The Team Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy Hand Fellowship Program is a structured, professional training program designed to prepare licensed occupational therapists for advanced clinical practice in outpatient hand and upper-extremity rehabilitation.
Program Description
Grounded in AOTA’s Program Criteria and Interpretive Guidelines for Fellowship Programs, the fellowship provides mentored, competency-based learning that integrates didactic education, supervised clinical practice, and reflective professional development.
Fellows progress through a sequenced curriculum emphasizing evidence-based evaluation and intervention, upper-extremity anatomy and pathology, orthotic fabrication, postoperative management, and interprofessional collaboration with hand surgeons and rehabilitation teams.
Consistent with AOTA standards, the program includes dedicated learning time, qualified mentors, ongoing formative and summative assessments, and individualized learning plans aligned with each fellow’s professional goals. The fellowship is designed to cultivate clinical excellence, ethical practice, and lifelong learning while preparing graduates for independent advanced practice and the future pursuit of CHT certification.
Program Goals
Program Details
Fellowship Eligibility Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited occupational therapy program.
- Current licensure as an Occupational Therapist in the state of Michigan, or eligibility for licensure prior to the program start.
- Minimum of 6–24 months of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist. Outpatient or orthopedic experience is preferred but not required. Level II fieldwork will be considered.
- Demonstrated interest in hand and upper-extremity rehabilitation through coursework, fieldwork, continuing education, shadowing, or employment in outpatient settings.
- Commitment to full participation in a 12-month, 40-hour work week, structured fellowship program, including protected learning time and mentored clinical practice.
- Willingness to engage in reflective practice, competency-based assessment, and individualized learning plans.
- Strong professional references attesting to clinical readiness, professionalism, and growth potential.
Application Requirements
Please submit a complete application packet including:
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of intent outlining career goals and interest in hand therapy
- Two to three professional references
Selection Criteria
Fellowship candidates should demonstrate the following qualifications:
Be licensed or eligible for licensure as an occupational therapist in the state of Michigan, have successfully passed the NBCOT examination, and not be on probation.
Demonstrate foundational competence in general occupational therapy practice and the ability to manage a clinical caseload with supervision.
Exhibit a strong interest in and commitment to hand therapy and upper-extremity rehabilitation.
Articulate long-term professional goals related to advanced practice in hand therapy and pursuit of CHT certification.
Demonstrate initiative through relevant coursework, continuing education, shadowing experiences, and independent self-study.
Be open to feedback and actively engage in mentorship.
Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and ethical practice in alignment with AOTA standards and the core values and mission of Team Rehabilitation.
Show clear alignment between personal professional goals and the goals of the fellowship program.
Be willing to participate fully in a rigorous, structured, post-professional learning model.
Submit a high-quality application, including strong professional references that speak to clinical readiness, professionalism, and growth potential.