Women’s Health

Overview:

The Brooks Women’s Health Residency Program integrates a comprehensive focus on women’s health physical therapy practice with a strong musculoskeletal/orthopaedic foundation. A combination of didactic and psychomotor training, clinical mentoring, and strategic directed learning activities provide the Women’s Health residents with exposure and access to interdisciplinary partners in women’s health care. In addition to the Women’s Health Description for Residency Practice, our curriculum is founded on the Brooks IHL Five Pillars and fosters the development of skills to prepare residents for specialty certification and long-term professional success. . Additionally, residents from all of the Brooks IHL residency programs comprehensively participate in foundational courses, allowing for development of professional relationships with colleagues of various specialty practice areas.

The one-year Women’s Health Residency, the first of its kind in the state of Florida, is designed to provide specialized training in the following areas:

  • Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation (urinary incontinence, functional bowel disorders, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain)
  • Obstetric and Postpartum Physical Therapy
  • Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema
  • The Female Athlete
  • Conditions More Prevalent in Female Patients such as Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis
  • Women’s Neuro-musculoskeletal Health Across the Lifespan

Program Highlights:

  • 150 hours of 1:1 on site clinical mentoring 
  • Full salary and benefits with Brooks Rehabilitation, with flexibility to choose a 32-40 hour work week
  • Shared experience between our 10 Residency and Fellowship Programs
  • Enjoy opportunities to collaborate with 150+ graduates practicing in the Brooks System
  • Experiential learning opportunities in multiple settings throughout the Brooks Rehabilitation System of Care 
  • Multi-person cohorts per program
  • Scholarly advisors include faculty from University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of Central Florida, University of St. Augustine and Jacksonville University
  • The majority of our mentors are program graduates, board certified and clinicians within the Brooks System

Accreditation

The Brooks Women’s Health Residency is accredited for Physical Therapists by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency & Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).

Board Certification

The Women’s Health Residency Program will prepare physical therapists with the knowledge and skills needed to sit for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) board certification exam in women’s health (WCS).

Women’s Health Board Certification Pass Rate for First Time Takers

 

2023 Non-Residency Graduates
2023 Women’s Health Residency Graduates
Brooks IHL Women’s Health Residency Data
81.0%
100.0%
100.0%

Graduation Rate (5 year average) – 100%

Program Coordinator:

Jessica Magee, PT, DPT, WCS
Jessica.Magee@brooksrehab.org

Program Director: 

Sara Cristello, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Sara.Cristello@BrooksRehab.org 

 

Click here to view our ABPTRFE Program Financial Fact Sheet

Program Details

Curriculum

The Brooks IHL Women’s Health Residency Curriculum is built on five foundational pillars designed to shape expert specialty clinicians. The program prepares clinicians to not only meet the demands of modern rehabilitation but to shape its future.

  • The residency will be founded on The Five Pillars.
  • Residents will engage in structured learning, immersive clinical experiences, individualized mentoring, and meaningful learning activities within the Brooks Rehabilitation System of Care and community.
  • The residency program will meet all aspects of the Women’s Health Description of Residency Practice
  • The residents will participate in combinations of traditional coursework, directed learning activities, and clinical mentoring.
  • Residents will serve as staff physical therapists for the course of the training.
  • Upon graduation, the residents will serve as clinical leaders and change agents for the profession.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Women’s Health Residency Program:

  • Must graduate from a CAPTE accredited PT program
      • If you are a Non-US educated physical therapist, please contact us to determine if you meet the admission requirements.
  • Must obtain a FL PT license or temporary license by the first Friday in June
  • Must meet all eligibility requirements to be employed as a practicing Physical Therapist within Brooks Rehabilitation
  • Must demonstrate membership within the APTA
  • Must have completed a “ Basic” or “Level 1” Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation course on topics of urinary incontinence treatment and including internal vaginal pelvic floor examination or equivalent formal education and training
  • Are encouraged to have completed a “Basic”, “Foundational” or “Level 1 Obstetric Physical Therapy course or equivalent formal education and training
  • Applications open from October 1, 2025 – January 11, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Qualified and competitive applicants will be invited to on-site interviews in Jacksonville, FL on Friday, February 20, 2026. Program begins early July 2026. 

*Residents accepted into the Women’s Health PT Program must commit to 1-year of employment with Brooks Rehabilitation after graduation from the program, or pay $15,000 tuition.