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Sports Division I Physical Therapy Fellowship

Advancing excellence in Division I sports physical therapyLog Out

The TRIA Sports Division I Physical Therapy Fellowship is an education-first program created for physical therapists pursuing advanced expertise in the care of competitive athletes. Through experiences in Division I athletics, individualized mentorship, structured learning, and progressive clinical responsibility, fellows develop the skills necessary to navigate the demands of high-performance sports medicine teams, make complex return-to-play decisions, and deliver excellent care in elite athletic environments. This one-year fellowship is designed for ambitious clinicians who are passionate about advancing athlete health, performance, and the future of sports physical therapy.

Accreditation

Our program’s application to ABPTRFE for candidacy was accepted in September 2026.  We are currently awaiting candidacy review.  Once we receive the candidacy decision, we are prepared to hire and onboard our inaugural class, with full accreditation anticipated by June 2028. 

Positions Available

We currently have one position available for the 2027-2028 fellowship year.

Fellowship Schedule

The fellow will work a full-time schedule of four 10-hour workdays for a total of 40 hours of independent clinical practice (including 4 hours of weekly 1:1 clinical mentorship). The fellow will have 4 hours each week of didactics as well as time covering Division I athletics.

Credentials for application

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy degree
  • License to practice physical therapy in Minnesota by July 1, 2027
  • One of the following July 1, 2027:
    • American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) specialist certification in the related area of specialty as defined within the Description of Fellowship Practice Sports Division I
    • Completion of an ABPTRFE-accredited residency in a related specialty area as defined within the Description of Fellowship Practice

Length

  • 1 year: July 2027 through July 2028

Application Deadline

  • To be announced

Interview Date

  • March 1, 2027

Outcomes

Our first fellow will graduate in July 2028.  Outcomes will be updated as they become available.

  • Number of program graduates:  Not yet available
  • Graduation rate:  Not yet available

Contacts

Travis Gunderson, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program Director

Ali Peterson
Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Education Coordinator

Phone: 952-806-5603 | Email: triaeducation@healthpartners.com