We are lucky to have constant support from the faculty throughout the entire residency process. They are quick to celebrate our successes and are there to help take steps to fix any issues we may encounter. In my opinion, this collaboration makes the residency much more meaningful.
O & P Program Clinical Affiliates
We have affiliations with over 100 clinical facilities around the nation. Faculty will work with students and our affiliates to plan the residency training. Our approach ensures that all requirements are met and that residents gain diversified experience in the delivery of high-quality Orthotic and Prosthetic care from pediatric to adult patient populations within both private and institutional settings.
Residency Experience
Once didactic proficiency has been demonstrated, students will enter the clinical phase of the curriculum. Residents will be matched to preceptors and assigned to sites from our over 100 national clinical affiliate sites for four to six, three months clinical rotations. Unlike any other O & P educational program, residency is fully integrated and supervised by Baylor College of Medicine. These rotations culminate in the completion of both Orthotic and Prosthetic residency requirements as defined by the National Commission for Orthotic and Prosthetic Education. Once the clinical phase is complete and the research requirement is satisfied, residents will receive their Master of Science degree and be eligible to sit for their National ABC board exams.
The way the residency is set up you get to meet so many people and see how the profession works across different regions of the country.
Building a Professional Network
During each rotation, you will be paired with a clinical preceptor. After six rotations, you will have built a sizable professional network of supportive practitioners. Most of our graduates become employed at one of the locations at which they have trained. All of our graduates are employed post-graduation.
Being connected to the School during residency, lets me stay connected to faculty and students and receive the support I just couldn't imagine anywhere else.
Dual Clinical Residency Schedule
The clinical residency rotations are assigned by Baylor College of Medicine in conjunction with student input. All rotations are supervised by Baylor College of Medicine Orthotic and Prosthetic Program faculty. Research coursework begins during the didactic year and is carried out to completion through the clinical residency.
Clinical Resources for Baylor O & P Preceptors
This provides information for our Baylor preceptors. For questions, contact the O & P Program directly at opresidency@bcm.edu.
BCM Clinical Education Information
- We are an NCOPE-accredited residency program.
- All residents complete NCOPE Master's degree education standards within the first 12 months of the program.
- The residents are still enrolled as students at Baylor and pay tuition throughout their combined 18-month residency.
- The first three rotations are four months long each, while the second year of residency can contain two three-month rotations or one six-month rotation.
- All residents are research track with one remote course per rotation.
- All rotations are planned from January to March of every year for the whole academic year (Example July 2024 to July 2025).
Benefits of BCM Affiliation
- Contribute to the future of Orthotics and Prosthetics
- Improve lives and strengthen the profession through clinical education
- CEUs
- Mentoring residents can be time-consuming (especially for first rotation) but very rewarding
- Time spent mentoring a resident can be tallied up and submitted to ABC for CEUs
- Submit your time for CEUs
- Clinical Educator Development:
- All primary preceptors get free access to BCM’s annual Continuing Professional Development Webinars
- These live webinars offer CE credits.
- Asynchronous viewing is available upon request
- Every year has a different theme. See the schedule
- Past themes have included: Clinical mentorship training and research updates in O&P
- Voluntary Clinical Faculty Status:
- Benefits: TMC library access
- BCM email
- BCM Continuing Professional Education
- To apply:
- Submit your CV, transcripts, and other required paperwork
- If interested, reach out to opresidency@bcm.edu.
- Recognition:
- All primary preceptors can be nominated for the annual clinical teaching excellence award by their residents.
Clinical Teaching Excellence Award
Each year a clinical preceptor is nominated by the residents to receive the clinical educator of the year award.
Clinical Teaching Excellence Award Winners
- 2023 Shawna Ziemer, CPO
- 2022 Bobby Latham, CP, BOCO and Alex Hedquist, CPO
- 2021 Joey Koblasz, MS, CPO, LPO
- 2020 Brent White, CP, MPT
- 2019 Christina Gambrell, CPO
- 2018 Noel Vega, PT, CPO
- 2017 Andre Martinez, LP
- 2016 Lee Jones, CPO, LPO
- 2015 Thomas V. DiBello, LO, CO, FAAOP
BCM Clinic Site Requirements
The clinic must be an ABC or BOC Accredited facility and the primary mentor must meet all NCOPE requirements (stated below).
Qualifications for Resident Mentor per NCOPE:
- 4.2.1 Must possess a state license, national certification, or international recognition as an orthotist/prosthetist. Must have successfully completed
- formalized orthotic/prosthetic education from a CAAHEP accredited program, a former O&P accredited education in the area supervision is being
- provided or be equivalent to ISPO Orthotist/Prosthetist (formerly Category I)
- 4.2.2 Must have three years post certification or licensure experience
- 4.2.3 Must be principally located at the residency training site
- 4.2.4 Must have completed the required modules of the NCOPE Residency Online Development Training Course or the Approved Clinical Mentor Course
- 4.2.5 Cannot be a currently registered
Orthotic/Prosthetic Residency Standards - The National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (ncope.org)
Our process does not require an OPRESCAS application as the residents are not employed by the clinical site, only completing a portion of their training. The clinical site does not have to pay the NCOPE residency fees associated with hosting a resident (Baylor covers this cost).
Additional Information
- We are currently affiliated with over 200 preceptors from about 200 clinics nationwide.
- Most residents achieve two to three competencies per rotation.
- 45% of our graduates are employed at a clinic where they completed a residency rotation during the program.
- The average BCM graduate first-time passing time board passing rates are consistently higher than the average across all first-time takers.
Clinical Manuals, Policies, and Forms
- BCM Preceptor Handbook
- O & P Clinical Calendar
- ABC Code of Professional Responsibility
- National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education
Request Clinical Affiliation
Do you represent a site interested in becoming a clinical site for Baylor Orthotics and Prosthetics residents?
Next steps:
- Complete the online form to request affiliation.
- The Clinical Coordinator will reach out to schedule a zoom meeting to learn more about you and your site and provide an overview of what to expect.
- Legal will begin the affiliation agreement process, which typically takes between two to four months.
- Fill out the clinical availability survey each year in December.
- Have a great time working with your residents!
Request Clinical Affiliation
Do you represent a site interested in becoming a clinical site for Baylor Orthotics and Prosthetics residents?
Student Voices
Leah Olin, a student in the Orthotics and Prosthetics Program at Baylor College of Medicine, shares her Baylor experience.