Physical Therapist (PT) - Pediatric Oncology

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization:

Physical Therapy Out

Job Summary:

JOB SUMMARY
Provides physical therapy services to patients who have impairments, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function and health status resulting from injury, disease or other causes under occasional guidance. Actively collaborates with the health care/educational team to meet patient care, outcomes and system improvement objectives.

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Physical Therapist (PT) - Pediatric Oncology Rehabilitation

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt | Nashville, TN

Location: Doctors' Office Tower
Schedule: Monday-Friday | 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
No Weekends, Call, or Holidays

Come Grow With Us

This is a rare opportunity to join and help shape a growing Pediatric Oncology Rehabilitation Program within one of the nation's leading children's hospitals.

As Vanderbilt expands rehabilitation services for children receiving cancer treatment, we're seeking an experienced Physical Therapist who is passionate about delivering highly personalized, family-centered care in a collaborative specialty clinic environment.

Here, rehabilitation isn't an extra appointment. It's part of the cancer care team.

Therapy services are thoughtfully integrated into oncology visits whenever possible, allowing patients to receive care during the same visit as chemotherapy, infusion treatment, or physician appointments. This coordinated approach helps reduce the burden on families while ensuring rehabilitation remains an integral part of each child's treatment journey.

With one-hour treatment sessions, approximately 7-8 patients per day, and a strong emphasis on quality over volume, you'll have the time to build meaningful relationships and deliver individualized care that makes a lasting difference.

 

Why This Opportunity Is Different

This is not a traditional outpatient pediatric therapy position.

You'll work closely with pediatric oncologists, nurses, advanced practice providers, and rehabilitation specialists who share a common goal: helping children maintain strength, mobility, participation, and quality of life throughout treatment and recovery.

In this role, you'll:

• Participate in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary care model
• Build meaningful long-term relationships with children and families
• Deliver individualized, family-centered care
• Work in a specialty area where rehabilitation has a direct impact on daily function and quality of life
• Enjoy one-hour treatment sessions and patient-centered scheduling
• Help shape and grow an expanding oncology rehabilitation program

 

Who Thrives Here?

This role is often an excellent fit for therapists who:

• Value connection and relationship-building
• Find purpose in helping children and families through difficult journeys
• Enjoy collaborating with physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary teams
• Appreciate thoughtful clinical practice rather than high-volume productivity
• Are energized by continuous learning and professional growth
• Want to be part of building something special

 

What You'll Do

• Evaluate and treat pediatric patients receiving oncology and specialty medical care
• Develop individualized treatment plans focused on mobility, strength, endurance, balance, and functional participation
• Collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, rehabilitation professionals, and other specialists
• Educate patients and caregivers regarding treatment strategies and long-term goals
• Recommend exercise, mobility, and wellness strategies to support participation throughout treatment
• Document care and coordinate services using Vanderbilt's integrated medical record
• Participate in program development, quality improvement initiatives, and professional growth opportunities

 

Preferred Experience

We're seeking an experienced therapist who demonstrates strong clinical reasoning, compassion, and a commitment to pediatric oncology care.

Experience in one or more of the following areas is especially valued:

• Pediatric oncology rehabilitation
• Hospital-based pediatric rehabilitation
• Pediatric neurorehabilitation
• Medically complex pediatric populations
• Family-centered pediatric care
• Interdisciplinary specialty clinics

 

Why Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital?

For 20 consecutive years, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt has been recognized among the nation's Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

As Tennessee's leading pediatric hospital and Nashville's Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center, Monroe Carell combines nationally recognized specialty care with a culture rooted in compassion, innovation, teamwork, and hope.

Our therapists are respected members of the care team whose expertise directly influences outcomes for children facing some of life's greatest challenges.

A Culture of Warmth, Joy, and Teamwork

One of the things candidates consistently tell us after visiting Monroe Carell is how welcomed they feel.

You'll work alongside physicians, nurses, therapists, child life specialists, social workers, and support staff who genuinely enjoy working together and supporting one another.

We're proud of a culture built on:

• Family-centered care
• Interdisciplinary teamwork
• Compassion and kindness
• Clinical excellence
• Mentorship and professional growth
• Mutual respect and collaboration
• Finding moments of joy, even during difficult journeys

 

Benefits & Professional Growth

• Comprehensive benefits beginning on day one
• Competitive paid time off
• Retirement savings programs
• Continuing education funding and professional development support
• Clinical advancement opportunities
• Mentorship and specialty growth within Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Services

 

Why Nashville?

Known as Music City, Nashville offers an exceptional quality of life and one of the nation's most vibrant healthcare communities.

• No state income tax
• Four distinct seasons
• Outstanding healthcare and academic institutions
• Family-friendly communities and highly rated suburbs
• Vibrant music, dining, arts, and entertainment scene
• Convenient travel through Nashville International Airport (BNA)

 

Make a Difference When It Matters Most

Join Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and help children and families maintain strength, mobility, independence, and hope throughout their cancer journey while helping grow a one-of-a-kind Pediatric Oncology Rehabilitation Program.

This is more than a physical therapy position. It's an opportunity to become part of a team that brings expertise, encouragement, and meaningful support to children and families when they need it most. ❤️

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Analyzes comprehensive information from formal and informal assessment that is pertinent to the patient's care and management to determine a rehabilitation treatment diagnosis.
• Collaborates with stakeholders in establishing the plan of care, coordinates and implements care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the rehabilitation continuum.
• Applies appropriate, evidence-based interventions to ensure effective outcomes and re-evaluates performance to assess patient's progress towards goals.
• Employs strategies to promote successful return to home, community, and school/vocational environments.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
• Treatment Planning & Goal Setting (Novice): Demonstrates sufficient proficiency in developing a plan of care that incorporates treatment interventions focused on meeting objective goals. Develops and documents patient focused short and long term goals that are functional and measurable. Identifies the need for and referral to other services, as needed.
• Rehabilitation Therapist Patient Evaluation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in evaluating patients with physical deficits including impairments, developmental disabilities, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function by obtaining information pertinent to the assessment and administering and scoring standardized tests and objective measures of deficit areas. Selects appropriate measures and performs a functional assessment to document patient's status requiring skilled therapy. Interprets the results of the assessment and their significance to the patient, family, referring physician and other members of the health care team.
• Treatment Implementation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in providing treatment consistent with physician prescription and established plan of care. Able to modify treatment plan as needed to demonstrate provision of skilled therapy services including progression of treatment throughout course of care, and revision of treatment interventions of goals not met. May supervise and direct certified athletic trainers (PT only), physical therapist / occupational therapist assistants, technicians and volunteers and students. Selects and follows correct protocol for care and utilize evidence based treatments. Has completed at least one year of clinical experience in treatment implementation.
• Rehab Therapist Patient Documentation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in documentation practices. Documents in the appropriate templates and utilizes only approved abbreviations within patient documentation. Meets institutional standards for quality and timeliness of documentation.
• Physical/Occupational Therapist Patient Education (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature. May supervise, educate and train students from professional programs of physical therapy, occupational therapy and athletic training.

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

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Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

LIC-Physical Therapy License - Tennessee

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

1 year

Education:

Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.