Fieldwork Placements for Sites and Supervisors
Become a Fieldwork Site or OTD Student Supervisor
If your facility or you are interested in working with occupational therapy students from the MGH Institute, please contact Mary Evenson, Director of Clinical Education, to discuss the process for setting up a contract. You can reach Mary at: mevenson@mghihp.edu, or (617) 724-4089.
A contract between your facility and the Institute covers all types of fieldwork experiences.
Benefits of Becoming a Fieldwork Site
Establishing a formal affiliation with the Institute begins a mutually beneficial relationship of collaboration with your facility. Opportunities exist for research collaboration, mentoring, educator development, and continuing professional education. Our students come from diverse backgrounds and bring ingenuity, professionalism, fresh perspectives, and compassion to their learning, during and beyond their formal studies. Learn more about Clinical Education at the Institute.
What Makes MGH Institute Students Different
As the first entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program in New England, the Institute OTD curriculum provides students with additional preparation beyond the Master’s degree in policy analysis and development, health and education systems, translation of research into practice, program development, outcomes measurement, advocacy and leadership.
We feature interprofessional, active and case-based learning in state-of-the-art classrooms. Readiness for fieldwork is promoted by professional reasoning coupled with foundational skills gained through hands-on learning in simulation labs and our on-site OT Center for Learning, Participation, and Rehabilitation, and through working with clients in our IMPACT Practice Center, a free care on-site interprofessional center.
Our focus on experiential learning, in addition to our Institute-wide IMPACT (Interprofessional Model for Patient and Client-Centered Teams) curriculum, facilitates critical thinking and team-based problem-solving. Participating in these and other learning opportunities, such as telehealth practices, prepares students to engage in fieldwork training with increased confidence in communication and care delivery.
In addition to Level I and Level II Fieldwork, Doctoral Experiential placements support advanced skill development in collaboration with the sponsoring sites for clinical, educational, and research based capstone projects. Examples of such projects are the development of resource materials, clinical research, creation of quality assurance or outcomes measurement programs, integration of evidence-based practice supports, and innovative program development.
Fieldwork Training Opportunities
The Institute offers three types of fieldwork placements for the Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree program: Level I Fieldwork, Level II Fieldwork, and the Advanced Doctoral Experience (ADE). For each, there are different criteria for learning goals, teaching methods, student supervision, schedules, and evaluation of student performance, as noted in the below document:
- Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Placements at a Glance Table (PDF)
- AOTA Suggested Level II Fieldwork Experience Dates (2015-2022)for Occupational Therapy Students (PDF)
Resources
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Resources
Information about Level I and Level II fieldwork, new programs, and more.
New England Occupational Therapy Education Council (NEOTEC) Resources
Other Resources