At ARC Physical Therapy+, our Certified Hand Therapy (CHT) Fellowship is built to develop skilled, compassionate clinicians who are equipped to make a lasting difference in patients’ lives. Through mentorship, hands-on learning, and individualized care, the program continues to produce exceptional outcomes, for both our fellows and our patients.
Proven Outcomes, Real Impact
Since launching in 2016, our fellowship has graduated six clinicians who have gone on to do great work in upper extremity rehabilitation. We’re especially proud to share that our program holds a 100% first-time pass rate on the CHT exam, reflecting both the strength of our curriculum and the dedication of the clinicians in it.
More Than Hands: A Holistic Approach to Upper Extremity Care
While “hand therapy” is in the title, the work goes far beyond that. Our clinicians treat the entire upper extremity, including the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. This ensures patients receive well-rounded, functional care that supports their goals and daily life.
Why This Work Matters
One of the most rewarding parts of being a CHT is the opportunity to work closely with people from all walks of life. Whether it’s helping someone return to sport, regain independence, or simply reduce pain, treatment is always personalized. These relationships often last well beyond the end of treatment, with patients returning years later to share their continued success.
A Fellowship Built on Mentorship
What sets our program apart is the side-by-side mentorship model. Fellows work directly with experienced CHTs during patient care, gaining real-time clinical insight and feedback. Combined with structured monthly meetings, this approach helps build both confidence and clinical understanding. Many fellows say this hands-on collaboration is the most valuable part of their experience.
Moments That Shape a Career
For many, the path to becoming a CHT starts with a defining moment. For me, it was during a student rotation when I watched a CHT fabricate a custom splint for an 11-month-old in the operating room, an intervention that would give the child the ability to grasp, play, and function more independently throughout life. Experiences like these highlight the profound, lifelong impact of hand therapy, and often spark a passion that shapes an entire career.
Where Skill Meets Creativity
Hand therapy is as much problem-solving as it is clinical skill. Whether it’s designing a custom splint to help a golfer stay active while healing or creating a specialized orthosis to support recovery, our clinicians are constantly adapting to meet each patient’s needs. That combination of science and creativity is what makes this work so unique.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Occupational Therapy
As healthcare continues to evolve, occupational therapy is moving toward more specialized, patient-centered care. Programs like our CHT Fellowship play an important role in preparing clinicians to deliver high-level, evidence-based care while keeping the focus on the patient.
Our Certified Hand Therapy Fellowship shows our commitment to our patients: it’s a community that develops clinicians who help people move better, feel stronger, and get back to what matters most.
