Alert

Acute and Critical Care Occupational Therapy Fellowship

UNCMC is a large academic teaching hospital. Our acute care staff consists of 100+ therapists who work collaboratively to provide the highest quality of care for our patients.

Program Mission

The mission of the UNC Health Occupational Therapy Acute and Critical Care Fellowship Program is to provide collaborative and comprehensive training and mentorship that advances the knowledge, skills, and clinical reasoning of occupational therapists in acute and critical care. The fellowship prepares therapists in the delivery of specialized, high quality, and patient-centered care. Rooted in evidence-based practice and the engagement in meaningful occupations, the fellowship cultivates clinical excellence, ethical standards, leadership, professional advocacy, and innovation to elevate patient care and improve health outcomes for the people of North Carolina and beyond.

Program Structure

  • The program is a 55 week appointment starting September 7, 2026 and ending September 24th, 2027.
  • We have received AOTA candidacy status and have 1 position available

Program Description:

The UNC Health Occupational Therapy Acute Care and Critical Care Fellowship is designed to develop advanced clinical practitioners and leaders who embody excellence, evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration in complex and rapid evolving healthcare environments. The fellowship purpose also highlights the cultivation of ethical integrity, cultural humility, and occupational justice, preparing fellows to provide care to individuals from diverse background and lived experiences. 

The overarching purpose of the fellowship is to provide a structured, mentored experience that equips fellows to deliver high quality, efficient, and patient-centered care in alignment with a) UNC Health's mission to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians through compassionate care, education, and innovation, b) the Rehabilitation Service Line's initiative to enhance throughput, optimize functional outcomes, and reduce length of stay, and c) the core values of the profession which are rooted in the concept of occupations as "a way to remediate illness, the importance of a therapeutic relationship based on knowledge about the client’s environment, values, goals, and desires, and scientific practice".

The fellowship's educational and professional goals are intentionally aligned with institutional priorities to improve patient discharge efficiency, implement best practices, and increase therapy frequency and intensity to reduce length of stay, readmissions while improving patient function, satisfaction, and quality of life. 

Program Goals

At the conclusion of the fellowship, the fellow will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of advanced clinical reasoning and practice proficiency in Acute Care and Critical Care:

  • Independently function at as advanced OT practitioners: integrate occupation-based, evidence-informed assessments and interventions in complex, acute, and specialty settings  
  • Independently identify, evaluate, and manage patient presentations that require integration of knowledge across multiple clinical areas. Fellows will use advanced clinical reasoning to address patient needs that consider social determinants of health and their role in care delivery and health outcomes 
  • Adapt interventions independently to rapid changes in clinical status, high medical acuity, and interdisciplinary team demands. 

2. Engage in evidence-based practice and scholarship: 

  • Critically appraise research literature, identify appropriate assessment tools and outcome measures, and apply best practices in each module setting. 
  • Initiate or participate in a scholarly or quality-improvement project and disseminate findings. 
  • Establish the habit of lifelong learning: proactively identify knowledge gaps, seek mentorship, and update practice accordingly. 

3. Communicate and collaborate effectively within interprofessional and systems-based care environments: 

  • Participate as a valued member of interdisciplinary teams in complex acute settings, contribute to decision-making, and advocate for the OT role. 
  • Demonstrate effective oral, written, and non-verbal communication tailored to different stakeholders: patients/families, team members, administrative leadership. 
  • Understand and navigate healthcare systems, throughput/flow constraints, discharge planning, resource allocation, and safety/risk in acute care environments. 

4. Demonstrate leadership, professionalism, innovation, and the ability to serve as a clinical leader and change agent within an evolving healthcare system:

  • Serve as a resource, mentor, and role model for peers and students in specialty settings; support the value of OT within the institution. 
  • Identify opportunities for service improvement, innovation, or program development (e.g., early mobility protocols, rapid functional screening in ED, fall prevention, trauma-to-rehab transitions) and participate in implementation. 
  • Apply professional reasoning and performance skills that encompass core components of OT practice and enhance participation while concurrently adhering to values of the hospital system. 

5. Establish and articulate structured processes for identification, analysis, and intervention of addressing and clarifying ethical issues within the Acute Care and Critical Care setting:  

  • Uphold and model high professional standards, ethical integrity, cultural humility, and patient-centered care in complex and high-stress environments. 
  • Evaluate and address barriers to participation (ie. Physical, cognitive, psychosocial, contextual) and support patient/support networks in adapting roles, routines, environments within the continuum of care. (ICU-->rehab-->home/outpatient). 
  • Apply intersectional and occupational justice frameworks in the acute setting (including ICU) to identify functional and safety risks, contribute to optimum discharge planning, and implement intervention strategies that support meaningful participation and reduce length of stay or readmissions.  

Curriculum

Combined modules:

  • Teaching and Learning
  • Leadership and Professional development
  • Advocacy
  • Wellness
  • Practice management

Acute care specific modules:

  • Neurology
  • Trauma-Orthopedics
  • Cardiopulmonary
  • General medicine
  • Oncology

Additional activities:

  • Research/quality improvement project
  • Academic and clinical teaching opportunities
  • Journal clubs
  • Community Service

Salary, Tuition and Benefits

Fellows are full-time employees (with competitive salary and benefits). Fellows also receive Paid Time Off for vacation, sick and holiday time off from clinic work. There is no tuition associated with the program.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Graduate of either ACOTE or WFOT OT Education Program
  • Successfully passed the NBCOT exam
  • Eligible for North Carolina occupational therapy license
  • Applicants must be residents of the U.S. and have NC OT licensure prior to program start date.
  • Applicants must have clinical experience in the acute care and/or rehab setting either via completion of full-time clinical experience and/or work experience.

Application

Applications for 2026-2027 will open October 1 through December 31, 2025.

Step 1: Complete this survey: UNC Health OT Fellowship application – Fill out form

Step 2: Please email the following to clinicaledreq@unchealth.unc.edu

  • Resume/CV
  • 1 page essay answering the following questions:
    • Why do you want to do an acute and critical care fellowship
    • Why do you want to do a fellowship at UNC Health
    • What are your short and long-term professional goals
  • Three letters of references sent directly by the reference to clinicaledreq@unchealth.unc.edu One letter should be from an academic faculty and one from a Fieldwork Educator/Supervisor who has worked with you in the clinical setting

We will invite strong candidates for an on-site interview in Chapel hill, NC on Friday March 6th, 2026

Mentors and Faculty

Kristel MaesKristel Maes, PT, DPT, Program Director

Undergraduate school: KULeuven Belgium

Graduate school: KULeuven Belgium and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Professional interest: My clinical interest is spine. In my current position as Administrator of our post-graduate programs I have a passion for education and preparing the future generation of therapists.

Why I serve as a mentor: Research has shown that having a professional mentor is beneficial to advancing your career. From personal experience, I value the benefit of surrounding myself with others who can give me a different perspective on a patient case, problem or project. By serving as a mentor I hope to pass on my knowledge and support a resident’s professional growth.

Myrnouse GabrielMyrnouse Gabriel, OTR, MBA, DHSc Program Coordinator

Undergraduate school: University of Ottawa

Graduate school: A.T.Still University

Professional interest: Acute care

Why I serve as a mentor: It is the doorway to teach the next generation and key to clinical excellence.

Hilary Till Hilary Till OTR/L-Clinical Assistant Professor

Undergraduate school: University of California, Santa Cruz

Graduate school: New York University

Professional interest: Neuro: Brain Injury, stroke, neurodegenerative -Ergonomics/health maintenance -Vision/Functional Vision/Low Vision -Non-pharmaceutical pain management -Tools to develop practitioner readiness to prevent workplace injury

Why I serve as a mentor: Interested in bridging the gap between academic setting and clinical setting, fostering evidenced based research, provide fellows with expert guidance, tailored training, and emotional support, accelerating their professional and academic development, helping them navigate complex clinical challenges and career decisions, and fostering leadership skills.

Questions

Reach out to Kristel Maes