Wound Management Physical Therapy Residency

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Indiana University Health is proud to offer a Wound Management Physical Therapy Residency program in partnership with Indiana University’s Department of Physical Therapy. Our program is seeking accreditation through the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). If granted candidacy status, our first cohort of residents will begin in August of 2026.

Wound Management Physical Therapy Residency Mission Statement

Our mission is to deliver world-class Wound Management Physical Therapy Residency education the Indiana University Health Way. We strive to be a nationally recognized leader, developing our physical therapists into wound management specialists through excellence in clinical training, education, research, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. We believe improving the health and lives of all Hoosiers occurs through individualized care designed with the patient, while maintaining a culture of respect, empathy and kindness for everyone. We are committed to continuous improvement and performing our best as a team, while upholding the values of IU Health as an academic health center.

  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: Erin Walsh, PT, DPT – ewalsh3@iuhealth.org
Board-Certified Wound Management Clinical Specialist

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: Erin Walsh, PT, DPT – ewalsh3@iuhealth.org
Board-Certified Wound Management Clinical Specialist

  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 Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management membership

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 Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management membership

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.

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.

  • Program Length: 16 months
    • Start Date: August 10, 2026
    • Graduation Date: December 10, 2027.
  • Clinical Settings:
    • Inpatient: 8 months at Methodist Hospital with float to University Hospital as needed.
    • Outpatient: 8 months at Methodist Hospital’s Outpatient Wound 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 Integumentary 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 - Complex Competency Training in areas such as:
    • Total Contact Casting
    • Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
    • Lymphedema Management
  • Specialty Experiences include:
    • Co-treatment with providers in podiatry, vascular, and dermatology specialty clinics.
    • Collaboration with infectious disease and plastic surgery during patient visits.
    • Patient care at the Center for Limb Loss within the Neuroscience Center
  • Service learning and community service project opportunities through IU Health and Indiana University’s DPT program.

Additional Information

  • Program Length: 16 months
    • Start Date: August 10, 2026
    • Graduation Date: December 10, 2027.
  • Clinical Settings:
    • Inpatient: 8 months at Methodist Hospital with float to University Hospital as needed.
    • Outpatient: 8 months at Methodist Hospital’s Outpatient Wound 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 Integumentary 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 - Complex Competency Training in areas such as:
    • Total Contact Casting
    • Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
    • Lymphedema Management
  • Specialty Experiences include:
    • Co-treatment with providers in podiatry, vascular, and dermatology specialty clinics.
    • Collaboration with infectious disease and plastic surgery during patient visits.
    • Patient care at the Center for Limb Loss within the Neuroscience Center
  • Service learning and community service project opportunities through IU Health and Indiana University’s DPT program.

The IU Health Comprehensive Wound Center is the largest wound center in Indiana which includes a team of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, wound and wound ostomy nurses, nurse practitioners, podiatrists, vascular surgeons, dermatologists, infectious disease, plastic surgery, social work, nutrition services, in-house research team, medical assistants, administrative staff and support staff. The seamless integration with inpatient and outpatient settings with both patients and staff also allows for continuity and collaboration between levels of care. Our expert team directly impacts the healing rates of our patients’ wounds; with healing rates 18% faster* than the national average for combined diabetic, arterial, venous, and pressure wounds.

*data from Wound Expert EMR used by over 1300 wound sites in 2025.

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 ABPTRFE Description of Residency Practice: Wound Management, to assess readiness and prepare participants to sit for the ABPTS Wound Management Clinical Specialist Examination following completion of the program.

Residency Curriculum

The IU Health Comprehensive Wound Center is the largest wound center in Indiana which includes a team of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, wound and wound ostomy nurses, nurse practitioners, podiatrists, vascular surgeons, dermatologists, infectious disease, plastic surgery, social work, nutrition services, in-house research team, medical assistants, administrative staff and support staff. The seamless integration with inpatient and outpatient settings with both patients and staff also allows for continuity and collaboration between levels of care. Our expert team directly impacts the healing rates of our patients’ wounds; with healing rates 18% faster* than the national average for combined diabetic, arterial, venous, and pressure wounds.

*data from Wound Expert EMR used by over 1300 wound sites in 2025.

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 ABPTRFE Description of Residency Practice: Wound Management, to assess readiness and prepare participants to sit for the ABPTS Wound Management Clinical Specialist Examination following completion of the program.

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

  • Provide evidence-based, patient-centered wound management 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 wound management physical therapy.

Residency Outcomes

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

  • Provide evidence-based, patient-centered wound management 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 wound management physical therapy.