Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery

ATHLETIC TRAINING RESIDENCY

The Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery Athletic Training Residency Program accepts certified athletic trainers into the program. Our goal is to prepare the certified AT Residents with the experience and advanced knowledge (including diagnostic and evaluation skills) for a role in the orthopaedic/sports medicine clinical setting. 

A premier AT Residency Program in the Mountains of Colorado. 

The Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery Athletic Training Residency Program is founded and supported through fellowship- and residency-trained orthopaedic surgeons providing care to one of the nation’s most athletic areas including professional and local athletes, the US Ski Team, and destination athletes from all ages and sports levels.

A Comprehensive One-Year Residency Program 

Athletic Training Residents will be educated directly by world-class orthopaedic physicians and their expert staff. Educational areas include clinic, durable medical equipment, operating room, physical therapy, sports outreach, and research through the Vail-Summit Orthopaedics Research Foundation.
Apply Now

THE PROGRAM 

 ABOUT THE PROGRAM

  • Purpose

    Our purpose is to prepare the certified AT Residents with the experience and advanced knowledge (including diagnostic and evaluation skills) for a role in the orthopaedic/sports medicine clinical setting. 

  • Goals

    • Expose certified athletic trainers to a consistently high-level clinical and surgical experience.
    • Provide certified athletic trainers a curriculum in radiology and sports outreach.
    • Educate the certified athletic trainer on outcomes-based orthopaedic research through the Vail-Summit Orthopaedic Research Foundation.
    • Present orthopaedic sports medicine content at local, state, regional, or national levels. 

  • Residency Objective

     To prepare a certified athletic trainer with advanced knowledge for a role in the orthopaedic/sports medicine clinical setting.

  • What Makes Us Unique?

    Athletic Training Residents at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery will gain an extraordinary advantage in their field as beneficiaries of the knowledge, experience, and mentorship of our uniquely skilled providers.  


    Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery is a nationally recognized expert in orthopaedics and sports medicine. 


    VSON was the first orthopaedic practice in the Vail Valley area, opening its doors in 1979.


    Six VSON doctors are credentialed sports medicine providers for the USOC and Women’s US Ski Team, including coverage for four consecutive Winter Olympic Games.


    -Ten VSON doctors are fellowship-trained in orthopaedics/sports medicine.


    -VSON employs 18 certified athletic trainers, six of whom have completed an athletic training fellowship/residency program.


    -VSON is the official medical group for Team Summit & Team Breck, who trains Olympic hopefuls.


    -VSON serves extreme, competitive, and recreational athletes in the “healthiest place in America,” according to a November 2017 article inBusiness Insider.


    -Vail Health Hospital, where VSON takes orthopaedic trauma call, received the 2015 Women's Choice Award® for America's Best Hospitals for Orthopedics.

  • Sports Outreach Coverage

    Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery provides sports outreach coverage for the following organizations:

    • US Ski Team     
    • Vail Christian High School
    • Summit High School
    • Team Summit Colorado
    • Vail Mountaineer Junior Hockey
    • Vail Yeti Semi-Pro Hockey Club
    • Kingdom Kup Hockey
    • Sportsmanship Hockey Tournament 
    • MLK Hockey Tournament
    • Mountain Recreation Center Events
    • Vail Cup Soccer
    • Kids Adventure Games
    • Summit Mountain Challenge MTB Series 

CURRICULUM & COMPETENCIES

  • Residency Expectations

    Commitment to providing world-class orthopaedic care.

    Possess a strong desire to learn and grow within the field of sports medicine.


    Adhere to the exceptional Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery's standards of professionalism during the residency.

    Ability to work efficiently and multitask within the sports medicine team.

  • Educational Time

    Residents are expected to complete 40 hours/week. Approximately 60% of their time will be in clinic (24 hours), 30% surgery (12 hours), 5% research (2 hours), and 5% sports outreach (2 hours). 


    We also estimate that 75% of clinical (18 hours) and surgery (9 hours) time is used for education purposes. 100% of research (2 hours) and sports outreach (2 hours) time is for education as well. 77.5% of the total time (31 hours/week) is education based, and 22.5% of the total time (9 hours/week) is work based.

  • Curriculum

    AT residents will rotate with all VSO physicians and specialties. These include:

    • Knee /Complex Knee/Multi-Ligament Knee
    • Shoulder
    • Sports Medicine
    • Foot & Ankle
    • Joint Replacement
    • Spine & Neurosurgery
    • Elbow, Wrist, & Hand
    • Orthopaedic Trauma
    • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation  

    General Curriculum Includes:

    • Pre-residency evaluation
    • Regularly scheduled academic sessions throughout the year
    • Post-rotation exam and skills evaluation
    • Research project
    • Post-residency evaluation and skills assessment

    Anatomy Curriculum Includes:

    • Cadaver labs/anatomy
    • Interpretation of diagnostic imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, EMG)

    Clinical Curriculum Inlcudes:

    • Enhancing evaluation and diagnostic skills
    • Special tests for orthopaedic injuries and disorders
    • Differential diagnosis
    • Cast/splint/brace application
    • Clinical and surgical coding
    • Dictation skills
    • Fracture classifications and treatments
    • Medications/prescribing protocols
    • Injection labs
    • Rehabilitation and treatment protocols (injury-specific timeline)

    Surgical Curriculum Includes:

    • Surgical observation requirements
    • Sterile techniques, instrument recognition, patient positioning, and room setup
    • Arthroscopy and surgical technique labs

  • Clinical Skills

    • Patient documentation
    • Patient history taking
    • Managing clinical flow
    • Injury evaluation
    • Patient education
    • Diagnostic imaging ordering
    • Communication with staff and patients
    • Casting/bracing/splinting
    • Assisting with in-office procedures
    • Setting up sterile fields
    • Pre- and postsurgical care
    • Durable medical equipment
    • Insurance coding and billing

  • Educational Aspects

    • Scheduled academic sessions, symposiums, and community presentations
    • Scheduled orthopaedic and general medicine lectures
    • Cadaveric labs
    • State, regional, and national athletic training and sport-specific meetings

ATC Residency Board

Meet our dedicated AT Residency Team.

 MEET OUR CURRENT ATC RESIDENTS

Jessica Von Arx

Emily Wood

Are interested in our ATC Residency Program? Read the information below for application specifics. 

  • Program Dates

    Posting Date:  January 16, 2024

    Application Closing Date:  March 15, 2024

    Interview Date:  March-April 2024 (exact dates TBD)

    Official and Orientation Start date:  July 15, 2024

    Clinical and Surgical Rotation Start Date:  July 29, 2024

    Completion Date: July 18, 2025


  • Application Credentials & Materials

    Credentials Needed to Apply: 


    Master’s Degree required, 1-2 years certified experience preferred, current or in-process state and national licensure, current CPR, NPI # valid driver’s license, pass required background check and drug screen upon acceptance to the program, COVID-19 Vaccination by the start of the residency (exemptions can be discussed).



    Application Materials: 


    CV / Resume. Personal statement.  3 letters of reference.  Only completed applications will be considered.

  • Contact Information

    Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery

    Ryan Molzon, MS, ATC, OTC, Athletic Training Residency Director

    181 W Meadow Dr. Suite 2700,

    Vail, CO 81657


    Apply Now!


    If you have any questions regarding our program, please feel free to contact Ryan Molzon, Athletic Training Residency Coordinator, at  (970) 778-4069 or by email at rmolzon@vsortho.com

  • Salary & Benefits

    • $50,000 salary
    • Full health benefits including medical, dental, and vision care. 

    Additional perks and reimbursements covered by VSON:


    • License costs and fees
    • Credentialing fees
    • NATA/BOC annual dues
    • In-house BOC approved CEU opportunities
    • Continuing Education Fund
    • Season ski pass 
    • 2 Weeks Paid Vacation Time (we request minimal vacation time)
    • Eligibility for a discretionary bonus (though not guaranteed)

  • Retention Policy

    • AT residents must fully participate in all required didactic and clinical experiences.
    • If an AT resident is unable to attend any didactic or clinical experiences (due to illness, travel, etc.) a written request must be submitted to the Residency Program Director and Residency Medical Director for approval.
    • AT residents must maintain minimum requirements on all residency expectations and evaluations pertaining to each rotation within the Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery Athletic Training Residency program. 
    • If at any time an AT resident is evaluated as “unsatisfactory” within any rotation, the AT resident and Residency Director will meet weekly to determine and implement educational steps and actions required to obtain “satisfactory” status.
    • AT residents must adhere to the Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery Athletic Training Residency mission and the VSON Clinic values.
    • AT residents are introduced to our mission and values through new employee orientation and evaluated continuously throughout their residency.
    • AT residents must adhere to policy and procedures set forth in the Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery Athletic Training Residency and VSON handbooks. 
    • Disciplinary actions are consistent with VSON HR policies.
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