Occupational Therapy Fellow Full Time Days

The salary range for this position is $31.83 - $31.83 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Benefits:

• $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year ($5,700 part-time)
• $10,000 Student Loan Repayment ($5,000 part-time)
• $1,000 Professional Development per year ($500 part-time)
• $250 Wellbeing Fund per year ($125 for part-time)
• Matching 401(k)
• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Annual Employee Salary Increase and Incentive Bonus
• Paid time off and Holiday pay

Description

*Only candidates with completion of OT school are eligible to apply.

The Occupational Therapy Fellow reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The fellowship is a 1-year paid post-professional opportunity with the intent of developing a leader and specialist in acute and critical care. This opportunity consists of patient care, mentored hours, and didactic hours where the fellow completes a curriculum and participates in experiential learning activities.

Required Documents to be Uploaded:

• Resume
• Written personal statement
  • Prompt: In 500 words or less, please attach a personal statement describing why you are interested in applying for the OT Acute and Critical Care Fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and how it will impact your long-term professional goals.
• 2 letters of recommendation
  • 1 letter from a clinical instructor from an acute care rotation or supervisor from previous acute care employment
  • 1 letter from a professor
  • If you are >2 years out of school, submit a second letter from an OT employer
  • NOTE: Please include letters of recommendation in your application. If the individuals writing your letters of recommendation prefer to send them directly to the Fellowship Coordinators, please have them email the letters to View email address on jobs.nm.org with the subject line: [your name] Fellowship Letter of Recommendation.

Responsibilities:

Additional Functions 

• Require completion of a minimum of 1,400 total program hours including 200 educational hours, 1,300 patient-care clinic hours inclusive of 360 hours of 1:1 mentoring throughout the program.
• Participate/led a quality improvement or research initiative
• Participate in AOTA forums or attend annual conference
• Selects and administers appropriate occupational therapy evaluations.
• Develops and implements collaborative treatment plans.
• Provides patient, family and caregiver education.
• Participates with other team members in patient discharge planning through verbal and written communications.
• Provides clear, concise patient care documentation as per departmental standards.
• Supervises appropriate paraprofessionals and support personnel via monitoring the treatment plan administration and provides follow-up clinical direction and guidance.
• Administers occupational therapy evaluations and develops collaborative treatment plans with patients.
• Restores function and prevents further disability through ongoing assessment leading to appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Administration of Work

• Provides direct patient care for an established 51% of hours worked.
• Performs appropriate occupational therapy evaluations and re-evaluations on a regular basis.
• Designs and implements appropriate treatment plans.
• Participates in patient discharge and home care planning to facilitate the continuity of patient care.
• Completes all related medical documentation in a timely and accurate manner and in accordance with established policies and standards.
• Assists in monitoring of quality management indicators.
• Demonstrates competency through the annual completion of the written and/or demonstration-style competency examinations.

Leadership/Supervisory Skills

• Delegates appropriate responsibilities to subordinates.
• Promotes philosophy and objectives of NMH and Stone Institute of Psychiatry and program.
• Present minimum of 1 in-service per year in the program and/or NMH staff. Completes special projects as assigned by the Manager.

Communications/Relationships

• Promotes and maintains professional working relationship with peers 
• Maintains/promotes open communication with interdisciplinary team
• Participates in an ongoing mentorship program
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and team meetings
• Serves on assigned departmental committees
• Attends/contributes to monthly departmental and discipline-specific service meetings

Organizational Expectations 

• Adheres to the Hospital and departmental policies and procedures  
• Adheres to the Code of Ethics, Customer Service Standards and the Patients First mission as demonstrated through positive patient/guest relations, positive and effective interactions with staff, formulating and meeting developmental goals  

Fellowship Program Requirements:

• Student rotation in acute care or acute care experience
• NBCOT-certification or that you are eligible to take the NBCOT exam by June 15
• Active Illinois occupational therapy license or will apply for IL OT license by July 1

Application timeline :

• Application cycle opens: October 1, 2025
• Applications due: April 15, 2026
• Anticipated start date: August 19, 2026
• Fellowship end date: August 6, 2027

AA/EOE

#INDC

#LI-AD1

Qualifications

Required :

• Occupational Therapy Certification, NBCOT.
• Occupational Therapy License, Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulations.
• Basic Life Support - American Heart Association.
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy, if graduated prior to 2007. Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy on or after 2007.
• An essential function of this job is the ability to lift/carry weight of up to 50 pounds.
• An essential function of this job is the ability to push/pull with 50 pounds of force.

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our  Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.