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PROGRAM DIRECTOR  Benjamin Soydan PT, DPT, OCS, CCI HISTORY AND PROGRAM OVERVIEW Initial inception for a Physical Therapy Residency in Orthopedics occurred in 2015. With funding provided by

the Veteran’s Health Administration’s Office of Academic Affiliations, the Durham VA Health Care System Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency was approved and formally developed within 2018.

Through a strong academic affiliation with Duke University Medical Center and Campbell University as well as agreement with Womack Army Medical Center, a comprehensive residency experience

was developed. The program officially achieved ABPTRFE accreditation in May of 2020. It has since expanded to include expanded clinical opportunities in the Emergency Department as well as

didactic opportunities at High Point University. The program officially underwent re-accreditation process in 2025. SPECIAL NOTE: As a VA facility and health care system, we are proud to

have been one of the first health care systems to utilize telehealth models of patient care. We as a facility see this as a very necessary means of care and anticipate the continued use of

telehealth medium in future care models. As a residency program, are proud to be on the forefront of telehealth care, offering this as an outpatient care model available since the 2020

academic year. PROGRAM MISSION Using an integrated health care model and an interdisciplinary team approach, the mission of the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System Physical Therapy 

Orthopedic Residency is to develop orthopedic clinical specialists trained in advanced skill that serve as future leaders in the excellent health care of patients with orthopedic physical

therapy needs, to serve the mission of the Durham VA Health Care System, and by way of continuous faculty and resident collaborative initiatives, ensure an evolving program that advances the

expectations of current clinical, educational and residency paradigms. PROGRAM GOALS * Provide a thorough and high quality multi-dimensional residency experience to the resident. * Graduate

residents who demonstrate and maintain commitment to pursuit of professional growth and excellence within orthopedic physical therapy. * Ensure residents will achieve and demonstrate

proficiency in knowledge and clinical skill required of an advanced orthopedic clinical specialist. * Maintain internal sustainability of the orthopedic physical therapy residency program at

the Durham VA Health Care System. * Ensure that program and residents advance the human resource capabilities and systems driving improved performance and outcomes involved in the field of

orthopedic physical therapy. * Maintain ABPTRFE Residency Accreditation DIDACTIC CURRICULUM Through comprehensive coursework, one-on-one didactic sessions, clubs, conference opportunities,

integrated teaching assistantship, and multiple clinic observation, , the resident will be guided through a robust didactic curriculum. While a self-driven approach is essential to success,

the curriculum has been designed to align with the ABPTS Orthopedic Description of Specialty Practice and ensure adequate material coverage in preparation for the ABPTE Orthopedic Clinical

Specialist Examination. MENTORING & FACULTY * The program includes regular weekly opportunities for one-on-one pre-planned mentoring sessions throughout the residency. These are designed

to promote advanced patient care with focus on clinical skill and critical reasoning required of an advanced PT practitioner in Orthopedics. * Through agreement with Fort Bragg as well as

Duke University Medical Center, we are able to offer a diverse clinical faculty. Interests and training include Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Neurology, and Pediatrics, with specialty aspects

including Manual intervention, Chronic Pain management, and Dry Needling. CLINICAL SETTINGS A comprehensive clinical care experience is coordinated through one-on-one patient care rotations

primarily at the Durham VA Health Care System outpatient and inpatient setting. Over the course of 12-months, structured rotations are designed to maximize exposure to a broad range of

orthopedic diagnoses. Select observational experiences are integrated at Duke University Medical Center. Through agreement with the DOD, we boast opportunity for a unique 6-week planned

experience at Fort Bragg* where the resident will be working directly with active military. As of 2022 our physical therapy service made the anticipated shift to direct access. In keeping

with this, we currently host specialty PT clinics for urgent care needs/direct access as well as directly within the Emergency Department and Orthopedics department. Additionally, the

program accesses a myriad of other specialty physical therapy, occupational therapy, as well as physician clinics for observation. * The ability to secure a resident experience at Fort Bragg

is fully dependent on current military, administrative, and soldier deployment status, all of which are unfortunately constantly in flux and somewhat unpredictable. We wish to inform every

applicant that WHILE WE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE A CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AT FORT BRAGG, WE CANNOT FULLY GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL OCCUR. ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES * With instruction from

on-site mentorship, the program integrates Lab and Lectureship involvement opportunities through Duke University, Campbell University, and most recently, High Point University’s DPT program

musculoskeletal curriculum. ADJUNCT EXPERIENCES * Specialty Clinic observational opportunities are available including various Orthopedics department clinics, Amputee clinic, Women’s Health,

Neuro/Vestibular Clinic, EMG and Pain clinics, Mobility Clinic, as well as select surgical observations. CLINICAL CORE FACULTY * Jackson Davis PT, DPT, Board Certified Specialist in

Orthopedic PT * Steve Fairbanks PT, DPT, Board Certified Specialist in Geriatric PT * Hannah Gradle PT DPT, Board Certified Specialist in Geriatric PT * Darren Jeffers PT, DPT, Board

Certified Specialist in Orthopedic PT * Tawny Kross PT, DPT, Cert.DN * John Sizemore PT, DPT, Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic PT * Benjamin Soydan PT, DPT, Board Certified

Specialist in Orthopedic PT WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER CLINICAL MENTORS  COL Heriberto Baez-Martinez PT, MPH DUKE UNIVERSITY FACULTY:  Neal Depersia DPT, PCS ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC AND DIDACTIC

FACULTY Cory Alcon PT, DPT Tiffany Hilton PT, Ph.D. Caitlin Kucharik OTR/L William Law MD Bradley Myers PT, DPT, DSc, Maureen Noh MD Mary Thompson PT, DPT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE

CONTACT: BENJAMIN SOYDAN PT, DPT, OCS, CCI Program Director Durham VA Health Care System 508 Fulton Street, Durham NC 27705 [email protected] TIMOTHY S. SKARADA PT Chief of Physical

Therapy Durham VA Health Care System 508 Fulton Street, Durham NC 27705 [email protected] CURRENT RESIDENT SUCCESS RATE: Program Graduation Rate: 100% ABPTS Board Certification Pass

rate: 100% RETENTION RATE: Resident Retained within Durham VA system: 60% Resident Retained within any VA system: 80%