Residencies in PT expand in sports, orthopaedics
The game clock hasn’t stopped all year for Walker Hardin as a physical therapy resident, but he’d have it no other way at this point in his health care career.
“I’m handling all the bumps, rubs, scrapes, bruises and injuries in the training room as part of my residency with Jackson State University,” Hardin said. “Plus, I’m working and learning alongside athletic trainers doing rehabs with athletes who might have longer-term injuries – all after helping them prepare the field for practice.”
More opportunities for hands-on, real-world experience in physical therapy opened in 2025 via the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
Sports residency programs in sports grew from one to three positions, which enhanced SHRP’s commitment to advanced clinical education in work settings that now include an NFL training room. Similarly, a residency was added to orthopaedics to better serve evolving clinical needs.
“The residency has afforded me the kinds of challenging opportunities in PT I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Hardin, who is spending time with Jackson State athletics through spring 2026 as part of the expanded sports residency. “The residency gives me the chance to work as a physical therapist with the team doing those rehabs and treatments, while learning from the athletic trainers by being on the field with them.”
Each sports resident is placed at either Jackson State University, the University of Mississippi or Mississippi State University, where they are engaged in immersive training, injury rehabilitation and related methods of optimizing an athlete’s performance by working daily with athletes and expert mentors. This year’s residents will then spend two months with either the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons or Denver Broncos.
“It offers an unparalleled opportunity to apply their skills in a high-performance sports medicine setting,” said Dr. Cody Pannell, associate professor of physical therapy and director of the sports residency program. “Through this educational journey, we’re shaping movement experts dedicated to fostering a healthier Mississippi.”
Sports residents will assist each franchise’s athletic training and medical staff on everything from preparing sports drinks on the sideline to assisting with player injuries.
“My clinical skill set has grown so much,” said Dr. Caylie Blair, whose 14-month residency with the Saints wrapped up during the summer just as the PT program launched the new three-resident model. “I really think the people make the PT program what it is. They care about what they’re doing here. That also goes across the board at UMMC to any area we worked with, such as the anatomy lab and other schools at SHRP such as OT. They invest in you, which makes it easy for you to invest right back.”
Ortho resident Emery Applegate, an Indianola native, will work with the care teams at Methodist Rehabilitation Center for a variety of patients with musculoskeletal issues through June 30, 2026, while receiving a competitive salary with a full benefits package.
“I’m able to work with patients in their 20s up to their 90s, getting hands-on training working with backs, shoulders, knees, hips, ankles, wrists, necks, different joints all around the body,” Applegate said. “The mentors I’m working with help me tie in the best evidence-based practice to my treatment with the patient.”
SHRP’s relationship with Methodist Rehabilitation Center successfully melds the classroom and workforce experiences into a complete education for Applegate and other neurology residents.
“The residency offers our residents a very intentional, scheduled training experience in aquatic therapy, dry needling, manual therapy and clinician expertise,” said Dr. Ryan McGlawn, professor of physical therapy and director of the orthopaedic residency program. “Traditionally, a new graduate such as Emery would be expected to go work 40 hours a week and might not have the time to discuss patient cases in detail with an adviser like we’re able to do with this residency.”