ATI Physical Therapy and University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences partner

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, a large graduate-level physical therapy institution, and ATI Physical Therapy, a rehabilitation services firm, announced the formation of a multifaceted collaborative agreement to expand internship opportunities and mentoring programs, create on-site continuing education programs and establish a research initiative.

ATI Physical Therapy, headquartered in Bolingbrook, and USAHS are initiating the new relationship with a desire to jointly improve physical therapy practice. ATI Physical Therapy will expand its student internship program to accommodate greater numbers of USAHS students who will be able to complete an industry-leading mentorship program during their internship with the chance to directly transition to employment, with opportunities to enter residency training and pursue advanced practice capabilities focused on improving patient clinical outcomes. USAHS and ATI Physical Therapy will work together to assess the impact of their programs and create a research foundation to drive further improvements.

The new program will also focus on continuing education, including manual therapy and craniofacial certifications, providing ATI employees with a valuable opportunity for professional development starting in fall 2018. USAHS faculty will provide instruction for the weekend seminars, which will also be open to all physical therapists in the community.

"We've had a long-standing, positive relationship with ATI for a number of years and this first-of-its-kind collaboration is an exciting step for both organizations," said Lori Hankins, USAHS director of continuing professional education.

"The opportunity to extend our relationship with USAHS to further combine resources and give academic access to the PT community as a whole is a major step forward in meeting the demands of professionals and the industry," said Brett Windsor, vice president of clinical excellence, ATI Physical Therapy.

For several years, ATI has been an active on-campus resource for students at various USAHS events, including on-campus recruitment fairs where students and ATI recruiters can meet face-to-face.