Program Description
The mission of the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s (MMI) AOTA Approved Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program is to graduate advanced practitioners in the field of pediatric occupational therapy; practitioners who strive to use current evidence and innovative treatment to improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
MMI is part of the University of Nebraska Medical Center / Nebraska Medicine enterprise, whose mission is to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care. As Nebraska’s federally designated University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD), the Institute provides state of the art services and supports across the state, and assists individuals and families in finding services in their local communities.
MMI provides diagnosis and treatment to approximately 15,000 children and adults annually. MMI utilizes an interdisciplinary team approach that assures a comprehensive service program. Parents, teachers, therapists and community service providers are involved in our team approach. MMI provides state-wide technical assistance and consultation to Nebraska public schools and other programs across the state that provide services to children, youth and adults with disabilities.
As an academic unit of UNMC, MMI is committed to training health care professionals who will provide future care to children and adults with disabilities. MMI provides advanced training to students in a variety of specialized educational programs. The Institute has a strong commitment to applied and basic research related to the prevention and treatment of genetic disorders and developmental disabilities.
The OT Fellows participate in MMI’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program, which provides long-term, graduate level interdisciplinary training as well as interdisciplinary services and care. The purpose of the LEND training program is to improve the health of infants, children, and adolescents with disabilities. They accomplish this by preparing trainees from diverse professional disciplines to assume leadership roles in their respective fields and by ensuring high levels of interdisciplinary clinical competence. LEND programs operate within a university system, usually as part of a University Center for Excellence (UCEDD) or other larger entity, and collaborate with local university hospitals and/or health care centers. For more information about LEND, visit AUCD online.
MMI partners with Children's Nebraska for comprehensive coverage of pediatric diagnostic categories and practice settings. Fellows spend up to seven weeks in the acute care setting at Children's Nebraska.
Program Goals
MMI Pediatric OT Fellows will:
- Provide excellent clinical care across a wide array of pediatric settings, diagnoses and age ranges.
- Consider all aspects of best pediatric practice including community integration, cost-effectiveness, and evidenced-based principles of care.
- Use evidence to back decisions or develop a plan to track and collect evidence to determine clinically relevant changes in response to intervention.
- Understand community access or societal issues for persons with disabilities and resources available for addressing these needs.
- Incorporate family-centered and culturally competent service delivery as fostered through the Leadership in Education for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program.
- Actively involve families in every step of assessment / evaluation / intervention planning.
- Seek to understand and respect cultural differences that impact service delivery.
- Contribute to advancement of the profession through critical analyses of literature, development of a clinical case project, and provide support to graduate level educational programs as requested.
- Advocate for pediatric interests in community or legislative arenas.
- Identify community agencies/resources appropriate for a given child/family.
- Develop/defend ethical treatment choices considering family and organizational resources.
Program Start and End Dates
Fellowships will begin on August 1 and end on July 31 the following year.
Program Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have:
- Graduated from an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy education program in the United States (entry-level doctorate- OTD or masters)
- Current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
- Current active Occupational Therapy License or be eligible for licensure in the state of Nebraska
- Candidates with prior pediatric clinical experience are preferred. Outstanding recent graduates who have completed pediatric level II fieldwork will be considered.
- Current basic life support (CPR) certification for Health Care Providers
- Documentation of current immunization status, including flu shot (required)
- Successful DHHS background check, health screen and drug screen
Application Requirements, Fees and Deadlines
- Applications will be accepted February 1 through March 15.
- There is no fee to apply.
Applicants must submit:
- Completed online job application at https://unmc.peopleadmin.com.
- Current resume, including details of pediatric experience
- Three letters of reference including contact information
- Personal statement that summarizes your interest in pursuing the pediatric Occupational Therapy Fellowship, including personal objectives for this Fellowship (350 words).
Compensation
The MMI OT Fellowship position is classified as a UNMC Post-Doctoral Research Associate, and as such will be a full-time, 12-month position at UNMC. Approximately 50% of the salary is paid by LEND.
For more information contact
UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute
Department of Occupational Therapy
AOTA Fellowship
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450
Michelle Westengaard, OTR/L, BCP
Director, Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapist