Katie Hickey Lucas, PT, DPT, SCS, OCS, CSCS at the University of Kentucky
Before beginning the Sports Residency at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, I worked at Cincinnati Children's and saw how much the staff invested in the residents. Each resident is treated as a protégé and is expected to expand not only their knowledge of evidence-based treatments but also their confidence and leadership within sports physical therapy. This residency is well-rounded in the treatment of athletes, covering elementary-middle school soccer tournaments, participating in Girls on the Run and the Flying Pig Marathon Events, and collaborating with the athletic training team in high school as well as Division I and III NCAA teams. Residents lead lunch and learn education sessions, collaborate in research, assist in outreach programs, and attend frequent educational opportunities, including APTA's Combined Sections Meeting. In addition to the scheduled opportunities, residents can also collaborate with adaptive sports athletes in the "Be Well" program, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, and Paralympics Swimming. Upon graduation from the residency, I was well prepared to not just take the Sports Clinical Specialty examination, but also follow best-practice guidelines, take on leadership roles, and pursue additional education through a Ph.D. program. My Cincinnati Children's residency experience expedited my mastery in the field of sports physical therapy and helped me set the trajectory of my physical therapy career.
