Ochsner Health is committed to our mission: We Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate, and Innovate.

In order to provide advanced practice occupational therapy treatment to the community, Ochsner is pleased to host a post-graduate fellowship program to develop advanced practitioners in the field of Hand Therapy. The program focuses on presenting the most current, evidence-based curriculum possible, while providing mentorship by highly trained, certified hand therapists, and collaborating with some of the most well-respected physicians in our region. The program will be a full-time, 12-month learning experience, combing didactic curriculum, clinical practice, structured mentorship, and physician collaboration.

The Ochsner Health Hand Therapy Fellowship Program will seek accreditation through the American Occupational Therapy Association, making it the only hand therapy fellowship program in Louisiana.

Graduates of the Ochsner Health Hand Therapy Fellowship Program will be well prepared to sit for the Certified Hand Therapy examination (CHT), along with becoming an integral part of the community through the creation of research, and community outreach.

Application information located below. The next cohort will begin January 9, 2023 and will last 12 months.

Program Goals:

Goal 1: To support the mission, vision, and values of Ochsner Health by elevating the practice of occupational therapists serving the residents of the Gulf South Region

Goal 2: To provide the members of the communities of the Gulf South Region with fellowship trained occupational therapists who excel in hand therapy, across all ages and levels of activity.

Goal 3: To obtain and maintain AOTA accreditation as a hand therapy fellow

Goal 4: To be nationally recognized as a leader in fellowship training in hand therapy

Goal 5: To graduate fellows who contribute to the profession of occupational therapy, and the larger healthcare community, through leadership, evidence-based practice, teaching, and service.

Goal 6: To graduate fellows will pursue specialty certification through the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) upon graduation.

Goal 7: Maintain Hand Therapy program sustainability and financial stability.

Goal 8: To graduate fellows who will gain competency and confidence in treating patients with upper extremity and hand disorders through demonstration of clinical reasoning and performance skills needed to restore patient function, quality of life, and community reintegration.

Program requirements to Apply:

• Graduate of either an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) or World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) accredited/ recognized occupational therapy educational program and have successfully passed the NBCOT exam for initial certification
• Eligible to be licensed as an occupational therapist in the state of Louisiana (hiring is contingent upon applicant being licensed in the state of Louisiana).
• CPR Certification

Preferred

• 2000 clinical practice hours, preferably in outpatient/hands
• AOTA membership

Application Process:

Qualified candidates will submit an application, resume, 3 letters of recommendation and personal interest letter. Application documents will be reviewed and interviews will be offered to candidates based on quality of application.

Application due date: September 2, 2023

Please use link below to access the application. Please download the application and send completed copy to Program Coordinator.

Ochsner Health Hand Fellowship Program Application

Personal Interest Letter: Submit an essay describing the following

• Reason for applying to the fellowship
• Short and long-term goals for the fellowship program
• Summary of related clinical and educational experience
• Explanation of why applicant is a good candidate for fellowship

Three letters of recommendation, suggested to be from the following:

• Current or former supervisor (recent graduates may include letter from former instructor)
• Instructor or faculty member from accredited occupational therapy program
• Healthcare provider with whom the occupational therapist has worked in the past year

Application Fee:

• Currently, there is no application fee.

Fellow Compensation

As full-time employees of Ochsner Therapy and Wellness, fellows will receive a competitive fellowship salary and will be eligible for benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible spending account
• Short/long-term disability
• Paid time off and holidays

For more information, please contact Marie McLaughlin (marie.mclaughlin@ochsner.org).