Document Type
Paper -- MUSC Only
Publication Date
5-1-2025
Faculty Mentor
Michelle Woodbury
Abstract
Objective. There is little published research on occupational therapy (OT) fellowships and varying levels of understanding around fellowships. The purposes of this IRB-exempt capstone were to identify stakeholder perception of OT fellowships, create a neurologic OT fellowship to bridge the gap in access to this training in the Southeast, and apply a conceptual framework during development. Methods. Anonymous surveys and semi-structured interviews were used to identify stakeholder needs for the curriculum. Methods focused on curriculum outline, development of one educational lesson, and incorporating formative and summative assessments. Five volunteers rated the module on usability and overall experience. The curriculum was rated according to national standards to determine whether it meets accreditation objectives. Finally, curriculum mapping was completed with the chosen conceptual framework. Results. 82.1% of the 123 OT/OTS respondents reported some knowledge of OT fellowships but only 18.9% had a thorough understanding. Six expert clinicians and two directors were also included as stakeholders. Across all stakeholder groups, mentorship, exposure to multiple settings and specialty-specific coursework were the most valuable components. The curriculum met 95% of fellowship learning objectives and volunteers had an overall positive response to the lesson across five of six user experience subscales. Conclusion. Knowledge of fellowships varies among OTs and OT students. There seems to be consensus among stakeholders that mentorship, exposure to multiple settings, and specialty-focused didactics are key. This project will add to the growing body of evidence on OT fellowships and their development, design, and theoretical frameworks.
Recommended Citation
Mitchell, Sydney, "Occupational Therapy Fellowship Curriculum Design: A Framework and Curriculum Mapping" (2025). Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice. 34.
https://medica-musc.researchcommons.org/muscotd-ppotd/34