Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program

A distinguishing feature of the Akron Children’s Sports Physical Therapy Residency is the opportunity to train within a truly multidisciplinary sports health team. Residents collaborate with sports physical therapists, sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine fellows, advanced practice providers, sports performance physicians, sports dietitians, sports psychologists, athletic trainers, and other healthcare professionals across the continuum of athlete care. This integrated model provides exposure to comprehensive sports medicine while fostering advanced clinical reasoning, interprofessional collaboration, and shared decision-making to optimize athlete health, performance, and return to sport.

The program is a 12-month residency (July–June) designed to develop advanced clinical expertise in sports physical therapy through mentored patient care, education, sports coverage, and scholarly activities. The curriculum is aligned with the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) Sports Description of Residency Practice (DRP) and incorporates structured learning experiences, mentorship, and assessment throughout the residency year. Successful completion of the residency requires fulfillment of program requirements and satisfactory performance on program assessments. Curriculum includes:

• 1,500 clinical hours of patient care
• 300 educational hours, including weekly one-on-one mentorship, didactic sessions, journal clubs, case discussions, and research
• 200 hours of sports coverage

Time Breakdown/Schedule Expectations

While weekly schedules may vary based on clinical, educational, and sports coverage experiences, a typical week includes approximately:

• 30 hours of clinical practice
• 5 hours of mentorship, didactic education, journal clubs, case discussions, and research
• 5 hours of sports coverage experiences

• Collaboration with sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, advanced practice providers (APPs), athletic trainers, sports dietitians, and rehabilitation professionals
• Participation in interdisciplinary sports health meetings and didactic sessions alongside sports medicine fellows
• Participation in sports medicine and/or orthopedic journal clubs and multidisciplinary case discussions
• Clinical, surgical, and procedural observation experiences with orthopedic and sports medicine physicians
• Exposure to sports science and objective performance assessment technologies (e.g., VALD and Tindeq) to support rehabilitation progression and return-to-sport decision-making
• Attendance at sports medicine and related professional conferences
• Opportunities to teach and present in a variety of professional and educational settings, including conferences, journal clubs, and university or community programs

• Division I collegiate sports coverage and athlete assessment experiences through the University of Akron
• Elite youth soccer coverage experiences through Internationals Soccer Club
• High school sports coverage opportunities across OHSAA-sanctioned sports
• Community sports medicine outreach and injury prevention initiatives
• Athletic event coverage opportunities, including tournaments and competitions

Residents are hired as full-time physical therapists and receive a full salary, employee benefits, and the privileges associated with employment at Akron Children’s Hospital. Additional benefits include a MedBridge subscription and opportunities for professional development and continuing education throughout the residency year.

The Akron Children’s Hospital Sports Physical Therapy Residency is currently pursuing accreditation. Graduation rate and examination pass rate data will be published once available.

To be considered for the Akron Children’s Hospital Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program, applicants must:

• Graduate from a CAPTE-accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program
• Hold or be eligible for Ohio physical therapy licensure (if eligible, licensure must be obtained prior to beginning the residency program)
• Meet all eligibility requirements for employment as a practicing physical therapist at Akron Children’s Hospital
• Possess current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers
• Meet the Acute Management of Injury and Illness requirement through completion of an approved course or pathway recognized by the Sports Specialty Council. Approved pathways may include acute injury and illness management courses, Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification, Athletic Trainer certification, or other approved options
• Complete the residency application process

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through RF-PTCAS. Qualified applicants will be invited to interview in January.

For more information, contact:

Tatiana Paz, PT, DPT, SCS
Sports Residency Program Director
Akron Children’s Sports Rehabilitation, Akron
Considine Professional Building, 7^th Floor
215 West Bowery Street, Akron, OH 44308
Phone: 330-543-3100

Email: tpaz@akronchildrens.org

Or:

Joshua Koy, PT, DPT, OCS
Sports Residency Program Coordinator
Email: jkoy@akronchildrens.org

Tatiana Paz, PT, DPT
Residency Program Director

Tatiana Paz, PT, DPT, is the Residency Program Director for the Akron Children’s Hospital Sports Physical Therapy Residency and a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Duke University and completed a Sports Physical Therapy Residency at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Her clinical and research interests focus on evidence-based return-to-sport decision-making, psychological readiness following ACL reconstruction, and injury risk reduction in adolescent athletes. Dr. Paz is passionate about mentoring the next generation of sports physical therapists and has served as a lecturer and anatomy teaching assistant for the Emory University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, a faculty member for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Physical Therapy Residency, and a clinical instructor.

Joshua Koy, PT, DPT
Residency Program Coordinator

Joshua Koy, PT, DPT, is the Residency Program Coordinator for the Akron Children’s Hospital Sports Physical Therapy Residency and a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. His clinical and research interests focus on the use of isometric force testing as an objective measure of return-to-sport readiness in pediatric, adolescent, and collegiate athletes. Dr. Koy is passionate about education and has served as a senior professor in the University of Akron College of Health and Human Sciences, a clinical instructor for Doctor of Physical Therapy students, and an adjunct faculty member at Tufts University.

Christopher Ifantides, PT, DPT, ATC
Core Faculty

Christopher Ifantides, PT, DPT, ATC, is a core faculty member for the Akron Children’s Hospital Sports Physical Therapy Residency, a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy, and a certified athletic trainer. His clinical and research interests focus on the role of vestibular function in long-term recovery, movement performance, and return-to-sport outcomes following ACL injury. He serves as a guest lecturer at the University of Mount Union and as a clinical instructor.

Christopher Koy, PT, DPT
Core Faculty

Christopher Koy, PT, DPT, is a core faculty member for the Akron Children’s Hospital Sports Physical Therapy Residency. His clinical and research interests focus on the use of isometric force testing as an objective measure of return-to-sport readiness in pediatric, adolescent, and collegiate athletes. He also serves as a clinical instructor, mentoring Doctor of Physical Therapy students and residents.

Lindsey Merryman, PT, DPT, ATC
Core Faculty

Lindsey Merryman, PT, DPT, ATC, is a core faculty member for the Akron Children’s Hospital Sports Physical Therapy Residency and a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy. Her clinical and research interests focus on return-to-sport standards and testing. She has served as a teaching assistant for the Ohio University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and an adjunct professor for the Ohio University Athletic Training Program and is a credentialed clinical instructor.