Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency

Application Information

1. Resume or Curriculum Vitae
2. DPT program academic transcript
3. 2 professional letters of recommendation (1 must be a clinical instructor)
4. Narrative description of your interest in our program (1 page maximum)

Applications are now being accepted until March 6, 2026. Applicants should email all materials to the program director and program coordinator by the March 6th deadline.

Program Director: Adam Culiver PT, DPT, PhD – aculiver@iuhealth.org

Program Coordinator: Rachel Handt, PT, DPT – rhandt1@iuhealth.org
Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist

Program Eligibility

1. Must have a physical therapy license issued by the Professional Licensing Agency of Indiana by program start date
2. Must be eligible for hire by IU Health
3. APTA, Indiana Chapter, and Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy membership

Compensation and Benefits

Participants are employees of IU Health, receive 75% of a full-time salary and have full benefits. Participants are not charged tuition for program participation. Participants are required to be National, State and Academy APTA members. Participants are required to attend Combined Sections Meeting and will receive at least partial financial assistance to attend. There are no other fees associated with program participation. Please see the financial fact sheet link below for full information.

Additional Information

• Program Length: 16 months
  • Start Date: August 10, 2026
  • Graduation Date: December 10, 2027
• Clinical Settings:
  • Acute: Methodist Hospital
  • Inpatient: Methodist Hospital Rehab to Home program.
  • Outpatient: Neurorehabilitation & Robotics Clinic at the IU Health Neuroscience Center
• Didactic Education:
  • Weekly didactic education developed by our expert clinicians
  • Guest lectures from topic area experts
• Teaching:
  • Participants teach in Indiana University’s Department of Physical Therapy Neurology Practice Patterns course
    • Responsibilities include laboratory assistance and specialty lectures
• Research:
  • Participants receive research experience and training through ongoing projects and submit a scientific abstract to a professional conference prior to graduation.
  • Participants will also present research to residency faculty on topics of interest.
• Program Highlights
  • State-of-the-art robotics equipment designed for rehabilitation of patients who cannot access these services elsewhere.
  • Multi-disciplinary collaboration occurring across various care settings, a distinctive feature of Indiana's largest hospital system.
  • Physician shadowing with highly skilled neurologic specialists.
  • A highly diverse neurologic patient population, ensuring a wide range of experiences.
  • Rehab-to-home services unique to IU Health, providing specialized care for patients without a payer source.
• Specialty Experiences include:
  • Work and shadowing opportunities in specialty clinics such as ALS Clinic and Riley Hospital Pediatric Concussion Clinic.
  • Specialized training in the use of robotics equipment to supplement neurologic physical therapy services. 
  • Adjunct teaching in the IU DPT program offers the opportunity to work in their newly renovated facilities alongside some of the country's top DPT instructors and researchers.
• Service learning and community service project opportunities through IU Health and Indiana University’s DPT program.
  • MS Swim
  • Neuro Wellness Clinic
  • IU Student Outreach Clinic
  • Go Baby Go

Residency Curriculum

The IU Health Neurologic Rehabilitation Team includes a large team of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, social workers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurse practitioners, neurologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, neuropsychologists, nurses, medical assistants, administrative assistants, and support staff. Together, this team is committed to helping patients reach their full potential, fostering a supportive, empowering environment that encourages recovery and resilience. Through their combined expertise, they address the complex needs of individuals with neurological disorders, aiming for the best possible outcomes across all aspects of life.

Residents gain experience across the continuum of care: acute inpatient, neurocritical care, inpatient rehabilitation, and specialized outpatient services. By engaging in direct patient care, structured mentorship, research, and teaching, residents are equipped to take on the evolving role of the neurologic physical therapist.

Sample of Weekly Responsibilities:

• 30 hours of direct patient care
• 4 hours of mentored clinical practice
  
• 2 hours of didactic education
• 1 hour journal club
• 4-6 hours dedicated to teaching, research or specialty experiences.
  • Responsibilities depend on time of the year.

The curriculum is structured around the Neurologic Physical Therapy Description of Residency Practice assessment readiness guidelines; after residency completion, graduates will be prepared to take the Neurologic Clinical Specialist examination.

Residency Outcomes

Upon completing the residency, the successful resident will be able to:

• Provide evidence-based, patient-centered neurologic physical therapy in unique settings.
• Educate patients, caregivers, students, and colleagues across the health system.
• Collaborate with interprofessional teams to optimize functional outcomes.
• Demonstrate reflective practice, professional initiative, and lifelong learning behaviors.
• Exhibit advanced clinical reasoning and intervention skills consistent with specialty practice in neurologic physical therapy.