At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together. We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Physical Therapist to join our outpatient/ambulatory team in a specialized role focused on orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, as well as comprehensive management of persistent pain.

This role offers a diverse orthopedic caseload and, uniquely, includes time within Duke Pain Medicine Clinic – a multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of people with persistent pain. The clinician will provide high-quality, evidence-based physical therapy services to patients/clients with musculoskeletal, orthopedic and persistent pain conditions; provide prevention and wellness services, including screenings and health promotion; and integrate tailored exercise prescription, pain neuroscience education, manual therapy, and cognitive-behavioral–informed approaches in accordance with evidence-based care to facilitate return to work, sport and activities of daily living. This position offers strong opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, working closely with providers across multiple disciplines to support patient-centered, comprehensive care for complex cases.  The physical therapist works within practice guidelines as defined by North Carolina state law.

Work Performed 

• Perform comprehensive musculoskeletal evaluations, synthesize clinical findings, and develop individualized, evidence-based plans of care with measurable functional goals. 
• Implement and progress orthopedic interventions using sound clinical reasoning, adjusting treatments based on patient response. 
• Educate patients and families on diagnosis, prognosis, treatment rationale, and home exercise programs to support independence and self-management. 
• Discharge patients appropriately based on goal achievement or medical necessity, ensuring continuity of care when needed. 
• Collaborate with physicians, interdisciplinary team members, and clinic leadership to optimize outcomes and support efficient operations. 
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation and outcome measures, and communicate clearly with patients and referring providers. 
• Meet outpatient productivity expectations and effectively utilize support personnel to enhance care delivery. 

• Maintain and advance clinical competency through ongoing professional development. 
• Provide clinical education and mentorship to students and junior staff as appropriate. 
• Contribute to quality improvement and research efforts that advance orthopedic practice. 
• Participate in professional outreach and community engagement as requested, and perform other duties as assigned. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills in musculoskeletal assessment and treatment 
• Proficiency in orthopaedic evaluation and evidence-based intervention techniques 
• Ability to safely perform physical job functions including pushing, pulling, lifting, and assisting patients during examination and treatment 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment 
• Commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous professional development 
• Strong organizational and time management skills 
• Ability to maintain accurate clinical documentation and data collection 
• Proficiency with electronic health records and clinic management systems 

Level Characteristics

See Clinical Ladder administration document

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree or certification in physical therapy, with Master's or Clinical Doctorate in physical therapy preferred.

Experience

None beyond required education, although more experience may be preferred at times.

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

Must have a current Physical Therapist license. A Compact Physical Therapist license may be accepted, but a NC Physical Therapist license must be obtained within 6 months of the start date, or before the expiration of Compact Privileges, whichever comes first. 

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.