LVHN, Part of Jefferson Health, Accredited for Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program

By Linda Bandura

February 24, 2026

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), now part of Jefferson Health, has announced that its Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program has received a five-year accreditation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education. Jefferson and LVHN combined in 2024, creating a leading integrated academic health care delivery system. “Reaching this important milestone was made possible by our commitment to clinical excellence, professional development and advanced neurologic care,” said Christopher Johns, PT, Manager, Rehabilitation Services.

What is a Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency?

This post-professional training program is designed for licensed physical therapists seeking advanced, specialized education in the evaluation and treatment of individuals diagnosed with neurologic conditions. Residents participate in a structured curriculum that combines lectures and classroom learning with mentorships and clinical, evidence-based care. The residency develops highly skilled clinicians to manage complex neurologic diagnoses across the continuum of care and prepares them to sit for the board certification examination.

Accreditation Adds Value

In addition to developing future leaders and mentors within the rehabilitation department, this accreditation provides significant value to rehabilitation services overall. It supports clinical excellence and innovation, aligning with the organization’s mission to improve lives. It also fosters collaboration across the continuum of care, with shared clinical experiences and contributions through acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation settings. “Accreditation helps strengthen recruitment and retention of expert clinicians and reinforces our reputation as a teaching and learning health system committed to providing the highest level of rehabilitative care,” said Johns.

The Accreditation Process

Achieving accreditation is a rigorous, two-year process requiring demonstration of adherence to nationally recognized standards. This process includes:

• Development of a comprehensive curriculum aligned with neurologic PT competencies
• Demonstration of qualified faculty, mentors, and clinical resources
• Submission of extensive documentation outlining program structure, outcomes, and assessment methods
• Successful completion of a formal external review to ensure compliance with accreditation standards

This achievement reflects the dedication, collaboration, and expertise of the rehabilitation leadership, mentors, and clinical teams.

Curriculum, FAQs and more available online.