthopedic Residency is a mix of live, synchronous, and asynchronous coursework conveniently designed to provide all the benefits of residency training without having to relocate. The core courses can be taken at Messiah University, at another location closer to where the resident-in-training resides, or on-line. Our coursework includes the core NAIOMT courses that will culminate in the resident-in-training earning the “COMT” credential and preparing for the OCS examination, as well as innovative coursework that includes clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis, value-based physical therapy principles, social determinants of health and its influence on orthopedic/musculoskeletal physical therapy outcomes, regenerative medicine, exercise prescription, post-operative orthopedic physical therapy intervention, research opportunities, journal clubs, and script-concordance assessments (match your knowledge to “experts!”).

Mission Statement

“To graduate specialists in orthopaedic physical therapy who are reflective, innovative, evidence-based, and life-long learners built on a foundation of ‘PT First’ as the solution for orthopedic-based human movement dysfunction by committing to quality advanced education, professional guidance and growth, continuous improvement, and strategic initiatives delivered through a “top of the license” interprofessional practice framework optimizing objectively measurable, value-based patient centered outcomes.”

Residency Details

1,800 total hours of the residency program

  • Educational hours: 300 minimum
  • Patient-care hours: 1,500 minimum
  • Total 1:1 mentoring hours: 150 hours minimum

Admissions Requirements

For more information, please fill out the form below

Dr. Austin Sheldon, PT, DPT, DSc, Cert. DN, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPT is a 2008 graduate of Regis University’s DPT Program. He completed the NAIOMT/Andrews orthopedic physical therapy residency in 2013, the NAIOMT OMPT Fellowship in 2017, and the Andrews University DScPT program in 2021. Dr. Sheldon is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. He is a clinical  assistant professor at Northern Arizona University “Hybrid” DPT program.

Email: re*******@na****.com

Program Goals and Outcomes

Participant Goals and Outcomes

Financial
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Expert Insights, Course Updates & Video Demonstrations: Our faculty of experienced, practicing clinicians are constantly monitoring research and important topics in the physical therapy field, and thinking about new ways to teach valuable manual therapy skills, in order to create the most useful and relevant blog posts, abstract analysis, and technique videos for practicing PTs.

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COURSE LOCATIONS & CLINICAL PARTNERS

NAIOMT COMT course partner Messiah University NAIOMT COMT course partner Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner New Heights Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Touro College NAIOMT COMT course partner Centura Health NAIOMT COMT course partner BaylorScott & White Institute for Rehabilitation NAIOMT COMT course partner PRN NAIOMT COMT course partner Marathon Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Phoenix Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Advanced Kinetics Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner California NAIOMT COMT course partner Rehab Authority NAIOMT COMT course partner Vista Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Armada Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Kelly Hawkins Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Highline Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Summit Rehabilitation NAIOMT COMT course partner 360 Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Action Potential Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner In Reach Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Pro Active Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Therapy Alliance NAIOMT COMT course partner Pacific Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Harter Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Granite State Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner The Physical Therapy Effect NAIOMT COMT course partner Core Physical Therapy NAIOMT COMT course partner Corvallis & Albany Sports & Spine Physical Therapy