Occupational Therapist I - Hand Therapy

UNC Health; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Hospitals Hand Center at the Ambulatory Care Center in Chapel Hill, NC, seeks an Occupational Therapist I to join our Hand Therapy Clinic. This full-time role emphasizes outpatient hand therapy and upper extremity rehabilitation within a collaborative academic medical center environment.

You will provide comprehensive, individualized occupational therapy services across preoperative to chronic conditions, including custom splint fabrication, evidence-based treatment, and interprofessional

Qualifications

• OT with interest in outpatient hand therapy
• Open to early-career clinicians and recent graduates
• Commitment to evidence-based practice

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive, evidence-based occupational therapy evaluation, consultation, and treatment for upper extremity conditions
• Deliver individualized therapy addressing function, mobility, strength, and coordination
• Develop proficiency in custom splint and orthosis fabrication
• Documentation and scheduling support within a collaborative clinic
• Collaborate with hand surgeons, physicians, and rehab staff to optimize patient outcomes

Skills

Hand therapy

Upper extremity rehab

Evidence-based practice

Patient education

Tools

Orthosis fabrication

Job description

Description

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Summary

UNC Hospitals Rehabilitation Services is seeking a compassionate, motivated, and dedicated Occupational Therapist I to join our multidisciplinary Hand Therapy Clinic at the Ambulatory Care Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

This is an excellent opportunity for an occupational therapist interested in developing or expanding their expertise in outpatient hand therapy and upper extremity rehabilitation within a collaborative academic medical center environment. We welcome applications from both experienced therapists and early‑career clinicians, including recent graduates, who demonstrate strong clinical potential, a commitment to evidence-based practice, and an interest in specialty rehabilitation.

In this full‑time role, you will provide comprehensive, individualized occupational therapy services to patients with a broad range of upper extremity conditions across the continuum of care. Our Hand Therapy Clinic serves patients with preoperative, postoperative, nonoperative, acute, and chronic musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and soft tissue conditions, ranging from common injuries to more complex rehabilitation needs.

Typical diagnoses include fractures, tendon repairs and injuries, nerve compressions and injuries, ligament injuries, arthroplasties, joint stiffness, arthritis, soft tissue injuries, and other conditions affecting the hand, wrist, elbow, and upper extremity. You will help patients recover from surgery, manage persistent conditions, regain independence, and return to meaningful activities involving daily living, work, recreation, and functional participation.

A distinguishing feature of our Hand Therapy Clinic is its strong emphasis on custom splint and orthosis fabrication, including static, dynamic, and static-progressive orthoses. This position offers an opportunity to develop or expand these specialized skills through collaboration with experienced hand therapists, clinical mentorship, and hands‑on learning. Clinicians will develop proficiency in orthosis fabrication, modification, and progression appropriate to their experience, demonstrated competencies, and the needs of the patient population.

We take pride in our commitment to personalized, one-on-one care with 45-minute treatment sessions, allowing therapists to build meaningful therapeutic relationships and provide individualized, evidence-based treatment. Appointment durations may vary to accommodate specialized splinting, postoperative care, walk-in needs, and other clinical priorities. Documentation time is incorporated into clinical scheduling, with opportunities for appropriate clinical and administrative support.

Our clinic serves a diverse patient population, including individuals from underserved communities and patients with complex medical, socioeconomic, cultural, and language-related needs. This environment provides opportunities to develop clinical reasoning, adaptability, and culturally responsive care while making a meaningful difference in patients' lives.

The Hand Therapy Clinic offers a highly collaborative specialty practice environment with opportunities to work closely with hand surgeons, orthopedic physicians, advanced practice providers, rehabilitation specialists, students, and other healthcare professionals. Clinicians benefit from interdisciplinary communication, specialty education, mentorship, and the opportunity to participate in professional development, clinical teaching, quality improvement, and program development initiatives.

Work Location Flexibility

Although this position is affiliated with the UNC Hospitals Hand Center at the Ambulatory Care Center in Chapel Hill, the selected candidate may have the opportunity for a single‑site assignment or a split‑site arrangement across UNC Hospitals outpatient therapy locations. Potential additional practice locations include Mebane and Cary. Final assignments will be determined by clinical service needs, available opportunities, and the selected clinician's interests, experience, and demonstrated competencies.

• Full‑time, 40 hours per week.
• Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
• Day shift, onsite clinical care.
• Primary affiliation: UNC Hospitals Hand Center, Ambulatory Care Center, Chapel Hill, NC.
• Single‑site or split‑site outpatient therapy assignment may be considered based on clinical needs, available positions, and selected candidate qualifications.
• Potential additional UNC Hospitals outpatient therapy locations include Mebane, Durham, and Cary.
• Specific daily hours, clinical scheduling, and site assignments may be adjusted based on operational needs.

This role is ideal for an occupational therapist who values individualized patient care, clinical collaboration, lifelong learning, and the opportunity to build a rewarding career in hand therapy and upper extremity rehabilitation.

Core Responsibilities

Patient Evaluation & Care:

Provide comprehensive, evidence-based occupational therapy evaluation, consultation, skilled treatment, and patient and caregiver education. Assess patients with a broad range of upper extremity musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and soft tissue conditions. Deliver individualized treatment addressing functional limitations, mobility, strength, coordination, pain, edema, and participation