Occupational Therapy Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship

Clinical practice is the foundation of the fellowship experience. Approximately 90% of a typical week is dedicated to clinical practice, including structured one‑on‑one mentorship. The remaining time is dedicated to didactic and professional development activities, which may include advanced education and guided study, physician shadowing, surgical observation and research and evidence‑based practice review. This immersive clinical model allows fellows to progressively develop advanced skills and clinical reasoning in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.

Program Entrance Date

Fellows will begin working in the clinic during the first week of September, and the fellowship officially starts on December 1. This allows fellows to acclimate to EMR use and the flow of patient care, ensuring a seamless transition into the program.

Salary

As team members of AdventHealth during the fellowship period, fellows are expected to see patients for 36 hours per week (32 hours of clinical practice in addition to four hours of one-on-one supervised clinical practice with a mentor). Compensation is 90% of a comparable staff occupational therapist's salary.

Tuition

While enrolled in our fellowship program, there is no tuition or specialized training fee. The fellow must purchase the required educational materials before beginning the fellowship.

Benefits

Fellows are eligible for benefits through AdventHealth, which includes employer-supported health and dental insurance, disability, life insurance and paid time off. However, this is not an all-inclusive list, and applicants may request a full description of benefits.

Fellows participate in a structured didactic curriculum focused on the knowledge and skills required for advanced hand and upper extremity practice. Didactic content is integrated throughout the fellowship year and coordinated with ongoing clinical training. Instruction is provided by AdventHealth upper extremity fellowship faculty and emphasizes clinical reasoning, progressive skill development and application to complex upper extremity conditions.

Didactic experiences include:

• Case‑based discussion and clinical reasoning review
• Case presentations and interdisciplinary discussion
• Independent study and exam preparation
• Journal clubs and evidence‑based practice review
• Lectures and laboratory sessions
• Rounding and shadowing with physicians and specialists

Clinical and Educational Focus Areas

Fellows develop advanced competency in:

• Advanced clinical reasoning
• Interprofessional communication
• Manual treatment techniques for hand and upper extremity conditions
• Orthotic and splint fabrication
• Upper quadrant examination and treatment

Education Schedule

Didactic lectures and labs are scheduled periodically throughout the fellowship year and held on select Sundays from 8 am to 5 pm at the Orlando Sportsplex clinic.

Alexandra Vertus, OT/L, CHT
Program Coordinator

Richard Albergo, OTR/L, CHT

Terry Spargo, OTR/L, CHT

Bryan Palacios, OTR/L, CHT

Rajni Lach, OTR/L, CHT

Karen Gonzalez, OTR/L, CHT

Applications must be submitted to the Program Coordinator during the annual application window, which runs from March 1 through April 30. The program coordinator and the review committee review completed applications received by the deadline.

Application Review Criteria

Applications are evaluated holistically based on factors including, but not limited to:

• Academic preparation and educational background
• Clinical education and fieldwork experiences
• Clinical experience or demonstrated interest in hand and upper extremity practice
• Letter of intent expressing commitment to professional development and advancement of the profession
• Letters of recommendation

Selection is based on demonstrated interest, ability and aptitude for advanced hand and upper extremity occupational therapy practice.

Applicants must meet fellowship admission criteria established by the advisory committee, including:

• Completion of the fellowship application process
• Current occupational therapy license in good standing in the state of Florida
• Graduation from an accredited occupational therapy program

AdventHealth employs fellows during their fellowship, so acceptance into the program is contingent on meeting all AdventHealth Human Resources hiring process requirements.

The program's policy is to recruit, admit and retain participants on a nondiscriminatory basis. The program does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or health status.

Applicants requesting disability accommodations must file a request (detailing necessary accommodations) in writing to the program coordinator.

Our fellowship program has been awarded Candidacy Status by The American Occupational Therapy Association and is actively progressing toward full accreditation.