Neurology Fellowship Program

Program Mission

The mission of the Tampa General Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program is to provide practicing occupational therapists with an advanced level of clinical training that prepares them to assume leadership roles in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with functional limitations resulting from neurological conditions. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, advanced clinical reasoning, and occupation-centered care in the management of clients with neurologic disorders. Fellows will apply advanced occupational therapy skills across the continuum of care and throughout the lifespan of individuals with neurological diagnoses, with a particular focus on inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient neurologic practice settings.

Program Overview

Goals and Objectives

Prepare fellows for advanced level occupational therapy practice with individuals with complex neurological diagnoses across the continuum of care.
Foster clinical decision making grounded in scientific evidence, occupational therapy theory, and client-centered practice.
Prepare fellows to function as advanced practitioners, leaders, consultants, and contributors within neurological rehabilitation systems.
Enhance organizational excellence by developing occupational therapists with advanced neurological expertise.
Encourage fellows to contribute to professional education, knowledge dissemination, and community outreach.
Foster professional behaviors that support optimal client outcomes and collaborative healthcare delivery.
Tailor fellowship experiences to each fellow’s learning needs while promoting scholarly and professional contributions.

Curriculum and Outline of Education Materials

The Neurology Fellowship program is a 13-month, 56-week program consisting of the following learning modules. Please note that each fellow will spend 6 months in
each setting, with one fellow starting in out-patient and one fellow starting in inpatient rehabilitation.
- Tampa General Hospital new team member orientation: 1 week
- Tampa General Rehabilitation Hospital Orientation: 4 weeks (completed during the fellow’s IPR rotation)
- Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation:
  - SCI: 8-9 weeks
  - CVA: 8-9 weeks
  - BI: 8-9 weeks
- Outpatient Rehabilitation: 14-16 weeks
- Additional Outpatient Settings: 8 weeks
  - Neuro focused Hand/Burn: 4 weeks
  - Cross-Setting Immersion/Community Involvement: 4 weeks
- Project(s) completion, Final Presentations, Program Evaluations, and Assessment: 1 week

Additional learning opportunities include participation in Wheelchair Seating and Mobility Clinics, Assistive Technology services, and interdisciplinary rehabilitation programs focused on functional recovery and community reintegration.

Breakdown of teaching hours during the 50 weeks of education (does not include orientation weeks, choose your own adventure weeks, and final/wrap-up week):

Clinical Practice:
- Approximately 28 hours of clinical practice weekly (Total: 1400 hours)
Didactic learning:
- Approximately 4 hours of didactic education weekly (Total: 200 hours)
Mentored Service Delivery:
- Approximately 8 hours per week to include direct one-on-one meetings and training with mentor (Total: 400 hours)

Hours

Most on-site fellowship activities occur Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 7 PM. The fellow’s work schedule will be flexible and allow for patient care, training, mentoring, study time and preparation. Schedules are coordinated by the fellowship program coordinator and shall not exceed expectations of more than 40 hours/week of direct program participation. There will be additional personal study time required.

Weekend/Holiday Requirements

When the fellow is completing their inpatient rehabilitation rotation, they will be responsible for working one weekend every 5th weekend with designated days off in the week prior and the week after their respective weekend. The fellow will also be responsible for working a holiday and will have designated days off before and after their respected holiday. There are no weekend or holiday requirements when the fellow is completing their outpatient setting rotation.

Accreditation Information

The Tampa General Hospital Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program has applied for Candidacy with the American Occupational Therapy Association. The program will begin accepting fellowship applicants once Candidacy is granted.