Northwestern Medicine Acute and Critical Care Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program FAQ

How many fellows are accepted into the program?
One fellow will be accepted into the program each year.

Will I get paid time off (PTO)?
Yes, fellows accrue PTO at the same rate as other new employees. You can use any PTO that you have accrued.

Do fellows work weekends?
Yes. The program expects that the fellow will work, on average, on one weekend day per month (either Saturday or Sunday).

Do fellows work holidays?
The program expects that the fellow will work one observed holiday per year.

What is the timeline for the different modules that make up the curriculum?

The fellow will rotate through seven service line modules.

You will spend nine weeks on:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiac
  • General surgery
  • Pulmonary and General medicine

You will spend four to five weeks on:

  • Oncology
  • Orthopaedics
  • General medicine and emergency department

Will I have allotted time to complete the curriculum modules?
You will have protected time to complete didactic components of the curriculum. Some of this work will be completed during work hours that are dedicated to didactic work. Some didactic work will be completed outside of work hours, depending on the service line module curriculum.

How will I be paid?
The fellow’s annual salary will be $66,211. You will be paid on a bi-weekly basis (every other Friday).

What benefits will I get?
You will get the same extensive benefits package that other Northwestern Medicine employees receive, including:

  • Health, dental and vision insurance
  • CEU money (up to $1,000)
  • A reimbursable well-being fund
  • PTO

What project work will I participate in?
You will complete a process improvement project in an area of your choice. This project will be completed over the year-long fellowship. You will present it to key stakeholders at mid-year and year-end for feedback and to communicate a control plan.

What should I include in my application? Should I include the letters of recommendation in my application?
To see all required materials, please refer to the Application and Interview Process page. Letters of recommendation should be included in your application email. Email your application materials to the fellowship program email at nmotfellowship@nm.org

What does a typical week look like for the fellow?
Each week will vary. On average, you will:

  • Have seven to eight hours of mentored, one-on-one time with your mentor 
  • Have three to eight hours of didactic time
  • Spend the rest of your time independently providing patient care

Are there any fees associated with the application process?
No. Accepted fellows must sign and submit a letter of intent along with a $500 payment to indicate their commitment to the OT Fellowship Program. The payment will be refunded if the fellow carries out their obligation on their start date.