Clinical Education

Integrated Clinicals

At LIVE EVERY DAY, our Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE) provide students with immersive learning during the didactic phase of their education, allowing them to actively bridge classroom knowledge with clinical practice. As host sites for Springfield College, we offer a dynamic environment where students in small groups (2-5) observe and apply new skills with direct mentorship from our clinical experts. By immersing students in real-world patient care, ICE promotes early professional development, fostering critical thinking and hands-on problem-solving. Beyond physical therapy students, we integrate learners from diverse fields, including gerontology, exercise physiology, and athletic training, encouraging interprofessional collaboration.

As leaders in clinical education, we are passionate about expanding these opportunities to additional institutions and healthcare services, offering a unique, supportive, and engaging environment for early clinical learning. Our program allows students to experience a spectrum of clinical scenarios, making the transition from theory to practice seamless and impactful.

Clinical Experiences

At LIVE EVERY DAY, our Full-Time Clinical Experiences are designed to foster deep professional growth through a comprehensive 10-week immersion. We host near countless Springfield College students in their terminal experiences, challenging them to develop into adaptable, thoughtful professionals. Guided by the Master Adaptive Learner framework, students engage in critical self-reflection and are encouraged to build upon their character strengths, forming healthy habits for long-term professional success.

Our unique learning environment, which includes interaction with part-time learners and residents, creates a rich, layered experience that supports peer learning, backed by evidence to enhance knowledge sharing and collaboration. By participating in this dynamic structure, students are not just acquiring clinical skills but are developing the ability to continually adapt and thrive in diverse healthcare settings. We emphasize personal and professional growth, celebrating each student’s unique journey while preparing them for the demands and complexities of their future careers. This comprehensive and supportive approach ensures that they not only leave with advanced clinical competencies but also with a deep sense of who they are as clinicians and leaders.

Residency

At LIVE EVERY DAY, our 15-month Orthopedic Residency Program is designed to elevate physical therapists into highly skilled specialists in orthopedic care. As the first residency program in Connecticut, we have a rich history of excellence and innovation in clinical education. This program integrates intensive, hands-on patient care with structured mentorship and advanced clinical training, allowing residents to refine their skills in diagnosing and managing complex orthopedic conditions. Residents benefit from a dynamic, peer-learning environment and gain exposure to a variety of clinical settings through our strong healthcare partnerships.

Our program emphasizes evidence-based practice and manual therapy techniques, fostering the development of adaptive, autonomous practitioners. Throughout the residency, participants engage in continuous learning, critical self-reflection, and professional growth, preparing them for board certification as orthopedic clinical specialists. Whether you’re a new graduate or an experienced clinician looking to specialize, our residency offers the tools, mentorship, and support to excel in your career.

By completing the residency, therapists gain the confidence and clinical expertise needed to thrive in their careers, becoming leaders in orthopedic care and advocates for evidence-based, patient-centered treatment. For those seeking to advance their practice and take their skills to the next level, the LIVE EVERY DAY Orthopedic Residency Program provides a supportive, challenging, and rewarding environment to achieve excellence.

Teaching and Leadership Opportunities

At LIVE EVERY DAY, residents engage in diverse teaching and leadership roles. They host and attend quarterly journal clubs, serve as adjunct professors, and lead guest lectures at Springfield College. Through lecture and lab-based instruction, residents impart their knowledge to entry-level DPT students, while guiding integrated clinical experience participants in meaningful clinical discussions. These opportunities prepare residents to become leaders in orthopedic physical therapy, cultivating their teaching, leadership, and clinical skills for future professional growth.

Compensation and Benefits

Residents receive competitive salary compensation equivalent to an entry-level physical therapist. Additional benefits include PTO, holiday/sick leave, health and disability insurance, and professional liability insurance. Residents also enjoy unique residency-specific perks such as APTA membership, full coverage of OCS/NCS application and exam fees, APTA Credentialed CI Training, Annual APTA Conference attendance, and up to $1500 for continuing education to support professional development.

Historical Program Metrics

Our Orthopedic Residency Program is entering its 7th year, with two residents enrolled for the 2023-2024 cohort. Since gaining accreditation in 2018, five residents have successfully graduated, four of whom continue to work at LIVE EVERY DAY as full-time clinicians, taking leadership roles and serving as clinical instructors. Four graduates have also passed the Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) exam, demonstrating the program’s commitment to preparing residents for professional excellence. While one resident withdrew from the program due to its rigor, the high expectations for clinical excellence continue to drive success for participants.

Program Overview and Accreditation

The Orthopedic Residency Program is accredited through ABPTRFE until September 2028 and is in the reaccreditation process. This 15-month program combines structured learning with practical, hands-on experience, preparing residents to be leaders in orthopedic physical therapy. The residency includes six modules aligned with the Orthopedic Description of Specialty Practice (DSP), designed to fully prepare participants for the OCS exam. Our mission is to create a culture of life improvement for both patients and residents, helping them become advanced practitioners with a commitment to service and excellence.

Patient-Centered Care

Our approach to patient care is rooted in a patient-first model. At LIVE EVERY DAY, residents are empowered to take an active role in evaluating, diagnosing, and creating comprehensive care plans. With 40% of referrals coming through direct access, residents gain valuable autonomy in decision-making. Our population spans all ages, from infants to the elderly, allowing residents to treat a wide range of orthopedic diagnoses and build their skills in a diverse clinical setting.

Admissions Criteria

To be accepted into the LIVE EVERY DAY Orthopedic Residency Program, applicants must:

Be graduates of a CAPTE accredited PT program or have a graduate degree from a US Regionally Accredited program.
Provide proof of licensure (or temporary licensure) to practice in CT.
Meet all eligibility requirements for employment as a physical therapist within LIVE EVERY DAY.
Submit a list of continuing education courses attended in the last five years.
Provide a current resume/CV, showing professional history and post-professional education.
Demonstrate a commitment to professional development and APTA membership eligibility.
Provide two references from licensed PTs, with one reference from a PT academician.
Exhibit considerable knowledge of physical therapy, anatomy, and clinical practice, and demonstrate strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

Program Metrics

For the 2023-2024 cohort, LIVE EVERY DAY has two residents enrolled in the Orthopedic Residency Program. The 2022-2023 resident is on track to graduate in August 2023 and will sit for the OCS Exam in early 2024. Since the program’s initial accreditation in 2018, five residents have successfully completed the program, with four remaining full-time employees. Each has become a clinical instructor, taking on multiple students per year, and four graduates have successfully passed the OCS exam, reflecting the strength of our program in preparing residents for advanced practice.

Internships & Observation

At LIVE EVERY DAY, we provide individualized learning opportunities for students from associated health professions through Observation and Internship Programs. These experiences are designed to give students hands-on exposure to clinical practice in a dynamic and supportive environment. We craft personalized programs for students from fields such as exercise physiology, athletic training, and gerontology. Learners participate in structured observation, active reflection, and clinical discussions to deepen their understanding of healthcare and develop their professional skills.

Based on our robust framework, students engage in 90-hour internships spread over a minimum of 10 weeks, consistent with in the Springfield College AEXS Internship I Program. These internships emphasize active observation and gradually assuming responsibilities in program design, fitness testing, and activity delivery, all under professional supervision.

Additionally, LIVE EVERY DAY‘s summer observational program provides HS and pre-PT learners with opportunities to observe a full spectrum of physical therapy, offering five 4-hour blocks over the course of the summer. This includes a structured Q&A session and a certificate of completion.

For students pursuing pre-clinical or clinical training, these opportunities provide a strong foundation in real-world patient care, blending classroom knowledge with clinical application in a supportive environment. Our aim is to foster self-awareness, critical thinking, and professional growth in the next generation of healthcare providers.

Interested in exploring ways to engage programmatically or as an individual, please reach out to Matt Calendrillo Site Coordinator of Clinical Education at mcal@liveeveryday.org

Curriculum Programming

At LIVE EVERY DAY, we design comprehensive, tailored educational programs that seamlessly blend academic learning with hands-on clinical application. Drawing from Matt Calendrillo’s vast expertise as an adjunct faculty member at Springfield College, vice chair of the National Consortium of Clinical Educators, and now Chair of the Clinical Education Commission under ACAPT, our programs are built on evidence-based practices and a deep understanding of clinical education. We offer a wide range of experiences—from continuing education workshops and clinical mentorship to interdisciplinary collaboration—ensuring learners are not only equipped with the necessary clinical skills but also empowered to think critically and grow professionally.

Our programs cater to a variety of healthcare disciplines, providing learners with the tools they need to thrive in a complex, evolving healthcare environment. Whether it’s through reflective practice, personal growth mindsets, or academic-clinical partnerships, our different educational models promote excellence at every stage of the professional journey.

We invite you to engage in a conversation about how we can collaborate to meet your unique educational needs. Together, we can leverage Matt and his team’s extensive leadership experience, national presence, and research to craft innovative, impactful solutions for your program or institution. Let’s explore new ways to advance healthcare education and empower the next generation of clinicians. Please reach out to Matt Calendrillo Site Coordinator of Clinical Education at mcal@liveeveryday.org.