Our mission
The mission of the Ivy Rehab Hand Therapy Fellowship is to foster the professional development of clinicians looking to specialize the area of hand therapy. This program will develop these clinicians in communication, evaluation, treatment planning and clinical reasoning by utilizing a comprehensive didactic curriculum based on current best evidence, best practice guidelines, and mentoring to provide advanced level care.
Program description
The Hand Therapy Fellowship Program is a 12-month clinical program that provides an accelerated pathway for clinicians to become advanced practitioners of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation and prepares them to sit for the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) exam. The curriculum focuses on higher-level clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and the acquisition of advanced manual therapy skills. The well-rounded curriculum is designed to be delivered in a hybrid format so any therapist across the company can participate and could elevate their practice. Participants in the program will be paired with expert mentors to help instruct, guide and coach them during the residency year.
| Application deadline Non-Ivy Teammates: June 30, 2025 |
| Application deadline for Ivy Teammates: August 31, 2025 |
| Start date: January, 2026 |
*To ensure Ivy Residency and Fellowship Programs are effectively and sustainably supported, each cohort requires a minimum of 10 accepted participant to start a new program year. If the program does not fill a minimum of 10 seats, acceptance will rollover to the following cohort year.
Curriculum
The Ivy Rehab Hand Therapy Fellowship Program (HTFP) provides structured and well-rounded didactic curriculum designed to elevate clinicians with a focus on developing their knowledge and skills in the outpatient practice setting. The HTFP will aim to enhance clinical reasoning and advance skills with the focus on hand and upper extremity manual therapy, static and dynamic splinting, wound care, and complex case management while incorporating the most recent evidence-based practices. This program utilizes a blended model of delivery for our didactic curriculum that includes online self-study modules, live online learning, journal club and case review, independent study, and live in-person contact weekend courses that are to be completed over the course of this comprehensive 12-month fellowship program. A CHT prep course is also provided to fully support fellowship graduates to successfully sit for their CHT exam upon completion of the program.
Leadership
Director of Hand Residency: Luisa Aggio OTR/L, CHT
For any questions, please email Residency@ivyrehab.com
| Admissions Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| Graduation from an accredited OT or PT Program | Required membership in the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) |
| Active OT or PT licensure in the current state of practice | Commitment to completing all program requirements |
| Fulltime Ivy Rehab Network OT or PT on program start date | Commitment to taking the CHT exam at the earliest eligibility |
Program testimonials
Read what our residents have to say about their hand residency program experience.
Katie Richter, OTR/L
“I would absolutely recommend the Ivy Rehab Hand Program to anyone interested in improving their knowledge and skills related to hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. The mentorship and guidance offered as a part of the program are invaluable whether you are a new graduate, new to hands, or a more seasoned therapist. After participating in the program, I have learned to be a better problem solver and provide more comprehensive patient care, which has helped my patients to achieve better functional outcomes.” —Katie Richter, OTR/L, Cranford, NJ
Leighann Warholak, OTD, OTR/L
“Beyond excelling in my knowledge and skills, the Hand Program has provided me the confidence to trust myself in practice and improve my leadership to assist my teammates in improving our care as a team. It also has been a positive experience to grow relationships with others around the country in the program and support each other’s professional growth. ” –Leighann Warholak, OTD, OTR/L, Philadelphia, PA
Learn more about other residency opportunities.
Ivy Rehab offers nine orthopedic and pediatric residency programs. Our industry-leading post-professional programs include 1:1 mentoring, intensive in-person learning, and robust evidence-based didactic curricula.
| Hand Therapy Fellowship Program | Learn More |
| Orthopedic Residency | Learn More |
| Pediatric Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program | Learn More |
| Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency | Learn More |
| Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology Residency | Learn More |
| Pelvic Health Specialty Program | Learn More |
| Sports Physical Therapy Residency | Learn More |
| Geriatric Vestibular Specialty Program | Learn More |