The program directors for the new Siskin Hospital/UTC Geriatric PT Residency Program, Dr. Matt Annessi and Dr. Stephanie Eton. Photo courtesy of Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation.
When Dr. Stephanie Eton talks about the importance of achieving candidacy for a new geriatric physical therapy residency, it’s personal.
“This one is really special to me because I am certified in geriatrics,” said Eton, an associate professor of practice in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Physical Therapy and the program’s director of residency education. “We have a lot of older individuals in the state of Tennessee and in the Chattanooga area, and this is another opportunity to provide great physical therapy services to the community.”
UTC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation are expanding their collaborative partnership with the creation of a Geriatric DPT Residency Program—one of just two of its kind in Tennessee and fewer than 30 nationwide.
The first resident is scheduled to begin the year-long program in August and, upon completion, will be eligible to take the board certification examination as a geriatric clinical specialist.
The residency will provide advanced clinical training in skilled nursing, home health care and outpatient therapy settings for patients aged 65 and older. Residents will work with complex, age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders and other geriatric syndromes while also assisting in UTC labs and research.
“The value of this partnership with Siskin is an important aspect of their collaboration with UTC’s Physical Therapy program,” said Dr. Valerie Rutledge, dean of the UTC College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. “It offers access to innovative treatments and unique research opportunities. Overall, the impact results in a stronger health care network benefiting both institutions.”
The new residency follows the successful launch of the Erlanger Acute Care Physical Therapy Residency, which welcomed its first participant in January 2025. Eton said establishing two residency programs in under a year reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to expanding post-graduation opportunities and strengthening ties with Chattanooga’s clinical partners.
“Not a lot of universities have the opportunity to partner with big hospital systems like Siskin to create residency education,” she explained. “Specialization through residency training is stil fairly new in physical therapy, so this is an innovative approach the program is taking.
“I could not have done it without the support from Dr. Nancy Fell and Dean Rutledge and the partnership with Siskin. We are putting ourselves on the map.”
Fell is a UC Foundation professor and head of the UTC Department of Physical Therapy.
“Geriatric physical therapy is crucial for older adults as it helps maintain and improve their physical function, mobility and independence, ultimately enhancing their quality of life,” Fell said. “By addressing age-related changes and challenges—such as decreased strength, balance and mobility, it helps seniors stay active, prevent falls and manage chronic conditions.
“Bringing this residency to the Chattanooga community will elevate evidence-based clinical practice, optimize patient care and develop future leaders in the physical therapy profession.”
In its announcement of the partnership, Siskin Hospital’s director of residency programs, Dr. Matt Annessi, said the goal of the geriatric residency is twofold.
“Not only will this program increase access to specialized care for patients living with a geriatric condition, it will also improve the quality of care we provide here at Siskin Hospital,” Annessi said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, seniors already comprise more than 18% of Hamilton County’s population—and that number is expected to grow to 21% by the early 2030s.
Eton said she’s particularly excited about the learning environment at Siskin Hospital, where she works on an as-needed basis.
“I really enjoy working for them because they have a one-on-one patient-to-therapist model and I get to see all my patients for an hour,” she said. “A resident would have the same opportunity, which just makes it more conducive to learning.”
Eton said some of UTC’s DPT students are already rotating through Siskin Hospital for clinical training, so adding a residency provides an opportunity to extend those educational experiences into a post-doctoral setting. The program’s structure includes formal instruction, clinical mentoring and clinical hours, and residents will have the chance to assist in UTC geriatric-focused classes and faculty research.
By the end of the 12 months, the resident will have over 1,800 hours of clinical, didactic and mentoring experience.
Fell said the new residency builds upon “an already exceptional Siskin-UTC partnership” that began in 1990 when Siskin Hospital first opened and the UTC Physical Therapy program was founded.
“Residency development leaders Matt Annessi and Kyle Binkley from Siskin and Stephanie Eton from UTC have done exceptional work in making the geriatric residency a reality,” Fell said.
As for what comes next for the UTC DPT program, Eton said she is already looking ahead toward expanding residency offerings.
“One that’s dear and close to my heart is faculty development residencies for physical therapy faculty that have worked in clinical settings and then want to go into teaching,” she said. “That’s what faculty residency programs are designed to facilitate: the transition into academics from the clinic.”
Learn more
UTC Physical Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy
Siskin/UTC Geriatric PT Residency Program
UTC/Erlanger collaboration brings acute care PT residency to life
