The Baylor University – Hope & Believe Pediatric Therapy Pediatric Residency is a post-professional clinical and didactic education program designed to cultivate pediatric specialists.
Our mission is to develop physical therapists who serve children with delays, injuries, and disabilities through innovative education, hands-on experience, and Christ-centered care, preparing them to become leaders in pediatric therapy services.
Program Features
- Generous stipend provided to attend the Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) in Pediatrics course.
- Opportunity to serve as adjunct faculty in four courses within the Baylor Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
- Strong faculty support for designing and executing a research study.
- Personalized one-on-one coaching with a pediatric specialist.
- Over 150 hours of clinical mentoring by a pediatric specialist.
- Engagement in a variety of multidisciplinary learning experiences.
Clinical & Didactic Training
Our distinctive didactic model integrates training through the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program, the Academy of Pediatrics Consortium, and customized learning modules.
Residents will rotate through four unique clinical environments:
- Outpatient Therapy: Hope & Believe Pediatric Therapy (Waco, TX)
- Inpatient Therapy: Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Hospital (Temple, TX)
- Early Childhood Education: Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network – Klaras Children’s Center (Waco, TX)
- School-Based Therapy: Midway Independent School District (Woodway, TX)
Program Details
- Duration: 12 months (June–June)
- Accreditation: ABPTRFE Candidate for Accreditation
- Number of Residents Accepted Annually: 1
- Salary & Benefits: $65,000 annual salary with benefits; additional stipend assessed annually.
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Graduate from a CAPTE-accredited PT program
- Hold a valid Texas physical therapy license (or be eligible to obtain one)
- Maintain a current CPR certification through the American Heart Association
Program Faculty
Program Leadership
- Program Director: Casey Unverzagt, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT
- Program Coordinator: Julie Melton, PT, MPT, PCS
Clinical Mentors
- Julie Melton, PT, MPT, PCS
- Maeli Schulte, PT, DPT, PCS
- Erin MacKenzie Huber, PT, DPT
- Carla Valis, PT
- Lori Anderson, PT
Residency Coaches
- Megan Flores, PT, PhD, PCS
- Liz Ardolino, PT, PhD, NCS
Application Process
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis from February 1–March 31, 2025, with interviews held in March and April.
While future cohorts will apply via RF-PTCAS, applicants for the 2025-2026 cohort should submit an email to Dr. Casey Unverzagt (casey_unverzagt@baylor.edu) with the following attachments:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Three Letters of Recommendation (at least one from a clinical instructor or physical therapy co-worker)
- Unofficial Transcript from the applicant’s PT program
- Three Essays addressing the following prompts:
- Why do you want to pursue a pediatric physical therapy residency? (500-word limit)
- What specifically interests you about the Baylor University – Hope & Believe Pediatric Therapy Pediatric Residency? (500-word limit)
- What do you foresee as the key factors for your success in this residency? (500-word limit)
Contact Us
For inquiries, please contact:
Casey Unverzagt, PT, DPT, DSc
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists
One Bear Place #97193 | Waco, TX 76798
254-710-8067
casey_unverzagt@baylor.edu
Accreditation
ABPTRFE has granted Baylor University – Hope & Believe Pediatric Therapy Pediatric Residency candidacy status. Candidacy status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation. Achieving candidacy status is not an indication that ABPTRFE will grant initial accreditation. Participants who graduate from a program in candidacy status are not deemed to have completed an accredited program.
