Residencies and Fellowships
Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship
The Mary Free Bed Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship offers advanced post-professional clinical training for occupational therapists seeking to enhance their expertise in neurologic rehabilitation. This comprehensive program combines education, research, and hands-on experience in multidisciplinary clinical environments to help fellows excel in their careers.
Why Choose Our Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship?
Our fellowship program provides unique learning opportunities that empower participants to specialize in neurologic care. Fellows will:
Complete Inpatient Rotations
Gain experience through three inpatient clinical rotations, working with patients recovering from brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke.
Engage in Outpatient Care
Participate in an outpatient clinical rotation focused on treating patients with neurologic conditions.
Collaborate with Western Michigan University (WMU)
Serve as an adjunct faculty member and volunteer in WMU’s Neuro Rehab Clinic, enriching your academic and practical knowledge.
Fellowship Mission
The mission of the Mary Free Bed Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship is to provide advanced clinical training in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment. Through expert mentorship, innovative education, and immersive clinical experience, fellows will:
- Master Advanced Clinical Skills: Support and enhance occupational participation and performance for patients with neurologic conditions.
- Achieve Clinical Excellence: Restore hope and freedom through exceptional rehabilitation care across the neurologic rehabilitation specialty.
- Collaborate in Interdisciplinary Teams: Design, implement, and modify evidence-based treatment plans for patients with a variety of neurological disorders.
- Elevate the Occupational Therapy Profession: Share expertise with students, volunteers, patients, families, and peers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards.
Join the Future of Neurologic Occupational Therapy
The Mary Free Bed Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship is designed for passionate occupational therapists ready to take their skills to the next level. By combining cutting-edge clinical practice with research and teaching opportunities, this program prepares fellows to lead and innovate in the field of neurologic rehabilitation.
Learn More
- Check out our Frequently Asked Questions Document here.
- Please explore the categories below for program details.
- Application questions: Email recruitment@maryfreebed.com.
- Program-specific questions: Email Stephanie DeKryger at OTfellowship@maryfreebed.com.
- General residency/fellowship questions: Email Therapy.ResFel@maryfreebed.com.
Clinical Curriculum
Fellows divide their time between inpatient and outpatient settings, gaining experience with a wide range of neurologic diagnoses.
Inpatient clinical rotations include time with brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke rehabilitation teams.
While in each specialty area, our fellows build clinical reasoning skills enhanced through mentoring time with an expert neurologic therapist.
The outpatient rotation includes work with patients with neurologic diagnoses, such as post-concussion, post-CVA and spinal cord injury.
Supplemental professional development activities include clinical observation in multiple specialty clinics (post-concussion, muscular dystrophy, ALS), observation of many specialty rehabilitation services and additional learning opportunities across disciplines. Examples include:
Interdisciplinary rounds and education events
As a fellow, you’ll lead monthly journal clubs to engage the rehabilitation team in evidence-based practice and case reviews to explore occupational profiling, clinical decision-making and application of research into a current clinical case in order to achieve the best possible occupational outcomes.
Didactics
The curriculum integrates the Fellowship Program Learning Objectives (FPLO) and the American Occupational Therapy Association Standards of Continuing Competence, providing a comprehensive foundation in neurologic occupational therapy.
Didactic learning is delivered through diverse formats, including webinars, self-guided modules, directed readings, hands-on practice, and mentor-led discussions. Fellows are encouraged to pursue continuing education opportunities and share their knowledge with the team.
Fellows will engage in a scientific inquiry project under the guidance of a Western Michigan University faculty mentor, focusing on an area of personal interest.
Teaching opportunities include assisting in Western Michigan University’s Department of Occupational Therapy neurologic lab and classroom, as well as supervising OTD students at WMU’s Neuro Rehab Clinic. Here, fellows will work with patients facing neurologic conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.c
Job Details
Fellows have full-time status as Mary Free Bed employees, which includes full-time benefits. They’re also appointed as part-time faculty at Western Michigan University, which includes access to university resources. Tuition: $200 for additional learning
Requirements
- Effective communication skills
- Strong performance during clinical (educational) experiences
- Excellent letters of recommendation
Expectations
- Contribute to the occupational therapy profession and healthcare community through specialized clinical care, evidence-based practice, teaching, leadership, and scholarship.
- Integrate advanced, patient-centered care with interdisciplinary team collaboration, grounded in neurological science.
- Complete a post-professional curriculum emphasizing evidence-based occupational therapy practice.
Eligibility
- Visits to your hospital, skilled nursing facility, or home
- Coordination of therapy services when your prosthesis is ready
- Long-term care planning in collaboration with your physician
- Community resources and educational support
Develop Advanced Clinicians
Graduate fellows with expertise in neurologic occupational therapy who integrate advanced, patient-centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration with a strong theoretical foundation in neurologic rehabilitation, promoting improved occupational health and participation.
Deliver Evidence-Based Care
Train clinicians to provide high-quality, ethical, evidence-based services that enhance occupation-based outcomes for individuals served.
Foster Ethical Practice
Empower occupational therapists to make ethical clinical decisions, demonstrate professionalism, and uphold virtuous behavior.
Advance the Profession
Prepare occupational therapists to contribute to the field and healthcare community through teaching, advocacy, and expanding the knowledge base of neurologic rehabilitation.
Maintain Excellence
Uphold a high-caliber fellowship program with AOTA approval as a recognized neurology occupational therapy fellowship.
Faculty
- Board certified in Physical Rehabilitation
- M.S., Western Michigan University; B.S. Health and Human Sciences, Western Michigan University
- MSOT, Saginaw Valley State University; BS Rehabilitation Medicine, Saginaw Valley State University.
- Outpatient Spinal Cord Injury Team leader
- MA in TESOL, Cornerstone University; BS Occupational Therapy, Eastern Michigan University
- MSOT, Grand Valley State University; BS Kinesiology, Michigan State University
- O.T.D., Texas Woman’s University; M.S., Western Michigan University; B.S., Western Michigan University; A.A.S., Grand Rapids Community College
- M.S., Washington University; B.S., Washington University