Regis Sports PT Residency Gives Alumnus Access to the NBA Sidelines
Six years after graduating from the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Regis University, Ryan Pineda, PT, DPT (‘20), has returned as a post-professional student in the Regis Sports Physical Therapy Residency. Two months in, he’s "loving every bit of it."
The 2020 DPT graduate and post-professional physical therapy sports resident splits his week between outpatient sports clinical work and the Denver Nuggets. The residency provides sports physical therapy education along with the specialized Nuggets internship and mentorship at Cascade Sports Physical Therapy. Pineda spends three days a week at Cascade and two days a week with the Nuggets.
At Cascade, Pineda works alongside 10 other doctors of physical therapy and described the clinic as "every little bit of an outpatient sports PT's dream." The mentorship and caseload have him managing patients across the entire rehabilitation spectrum, from assisting with dressing changes on the first day post-operation to guiding athletes through sprinting, cutting and higher-level plyometrics as they prepare to return to the sport.
"Cascade has given me the opportunity to challenge all aspects of my clinical reasoning," said Pineda.
But Pineda calls his Nuggets internship a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He expected to be starstruck by players like Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. What surprised him was how much he enjoyed being part of a team again, working toward a common goal.
He works alongside the team's high-performance unit and its physical therapist, fellow Regis alumnus Dr. Steve Short, PT, DPT, SCS, OCS, FAAOMPT, CSCS. Together, they prepare athletes for movement, cover practices and games, and assist with post-session recovery.
The internship has also broadened his view of sports physical therapy practice. Pineda has seen how electronic tracking chips and sports science are used to monitor workload and exertion, collaborated with the team's nutritionist about supplementation and meal timing, and observed emergency response planning at Ball Arena firsthand.
"Being in professional sports has taught me the importance of being flexible, available and confident," Pineda said. He plans to work with the team through the 2026–27 season.
"I continue to show up each day looking to learn, provide passion and energy, and enjoy my time while it's here," Pineda said. "I'm truly excited about heading into work each day. Go Nuggets!"
Regis University’s Sports Residency is a 12-month, 12-credit academic certificate program that utilizes a flexible hybrid model (80% online) spanning three semesters. Residents dive into a rigorous, evidence-informed curriculum focused on advanced biomechanics and sport-specific performance.
Learn more about this specialized post-professional residency experience at https://www.regis.edu/academics/majors-and-programs/certificate/sports-physical-therapy-residency.
