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Email: ahcp@uwo.ca
Tel: 519-661-2111 x82719
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Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Advance your health care practice.
Preparing occupational therapists and physical therapists for enhanced specialty care in upper extremity rehabilitation.
Offered fully online, with face-to-face clinical mentorship experiences, this interprofessional educational experience helps you develop clinical skills, research methodology, depth of knowledge, and the professional behaviours to assess and evaluate, and manage and rehabilitate complex upper extremity conditions. This unique program’s curriculum is mapped to the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) exam.
Partners in Enhancing Patient Care
This program combines the academic, research and clinical expertise of Western University's Schools of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy with that of the Roth McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, a world-renowned centre of excellence in education, research and the diagnosis, care and treatment of patients with complex conditions affecting hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders.
Interested in learning more about this program?
Complete the form below to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click below for answers to commonly asked questions related to program content, structure, partnerships and credentialing.
Video FAQs
Program Overview
Courses and Program Outline
Program Delivery/Timeline
Mentorship
Next Steps
Research Opportunities
Partnerships
About our Students
Expanding Expertise
Designed for practicing occupational and physical therapists in search of advanced-level knowledge and skills in upper extremity rehabilitation, this program helps you develop the skills and knowledge to provide enhanced patient care for upper extremity injuries and conditions and to seek advanced accreditation and recognition nationally and internationally. The ideal candidates for the program are:
- Therapists who are interested in gaining initial experience and preparing for employment in upper extremity rehabilitation
- Experienced therapists seeking to advance their practice in upper extremity rehabilitation
- Those who have some direct practice experience in upper extremity rehabilitation who would like to prepare to challenge the Certified Hand Therapist Examination
Contributing Experts
Mike Szekeres, PhD, OT Reg (Ont), CHT
- Field Leader and Assistant Professor, Advanced Health Care Practice Program in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
- Associate Editor, Journal of Hand Therapy
- President, Hand Therapy Canada
- Certified Hand Therapist
Joy MacDermid, PT, PhD
- Editor, Journal of Hand Therapy Past
- President, American Society of Hand Therapists
- Co-director Clinical Research Lab, Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, London, ON
- Distinguished University Professor, Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Surgery, University of Western Ontario
- Dr. James Roth Chair in Musculoskeletal Measurement and Knowledge Translation.
- Canada Research Chair in Musculoskeletal Health Outcomes and Knowledge Translation
Paul Parikh, PT, DPT, PhD, FCAMPT
- Assistant Professor, School of Physical Therapy, Western University
Kristin Valdes, OTD, OT, CHT
- Associate Editor, Journal of Hand Therapy
- Past President, American Society of Hand Therapists Associate
- Professor, Touro University
- Certified Hand Therapist
Tara Packham, PhD, OT Reg (Ont)
- Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University
- Executive Editor, Pain Medicine
Christos Karagiannopoulos MPT, MEd, PhD, ATC, CHT
- Associate Professor, DeSales University, DPT Program
- Certified Hand Therapist
- Editorial Board Member, Journal of Hand Therapy
Pat McKee, MSc, BSc(OT)
- Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
- President, Anatomy Softwear International Inc.
Ann Porretto-Loehrke, PT, DPT, CHT, COMT, CMTPT
- Clinical Development Coordinator
- Hand to Shoulder Center of Wisconsin, Appleton, Wisconsin
Ken Flowers, PT, CHT
- Editor Emeritus, Journal of Hand Therapy
- Certified Hand Therapist
Mike Cricchio MBA, OT/L, CHT
- Site Manager, University of Florida Hand & Upper Extremity Centre
- Certified Hand Therapist
- Co-chair, Teton Hand and Upper Extremity Conference
- Past Division Chair, Board of Directors, American Society of Hand Therapists
Joey Pipicelli, MScOT, CHT, OT Reg (Ont)
- Occupational Therapist, Certified Hand Therapist
- Division of Hand Therapy, Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre
Tracy Elliott, BPHE, BSc(Hons), BScPT
- WSIB Specialty Shoulder Program
- Division of Physical Therapy, Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre
Juliana Larocerie, OT Reg (Ont), MSc, CHT
- Occupational Therapist, Certified Hand Therapist
- Division of Hand Therapy, Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre
Graham JW King MD, MSc, FRCSC
- Medical Director, Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre
- Site Chief of Surgery, St. Joseph's Health Centre London
- Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering Western University, London, ON
Kenneth J. Faber MD MHPE FRCSC
- Professor of Surgery Western University
Vivian Dim OT Reg (Ont), HBSc, BHSc(OT), MClSc(WH)
- Certified Hand Therapist
- Complete Decongestive Therapist
- International Interprofessional Wound Care Certification
Dave Walton PT, PhD
- Associate Professor, School of Physical Therapy (cross Psychiatry)
Michael WC Payne, MD, MSc, FRCPC, CSCN Diplomate (EMG)
- Associate Professor, Physiatrist, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University
- Parkwood Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care
Alison Rushton, EdD
- Director - School of Physical Therapy, Western University
Jayaprakash Raman, MPT, PhD
- Clinical Mentorship Leader, AHCP, Upper Extremity Rehabilitation (UER) Field, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University
Armaghan Dabbagh, PT, MSc
- PhD Candidate, Physical Therapy Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University
Emily Lalone, PhD
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
- Co-Director, Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory, Western University
Douglas C Ross, MD, MEd, FRCSC
- Professor, Division of Plastic Surgery, Western University
- Co-Director, The Peripheral Nerve Clinic Roth | McFarlane Hand & Upper Limb Centre
Nina Suh, MD, MSc
- Assistant Professor Department of Orthopedic Surgery Emory University
James Andrew Johnson, BSc, BEng (Mech), PhD, PEng, FCAE
- Professor, Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
- Graham King Research Chair
Artur Wozniak, BSc, MD, FRCPC
- Diagnostic Radiologist
Christopher Doherty, MD, MPH, FRCSC
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of British Columbia
Admission and Applying/Tuition and Fees
General Admission Requirements
- A minimum bachelor's degree from a recognized university and at least a (B) standing (or equivalent) over the final two years of the program
- A current license to practice in Canada if seeking mentorship practice opportunity in Canada
- Interested students who currently hold a provisional license will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis, and will be required to obtain a full license to practice prior to program completion
- Physiotherapists/Occupational Therapists practicing outside of Canada must be licensed to practice in their country of residence
- Advanced computer skills
- Two references
- Academic (if attended university within the last five years) and professional
- Demonstrated English language proficiency, including both written and oral communication
- See below for more information
English Language Profiency
- Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language by a satisfactory achievement within the last two years in one of the following:
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum acceptable score is 105 (internet-based test); 620 (paper-based test); 260 (computer-based test). [Western's TOEFL ID is 0984].
- The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS Academic). The minimum acceptable score is 7.5 out of 9.
- The Duolingo English Test. The minimum acceptable score is 135.
- Applicants who are required to present evidence of proficiency in English must make their own arrangements to complete one of the above tests or programs and to have the official results sent directly to SGPS by the testing agency.
- The English language proficiency requirements outlined above do not apply to students from Quebec
Applying to the Program
Have questions about applying?
Email ahcp@uwo.ca.
To apply to the Advanced Health Care Practice program, students should:
- Visit the online application website
- Follow the instructions on that page to access the application
- Select "Advanced Health Care Practice" from the program options in the application and select the appropriate field
Application Deadline
- Applications will open November 1 and close April 30th
Tuition and Fees
The annual domestic tuition fee for this program is approximately $14,000 CAD including ancillary fees (plus $2,100 CAD mentor fee i.e. $700 CAD/term***) which is payable over three terms (September, January and May).
The annual international tuition fee for this program is approximately $37,000 CAD including ancillary fees (plus $2,100 CAD mentor fee i.e. $700 CAD/term***) which is payable over three terms (September, January and May).
These fees are subject to change and are set by Western University. Instructions for students paying tuition from a Canadian bank are available from the Office of the Registrar.
***Please note all fees including mentorship fees and course fees are currently under review and are subject to change and adjustment***
Program Structure and Course Offerings
With courses offered fully online, through synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning environments, this program allows students to achieve their learning goals while balancing the demands of their professional and personal lives.
The curriculum and course offerings of this program are built around the idea that specialized rehabilitation of the upper extremity reflects a synthesis of occupational therapy and physical therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the structure of the upper limb with function and activity to inform evidenced-based rehabilitation.
Exposure to specialized practice will position graduates of the program to effectively manage the complexity of clinical presentations and enable best practice in upper extremity rehabilitation.
Advanced Standing
Advanced standing is available to clinicians holding the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) designation. Depending on your clinical experience and learning needs, advanced standing may be granted for the following courses:
- ACHP 9681 | Foundations in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
- AHCP 9682 | Rehabilitation of Hand Conditions
- AHCP 9683 | Rehabilitation of Shoulder & Elbow Conditions
In addition, if you're granted advanced standing, you won’t be required to complete the ACHP 9620 Clinical Mentorship component.
***Please note that advanced standing does not affect your tuition.
Fall Term (September-December)
- Research Methods
- Foundations of Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
- Clinical Mentorship
- Research Experience
Winter Term (February-April)
- Advanced Professional Practice
- Rehabilitation of Hand Conditions
- Clinical Mentorship (continued)
- Research Experience (continued)
Spring Term (May-August)
- Rehabilitation of Shoulder and Elbow Conditions
- Clinical Mentorship (continued)
- Research Experience (continued)
- Includes Research Day
About Clinical Mentorship
Through a Continuing Professional Development framework, this course facilitates the synthesis of the theoretical and practical aspects of a student’s development through a period of mentorship within the work-based/practice environment and documented with a professional portfolio. Students will have the opportunity to work within a variety of settings to enable development of existing knowledge and skills and advanced practice in upper extremity rehabilitation. The Clinical Mentor(s) will enable a student’s development through a partnership of teaching; researching; managing; observing and discussing with innovative practice being encouraged within the framework of safe, legal, and ethical practice as made explicit in any applicable published standards (e.g. professional registration body, specialist competencies etc). Clinical mentorship for this field would come from hand therapists/upper extremity therapists who are willing to act as mentors.
The student will undertake pre-mentorship preparation through an online half-day study day, and online preparatory study. Students will undertake a minimum of 150 hours of experience in a work -based/practice environment. Learning needs may necessitate a range of environments as part of the mentored experience to ensure that all outcomes are achieved. The selection of the work-based environment is negotiated by the student in collaboration with the field leader, dependent upon their individual learning needs and their program field and any specialist requirements. A variety of patterns of delivery of the 150 hours experience are possible, encompassing part-time and full-time modes as well as a variety of models of experience e.g. clinical practice, observation of practice, case analysis, situational online clinical reasoning, telehealth, e-mentoring, FTF mentoring etc. Current registration with appropriate professional/regulatory bodies is required as appropriate to the negotiated mentored practice.
Students are responsible for securing their own clinical mentor(s).
Learning Outcomes
Upon successfully completing the program, students should have the ability to:
- Critically analyze and integrate the principles underpinning upper extremity rehabilitation to inform interventions across the lifespan
- Evaluate clinical history and examination findings to inform individualized client-centred rehabilitation within a biopsychosocial and interdisciplinary framework
- Implement and justify evidence-informed rehabilitation interventions to optimize clinical outcomes
- Synthesize knowledge, skills and attributes to demonstrate advanced practice in upper extremity rehabilitation
- Develop research skills enabling active participation and competency in clinical research
- Communicate and apply ethical principles and practices in patient care and research activities
- Develop communication strategies that foster therapeutic alliance and shared decision-making with the client
- Develop iterative self-reflection skills and continued life-long learning