Orthopedic Residency students have sustained a decade-long streak of first-time passes on the ABPTS exam.
Continuing to “carry the torch” for a decade, Concordians who take the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialty (ABPTS) exam within the first calendar year after graduating from the Orthopedic Residency Program have a 100% first-time pass rate (with a 100% ultimate pass rate for all residents who have taken it). What does this mean? Well, according to Emily Goetz-Sutinen, PT, DPT, OCS, assistant professor of physical therapy and director of the Orthopedic Residency Program, this reinforces CUW’s intention to provide students with excellent academics while still challenging and supporting them to advance to their highest potential.
As a graduate of the Concordia Orthopedic Residency Program herself, Goetz-Sutinen has been a CUW professor since 2022. In 2023, she succeeded Dr. Dale Gerke, PT, MPT, ScD, who founded the residency program in 2014 and now serves as chair of the Physical Therapy Department.
From his experience, Gerke says, “When residency graduates pass the ABPTS exam early in their professional career, it improves their professional trajectory very quickly.” CUW’s program stands out from other residency programs because of the way it delivers didactic education.
According to Gerke, the resident’s learning is maximized through the course instruction, weekly mentoring, and in-field training. “Residency graduates from the CUW Orthopedic Residency Program have been extremely successful post-graduation. Graduates are private practice owners, clinic supervisors, Physical Therapy Program faculty, Residency Program directors, and clinical leaders.”
Student Success
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my role with the residency is the honor of getting to know each resident personally and witnessing their professional growth throughout the program and beyond,” says Goetz-Sutinen.
The most recent students from the 2024 cohort that passed their exams in spring of 2025 are Rachel Snyder, Amber Thiry, and Amy Jensen. Licensed physical therapy graduates aspiring to work in an outpatient orthopedic setting are not required to enter an orthopedic residency program or take this specific board exam.
However, those individuals looking for national recognition of additional expertise in the area of orthopedics are welcome (and encouraged) to do so. As part of CUW’s program, residents for instance work 36 hours per week in an outpatient orthopedic clinic setting, complete didactic coursework, sustain formal mentoring on a week-to-week basis, and participate in additional opportunities.
Upon passing the ABPTS board exam, postgraduates receive additional credentials after their names to signify their expertise in orthopedic physical therapy practice.
Alumna Dr. Amy Jensen, DPT, PT, OCS, currently works full-time as a sports performance physical therapist and orthopedic specialist at KinetiQuest. With a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Jensen completed her residency program at CUW in August 2024. “CUW’s orthopedic residency is well-established and has a strong track record of success,” says Jensen. “What really stood out to me was the emphasis on in-person, individualized mentoring—something I didn’t see offered to the same degree in other programs.”
For Jensen passing the ABPTS board exam was important for several reasons. Notably, it is how a physical therapist can differentiate between a generalist and a specialist. A specialist is someone who can “differentially diagnose, intervene effectively, and clearly explain pathologies to patients.” She continues, “CUW gave me the tools and mentorship to grow into that role.”
Secondly, it’s not just because of the letters following your name. She explains, “Passing the exam is the milestone everyone sees, but the real growth happens in the journey to get there. You can study on your own, memorize material, and eventually pass a test. But residency is different—it pushes you to take that knowledge and actually apply it in real time with patients. That’s where the shift happens. You’re not just reciting evidence; you’re learning how to blend it with the individual in front of you. That’s what makes someone a true specialist. For me, residency wasn’t just about reaching the destination of board certification—it was about the depth, confidence, and clinical tools I gained along the way.”
Application Timeline
The next application cycle opens Oct. 1, 2025. Interviews will be conducted in February 2026. Applicants are selected and the residency begins July 2026. The ABPTS board exam for those postgrads occurs spring 2028.
Want in?
Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world. Our Orthopedic Residency Program is committed to developing physical therapists who demonstrate clinical expertise in orthopedic practice, a dedication to teaching, and a passion for service to the profession and community. Through our program you will experience a variety of patient care, mentoring, educational, research, observation and teaching opportunities.