Episode 53: Tom Denninger - Clinical Excellence: Rethinking Post-Professional Education in Sports Medicine

In an era where healthcare is rapidly evolving, the path from being a new graduate to a seasoned expert requires a commitment to lifelong learning and a strategic approach to professional growth.In this episode, host Andrew Rizza sits down with Tom Denninger, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, the Vice President of Clinical Development at ATI Physical Therapy, and Executive Director of the Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement (iMSKA). Denninger has spent much of his career focused on how to support clinicians to achieve clinical excellence in every stage of their careers. Together, they explore the evolution of continuing education, residency training, and mentorship in sports medicine, far beyond just CEUs. The conversation covers ATI’s MSK Certification and the launch of iMSKA, an innovative program that is bridging the gap between education, research, and patient care. Denninger discusses how mentorship should function in practice, introducing the concept of a "professional cabinet” and explaining the difference between formal and informal mentorship. He also offers valuable advice for new graduates, experienced clinicians, and leaders looking to achieve and maintain excellence for the long term in healthcare.MEET THE GUESTDoctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Vice President of Clinical Development at ATI Physical TherapyBoard-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT)Executive Director of the Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement (iMSKA)TOPICS DISCUSSEDThe evolution of post-professional education The MSK Certification & the Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement (iMSKA)Opportunities for CEU creditsFormal and informal mentorship Advice for new graduatesHIGHLIGHTS01:08 — Denninger's Career Journey03:16 — Post-Professional Education07:10 — MSK Certification Explained09:49 — Use Cases for the Program12:36 — The Importance of Revisiting the Basics14:32 — The Evolution of iMSKA16:33 — iMSKA Programs & Research Fellowships19:22 — Vision for Clinical Development at ATI23:15 — How To Get CEU Credits26:16 — Building Professional Competencies29:41 — The Evolution of Mentorship34:36 — Informal Mentorship39:56 — Clinician Feedback44:13 — Advice for New Graduates51:26 — Denninger Outside the ClinicQUOTES:32:52 - “‘Mentorship' is such a vogue word out there. When we think about how people learn, it comes down to this kind of universal principle of 70-20-10 — 70% of what you learn is going to be by doing, 20% is going to come from projects and collaboration, and 10 is going to come from didactic information, things along those lines. Mentorship falls in that 20% where it should enhance the 70 and the 10.” - Tom Denninger36:18 - “And it can be sometimes a little bit weird where you're like, ‘Will you be my mentor?’ That's not always how that works. I do think a program is good, and someone being assigned that skill, that doing it is important. But I always encourage people to think a little bit more of like ‘the cabinet’; what's your professional cabinet? How do you collect people that you can bounce ideas off of?” - Tom Denninger38:35 - “And the two-way street of mentorship is important, right? By being your mentor, it's helping me reflect on my practice and helping me identify gaps in my knowledge. So it should always be mutually beneficial.” - Tom Denninger50:27 - “When you choose an employer, what you're really selecting is an opportunity. At the end of the day, it's what are you going to do with that opportunity?” - Tom DenningerLINKSTom Denninger - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-denninger-dpt-ocs-faaompt-69774ba6/ ATI Physical Therapy - https://www.atipt.com  ATI Development Programs - https://careers.atipt.com/development-programs iMSKA - https://i-mska.org DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed.#PhysicalTherapy #HealthcareEducation #SportsMedicine #MusculoskeletalAdvancement #CEUcredits