A residency education is not just about clinic skills
The Ossur Americas partnership has resulted in a residency program curriculum developed by nationally known CPOs and professional educators. Our curriculum maps out development of ex- emplary clinical skills while also providing specific learning opportunities to grow the business and professional acumen of residents throughout our organization.
Our residency curriculum provides learners with clear objectives each month following NCOPE standards. In addition to the requisite clinical skills, these objectives include learning opportunities related to professional topics such as developing effective communication with patients and other healthcare professionals, how to build and keep a book of business, understanding the financial aspects of O&P, resolving ethical dilemmas, and how to forge positive working relationships with physical and occupational therapists who also treat your patients. Residents practice accuracy in self-assessment through structured monthly meetings with Mentors.
Learning opportunities are also present outside the walls of the assigned clinical site. Our Residents gather virtually on a bi-weekly basis for short clinical or journal club-type presentations and discussions, facilitated by clinical leaders from across the country. These same leaders are available for consultation on challenging cases, with the potential for visits to their home clinics for focused learning in areas of clinical interest or to fill gaps in learning. Residents are also encouraged to shadow other clinicians in their home network to broaden exposure to a variety of patient presentations.
Support is a hallmark of our residency program. A national Residency Director with extensive clinical teaching experience is available to guide learners through the curriculum as needed. Residency Directors and Mentors also receive support for their ongoing development of teaching skills. Most important of all, our parent organization fully supports the residency program on the national and local level, encouraging all staff to be involved in development of the next generation of O&P professionals.
Renée Van Veld, PT, DPT
National Residency Director
I am honored to serve the residents and clinicians of our clinical partners as the National Residency Director, charged with development and implementation of our comprehensive curriculum. My primary objective is to facilitate the work of our Residents, Mentors, and Residency Directors, there- by allowing them to focus on clinical teaching and learning during patient care.
I am passionate about quality instruction in clinical settings as seen by my >20 years of experience both as an individual clinical instructor for doctoral-level PT students and as Director of Clinical Education in a university DPT program for 14 of those years. I have guided over 600 DPT students in their journeys from the classroom to the clinic in that time frame, often personally advising those who experienced personal or professional challenges along the way. I am most gratified when a former student steps confidently into a satisfying, long-lasting clinical career because of the excel- lence and rigor of the clinical learning program.
I am equally passionate about working with people with limb loss over my entire physical therapy career, starting in 1998. My clinical experience is primarily in an urban Level I trauma center work- ing with patients with lower extremity limb loss as well as patients with either traumatic orthopedic injuries or general orthopedic conditions. I am most grateful in this area when a former patient is independently accessing their community and world by confidently walking on a prosthesis.
My current role at SRT Prosthetics & Orthotics, an Ossur clinical partner, is that of Lower Extremity Clinical & Education Specialist, combining patient care and consultation with a broad continuing education program for practicing therapists.
