KIMEU | Rethinking How Great Clinicians Are Built

Are we developing better physical therapists—or simply producing more credentials and collecting more data?

In Episode 71 of KIMEcast, KIME founders Tony Mikla, DPT, and Russ Dunning, MPT, challenge conventional approaches to physical therapy education, mentorship, and sports medicine.

From residency and fellowship training to force plate testing and return-to-sport programming, Tony and Russ explore what it actually takes to develop a confident, capable sports clinician.

They discuss why technical knowledge alone isn't enough, why mentorship requires more than occasional case reviews, and why understanding the demands of an athlete's sport is essential to preparing them for competition.

In this episode:

• Why traditional residency programs may be missing critical components of sports medicine education

• What effective mentorship and clinical development should look like

• The importance of mastering movement, kinetic linking, and progressive loading

• Why force plates and objective testing should support—not replace—clinical reasoning

• The gap between rehabilitation in the clinic and performance on the field

• How communication with coaches strengthens the return-to-sport process

• Why KIME is expanding its educational model toward a sports residency program

At KIME, we believe clinical excellence is developed through structured learning, practical application, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Because being a great clinician isn't just about what you know. It's about what you can do with that knowledge—and the impact you make on the people you serve.

KIMEcast | Real conversations about sports medicine, rehabilitation, performance, and doing physical therapy differently.

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