This program has been designated as an AOTA Candidate Fellowship Program
Our Mission and Goals
The mission and goals of the Duke Neurologic Occupational Therapy (OT) Fellowship are to transform occupational therapy clinicians through discovery and learning into leaders in the field of neurology and neurorehabilitation, effectively providing advanced neurologic care within our communities and beyond. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, post-professional, neurology-focused educational experience to occupational therapists to equip clinicians with the following abilities:
1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of neurological conditions and neurorehabilitation principles impacting occupational performance and participation.
2. Create and implement occupational therapy treatment plans according to current evidence-based research for individuals with neurological conditions across the continuum of care.
3. Use effective communication to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care for individuals with neurological conditions.
4. Advance the role of OT in the field of neurology and neurorehabilitation through teaching and research opportunities within the Duke Health Department of Rehabilitation Services and collaboration with Duke University and the greater Durham community.
Highlights of Our Program
During this 12-month fellowship, you will rotate through the intensive care and stepdown units for neurological and trauma services within acute care at Duke University Hospital, followed by a rotation in inpatient rehabilitation at Duke Rehabilitation Institute, and finally a rotation in the outpatient neurological clinics within the Duke system. You will have opportunities to learn from OTs in all of the multidisciplinary specialty neurological clinics at Duke including Parkinson’s, ALS, and Huntington’s. Supplemental learning opportunities will be integrated throughout the year including opportunities to round with neurology teams, observe surgery, shadow interdisciplinary team members (Case Managers, SLP, radiology, etc.), and spend time observing OT practice in CP clinic, memory disorders clinic, low vision, driving, and wheelchair clinics. Professional advocacy is incorporated through participation with state and national associations as well as current Duke OT advocacy initiatives. Interprofessional development occurs through participation in supplemental learning activities and at monthly meetings with all of Duke’s fellows and residents to discuss cases through narrative reasoning presentations.
In addition to mentored clinical care in each of these settings, you will complete corresponding didactic learning through weekly learning modules, the Duke neuroscience core curriculum, and external coursework. You will also advance and disseminate your understanding of neurorehabilitation research through Research & Scholarship in collaboration with a research mentor on Duke’s current research efforts. In the second half of the fellowship, fellows will mentor Duke OTD students through a hands-on course and give a grand rounds presentation to the Duke Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Fellows will have regular coaching sessions with mentors to develop their leadership skills and reach professional goals throughout this fellowship year and beyond. After completion of this program, fellows will be eligible to apply for AOTA advanced certification after obtaining two years of experience as an occupational therapist (rather than the typical requirement of three years).
How to Apply
All applicants must have graduated from an accredited OT program and be licensed or eligible for licensure in North Carolina by the fellowship program start date. Membership in AOTA and NCOTA is strongly encouraged.
Please send the following documents in a single Zip folder to Duke’s Residency and Fellowship Director Michael Schmidt by January 2, 2026.
- 3 letters of reference
- One from a clinical instructor
- One from a professor or previous mentor
- One from previous employer
- CV or resume and cover letter
- Academic transcripts
- Essay on motivation for applying to the fellowship
- Completed application – (Neuro Fellowship Application)
