Performing Arts Fellowship

Mission:

The mission of the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Performing Arts Fellowship is to elevate the profession and standard of care for performing artists by developing expert clinicians who embody integrity, excellence, and leadership. Through immersive clinical experiences, evidence-informed practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement in education, research, and community service, Fellows will become advanced specialists equipped to meet the unique needs of performing artists and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of performing arts medicine and the broader health community.

Vision:

To advance performing arts medicine by preparing physical therapists who deliver exceptional care to artists while contributing to education, research, and community engagement in the arts and healthcare communities.

Core Values:

• Excellence in Clinical Practice — evidence‑informed care and continual growth.
• Integrity & Professionalism — ethical practice and responsibility in all settings.
• Collaboration — interdisciplinary work that supports artists’ health and performance.
• Leadership & Field Advancement — education, research, and mentorship that grow the specialty.
• Community Engagement — meaningful partnerships across the performing arts ecosystem. 

Focus: Advanced specialization with a strong emphasis on dance medicine and community-based engagement. 

Structure: Flexible, practice-compatible fellowship with didactic education, mentored clinical care, teaching/outreach, and community network development. 

Didactic: ~150 hours completed within the first 14 months.

• Modular learning units combining asynchronous content and live virtual sessions.
• Occasional in‑person learning opportunities aligned to clinical experiences. 

Clinical Practice: ≥850 hours of performing-arts–focused patient care across outpatient, onsite, and backstage settings.

• Clinical hours may be fulfilled through a combination of the fellow’s primary workplace, when performing arts caseload is available, and additional mentored experiences at partner sites as needed.
• Outpatient care, onsite support in arts organizations, and backstage coverage aligned to performance calendars. 

Mentorship: ≥150 hours (≥75 hours with the fellow as primary treating clinician).

• One‑on‑one mentorship emphasizing clinical reasoning and individualized care.
• Current mentorship sites include Children’s Hospital Colorado and Back in Step Physical Therapy; additional sites may be added. 

Teaching/Outreach: ≥50 hours across diverse audiences (artists, educators, clinicians, communities).

• Fellows in training complete at least 50 hours of teaching and educational outreach across a range of audiences.
• Prior teaching or presentation experience is not required.
• Teaching activities are mentored and may include co teaching or co presenting roles, with progressive responsibility over the course of the fellowship.
• These hours are professional development and not compensated.

Community Engagement & Network Development

• Structured relationship‑building with studios, schools, universities, venues, and healthcare partners.
• Emphasis on sustainable, accessible integration of healthcare within training environments.

 

Timeline: Didactic in 14 months; up to 3 years to complete the full fellowship.

Qualified applicants MUST meet the following requirements: 

• Completed a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited professional doctor of physical therapy program
• Be a graduate of an accredited orthopaedic or sports residency program and/or hold active board-certification in orthopaedics or sports physical therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
• All applicants must provide evidence of a current and valid PT license in good standing to practice physical therapy in Colorado.
• Applicants who are already licensed in another state may apply and begin fellowship in accordance with the licensing body’s rules and regulations of Colorado with the expectation of obtaining a Colorado PT license prior to mentoring hours.
• Comply with University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physical Therapy Program sponsored user policies and procedures
• Fellows-in-training must have current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification or complete this certification prior to the start of the fellowship.
• An Emergency Response certification (such as that required for Sports Certified Specialist activities) is also required and must be completed before participation in any mentored, backstage, or onsite clinical experiences.
• Professional Membership Requirements:
  • Fellows-in-training are required to be active members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and APTA Orthopaedics, as well as the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS), by the time they begin the fellowship.

Ideal Candidate:

• 1–5+ years into practice.
• Strong interest in performing arts medicine and community collaboration.
• Motivated to teach, mentor, and contribute to the field’s growth.
• Personal experience in the performing arts is welcomed but not required. 

The University of Colorado School Physical Therapy Performing Arts Fellowship will begin accepting applications in October of 2026 for enrollment in July 2027.

• Dance‑Forward, Community‑Rooted: Strong emphasis on dance medicine with intentional engagement across youth, pre‑professional, collegiate, and community studios—not only elite or professional stages.
• Practice‑Compatible Flexibility: Built for clinicians in practice, with a 3‑year completion window and early didactic completion to support momentum.
• Depth of Mentorship: High‑touch, one‑on‑one mentorship with expert clinicians; fellows-in-training lead care while receiving real‑time guidance.
• Breadth Across Performing Arts: Opportunities to work with musicians, theater performers, and other artists as available.
• Academic Integration: Embedded in the CU PT program with meaningful teaching and educational outreach experiences.
• Network Building: Structured development of community partnerships and referral pathways that sustain a performing arts practice beyond the fellowship. 

Do I need to relocate?

The fellowship is designed to be compatible with ongoing practice; all in-person experiences occur in Colorado and around partner sites. 

Is the program accredited?

It is being developed to meet ABPTRFE standards; early cohorts will begin before formal accreditation while standards are finalized. 

Are teaching hours paid?

Teaching and educational outreach hours are professional development experiences and are not compensated.

This program is not yet accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education as a post-professional Residency/Fellowship program for physical therapists. Program developed to meet ABPTRFE standards; first cohorts will begin prior to formal accreditation.