Mission
The mission of the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program at Littleton Regional Healthcare is to elevate the level of care for the community we serve by expanding access to specialty care and offering high quality orthopedic education and training to physical therapists and other healthcare providers.
Participants in the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program at Littleton Regional Healthcare will receive advanced training in examination and differential diagnosis, manual therapy, exercise prescription, and evidence-based management of musculoskeletal conditions with a specific intention of gaining the knowledge needed to acquire their Orthopedic Certified Specialist designation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).
Program Goals
- Train Residents in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
- Achieve and maintain accreditation standards set forth by the ABPTRFE
- Improve patient access to PT services
- Raise the level of rehabilitative care available to our communities
- Improve interdisciplinary collaboration
- Provide residents high-quality training
- Explore innovations in patient care
Program Structure
Residents work 4 days per week in LRH outpatient clinics located in Littleton and Franconia, NH. Residents rotate sites and mentors halfway through the program to ensure exposure to diverse teaching styles, practice environments, and patient populations.
Residents receive four hours of one-on-one mentorship weekly, totaling over 200 hours during the program. Mentorship is resident-driven and may include co-treating patients with faculty for real-time feedback, discussion and problem-solving of complex clinical presentations, as well as guided practice of advanced examination techniques and manual therapy skills.
A fifth day each week is devoted to structured educational experiences, including didactic instruction, journal clubs, independent study, surgical observations, staff in-services, and community health programming. The final month of the residency emphasizes leadership and teaching, as residents assist with orientation of the incoming cohort.
Program Length: 13 months (October 2026 – through October 2027)
Program Hours
- Clinical Hours: 1,750+
- Mentorship Hours: 200+
- Didactic Hours: 150+
Costs & Compensation
- Tuition: None
- Compensation: Residents are paid an hourly wage for all clinical hours at the same rate as non-resident clinicians.
- Additional Costs: Residents are required to purchase the AOPT Orthopaedic Curriculum Package.
Admissions Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of a CAPTE-accredited PT program (or state-approved equivalent).
- New Hampshire State PT Licensure in good standing.
- Membership in the APTA and the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (AOPT).
Application Process
Application materials should be sent to orthopt@lrhcares.org and are not submitted through the RF-PTCAS at this point in time.
- TRANSCRIPT: Please provide the residency with your transcript from your PT education
- EXPERIENCE: Please provide the residency with your work history and experience in the form of a Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Please provide the residency with at least two letters of recommendation from two individuals—whom you are not related to—that can speak to your performance in a professional capacity.
- FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS: Please answer each of the following questions in 500 words or less.
- What are your reasons for wanting to pursue the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency at Littleton Regional Healthcare?
- We can often learn just as much from failure as we can form success. Please describe a time that you failed and how it helped you grow in a meaningful way.
- Why did you choose orthopaedic physical therapy over other specialties?
- Is there anything else we should know about you, your experiences, or your journey when considering your application? If so, please elaborate to your level of comfort.
Timeline
- Applications Due: March 1st, 2026
- Interviews Conducted: June 2026
- Decisions Released: By July 1
- Program Start: October 5, 2026
While the program starts October 5, 2026, we encourage interested candidates to apply even if their availability differs from the program start date.
Faculty & Mentors
Dr. Kyle Thorburn, PT, DPT, OCS, FiT
Co-Director, Orthopedic Faculty, Mentor
Kyle earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science from Vermont State University-Lyndon. He then went on to the University of Vermont for his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, graduating in 2020. After refining his skills in private practice, he joined LRH in 2021 and became a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in 2023. He is currently completing a manual therapy fellowship through Regis University. Kyle has extensive experience as a clinical instructor and adjunct faculty, with strong interests in teaching, manual therapy, and mentorship.
Dr. Lang Taho, PT, DPT, OCS
Co-Director, Orthopedic Faculty, Mentor
Lang Taho graduated the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2009. He worked for a couple of years before realizing his future lied elsewhere. He returned to PT school and graduated from the University of Minnesota’s Program in Physical Therapy in 2015. Upon graduating, he enrolled in an orthopaedic physical therapy residency with Fairview Health Services in Minnesota. He stayed an active participant with the residency, teaching TMJ and cervical components, until he moved to Massachusetts in 2022. He worked at Spaulding from 2022-2024 until he and his wife felt the call back to the Northeast Kingdom (where she is from). He started working at Littleton Regional Healthcare in 2024 and set to work in bringing the same quality of orthopedic physical therapy training and education to the Northeast Kingdom. Alongside all the academia and jobs, Lang also pursued mentoring and teaching as an outlet to share the things that he loves. Lang has experience with instruction in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Yoga, Human Physiology, and has taught many students in physical therapy settings, including 6 full time students from five different institutions, as well as several years of ICE students from the University of Minnesota. Part of Lang’s philosophy is that “if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Lang applies his creed to instruction of patients, students, and mentees.
Dr. Myles Morneault, PT, DPT, OCS
Director of Rehabilitation Services, Clinical Faculty, Mentor
Myles earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Science from Franklin Pierce in 2009 and a DPT from the University of New England in 2012. He became OCS-certified in 2021. His broad clinical experience includes home health, skilled nursing, and outpatient orthopedics, with a special interest in post-operative rehab and return-to-sport analysis. As LRH’s Director of Rehab Services, he combines clinical expertise with leadership and mentorship for residents.
Sallie MacLeod, OTR/L, CHT
Sallie serves as a member of the LRH Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program with a specialty in Upper Extremity Rehab. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from University of New England in 2000. She attended and earned a Certificate in Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation from Drexel University in 2004. She earned Certification in Hand Therapy in 2005 which she continues to maintain based on HTCC requirements. She has worked in hospital-based outpatient clinics and private practices. She works hard to stay up to date on the latest research and advancements with Upper Extremity Surgery and Rehabilitation. She enjoys working with patients to individualize their treatment to return to their normal lives following injury. When not in the clinic she enjoys spending time with her family.
Contact Information
Program Co-Directors:
Dr. Kyle Thorburn, PT, DPT, OCS, FiT
Dr. Lang Taho, PT, DPT, OCS
orthopt@lrhcares.org
603-444-9000
LRH is not yet accredited by the ABPTRFE.
