Q: What is the benefit of doing an occupational therapy fellowship?

A: A fellowship provides post-professional training in a specialized area of practice. Participation in a fellowship offers specific experience which combines didactics, mentorship, and clinical practice in the fellowship area in order to progress the fellow towards becoming an advanced-level clinician. This can increase professional marketability in the future.

Q: What experience is needed to apply for a fellowship?

A: You must:

• Be a graduate of an AOCTE-accredited occupational therapy program
• Be a registered occupational therapist (OTR) and have six months’ experience, or more, in rehabilitation of upper extremity from any setting: Acute, chronic or lymphedema.
• Be eligible for licensure as an occupational therapist in Wisconsin
• Obtain NPI number prior to start of fellowship program

Q: Can I apply if I am not yet licensed or have not graduated OT school?

A: You must be a graduate of a AOCTE-accredited occupational therapy program and have a valid Wisconsin license and a NPI number.

Q: Can I apply if my license is in another state?

A: We can only accept candidates who are licensed in Wisconsin.

Q: What diagnoses will I see?

A: You will see clients with a variety of upper-limb conditions, which could include orthopedic, post-surgical, nerve injuries, cumulative-trauma injuries, amputations, lymphedema and oncology.

Q: What does it cost to apply to the fellowship program?

A: There is no cost to apply.

The UW Health hand and upper extremity clinics have a long-standing tradition of mentoring occupational therapy students from local, state and national programs, as well as offering a mentorship program for all newly hired UW Health hand therapists.

As the only Occupational Hand Therapy Fellowship program in Wisconsin, the fellow will benefit from the mentorship experience with UW Health and the resources of the University of Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Program, UW Health Hand and Upper Extremity Orthopedic Clinic and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Fellowship Goals

After successfully completing the hand therapy Fellowship, the Fellow will:

1. Be competent in the service delivery of evidence-based assessments, evaluations, and interventions in the context of occupational therapy upper extremity rehabilitation
2. Be a life-long learner
3. Effectively educate others.
4. Effectively assess, critique, participate in scholarly inquiry
5. Establish inter-professional communication and collaboration

Fellowship Objectives

The Fellow will competently:

1. Synthesize, administer, prioritize, choose and implement assessment data, complying with fiscal, regulatory and organizational responsibilities to implement interventions that are current, occupation- and evidence-informed, theoretically sound approaches and interventions to support performance and participation in areas of occupation (e.g., ADL, education, work, play, leisure, social participation) throughout the continuum of upper extremity rehabilitation
2. Participate in regular reflexive practice of self-assessment and professional growth towards their own clinical skills
3. Be passionate about effectively educating others including future occupational therapy practitioners and improving community awareness of the value of occupational therapy in the context of upper extremity topics
4. Use and contribute to occupational therapy literature and evidence supporting care in the context of upper extremity rehabilitation
5. Communicate and collaborate with referral sources and stakeholders to help the client achieve outcomes that support health and participation in the fellowship area

The Occupational Hand Therapy Fellow will receive:

• An annual stipend, paid on a bi-weekly basis
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including basic dental and vision
• Additional benefits include life insurance, tax-sheltered annuity and deferred compensation
• Paid leave time to include 10 personal days (which includes vacation, continuing education and sick time) and eight holidays

The Occupational Hand Therapy Fellowship at UW Health is a full-time, 13-month program.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program, you must:

• Be a graduate of a ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy program
• Be a registered occupational therapist (OTR) and have six months’ experience, or more, in rehabilitation of upper extremity from any setting: Acute, chronic or lymphedema.
• Be eligible for licensure as an occupational therapist in Wisconsin
• Obtain NPI number prior to start of fellowship program

Licensing

To obtain information on licensing, contact the Wisconsin Department of Licensing.

Application and selection process

Application process

• Cover letter detailing the reason for an application to the fellowship program
• Statement letter of goals and objectives for fellowship area of interest in hand therapy research
• Current resume/CV
• Three letters of reference including one from a former employer
• Submit all required materials here

Application dates

• The application period will open approximately Oct. 1
• The application deadline is March 1
• Interviews will occur in March
• The expected offering date is April 5
• The expected program start date is on or about July 3

Selection process

• Full application screened, scored on standardized form and ranked
• Top 5-10 applicants advance to second review
• Face-to-face formal interview will be scheduled (virtual interview may be considered)

The Occupational Hand Therapy Fellowship at UW Health is a full-time, 13-month program.

Our mission

UW Health is dedicated to providing excellence in patient care, teaching, research and community service. The mission of the UW Health Occupational Hand Therapy Fellowship is to create occupational therapists who serve clients and their families with a focus on evidence-based care with a respect for diversity, local, national and global service and social responsibility. The program will prepare the fellowship by using:

• Experience in patient care
• Mentoring
• Didactic education, independent study
• Presentations and clinical reasoning skills
• Teaching opportunities to interns, staff, faculty and community