CANANDAIGUA – John Ahern PT, DPT, OCS, clinical coordinator of Orthopedics and Sports Physical Therapy for UR Medicine’s Thompson Health, recently became a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
Ahern, who holds a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Delaware, is now the only physical therapist with the OCS designation in the Canandaigua/Farmington area, and one of less than 425 in the state of New York.
The Farmington resident first joined Thompson in 2011 and became the health system’s clinical coordinator of Orthopedics and Sports Physical Therapy in 2012.
Clinical specialization is a formal process used to recognize physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in a special area of practice. It is achieved through a formalized application and examination process. According to the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, clinical specialization requires a broad-based foundation of physical therapy education and clinical practice, depth and breadth of knowledge in a specialty area, advanced clinical expertise and skills.
“John is an incredibly talented PT whose results speak for themselves. His achievement of his board-certified OCS will set Thompson apart as we now have a recognized orthopedic specialist in the eyes of our patients, physicians, and insurers. We are incredibly fortunate to have him on our team,” said Carole Drake, Director of Rehabilitation Services for Thompson.