Michael J. Gerg, DOT, OTR/L, CHT
Dr. Michael J. Gerg, DOT, OTR/L, CHT is an Associate Professor and the Program Director of the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program at Bay Path. He is a Board Certified Hand Therapist and holds additional certifications in ergonomics and work capacity evaluation. Dr. Gerg is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University School of Liberal Arts and the Temple University School of Allied Health Professions. In the past, he has worked clinically for Magee Rehabilitation and Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Valley Health in Winchester, Virginia where he helped to build a successful industrial wellness and ergonomic consulting practice.
After beginning his healthcare career in mental health, he has gained extensive clinical practice experience in a variety of adult physical disability settings including outpatient hand therapy, acute care, acute rehabilitation, long-term care, and outpatient rehabilitation. He has had full time academic appointments as the inaugural Program Coordinator of the entry-level occupational therapy doctoral program at Creighton University’s Health Sciences Campus in Phoenix, Arizona, Assistant Professor and Director of Student Progression and Retention at A. T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona, Program Director of an Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and Clinical Instructor/Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has been an Adjunct faculty member at Shenandoah University in the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Training programs. His special interests include hand therapy, ergonomic worksite evaluation, legal expert consulting, Industrial Wellness, injury prevention research and training (primarily back injuries in healthcare workers), and Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE). His research interests include ergonomics, inter-professional education with an emphasis on educating other healthcare professionals on the distinct value of occupational therapy, community access for persons with disabilities, and occupational therapy practice in work and industry. He has published research on the psychosocial factors that limit return to work of injured workers, the ergonomics of text messaging, has written various articles and fact sheets for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and has published book chapters on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Occupational Therapy intervention with injured workers.
Dr. Gerg continues to be involved in clinical hand therapy practice when possible and has owned a small ergonomic consulting and legal expert practice, WorkWell Associates, LLC. He continues to do this work as a sole proprietor. His previous clients have included the Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia, Carpenter Technology Corporation, Trex, Inc., Toray Plastics, Kraft Foods, and the Philadelphia Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Philaposh). He has worked extensively with injured and disabled workers of various levels of ability to assist them in pursuing a means of earning a living that is also meaningful and fulfilling. He previously served as the Chairperson of the Work and Industry Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association. When not working, he finds biking, hiking, reading, traveling, and playing competitive amateur billiards fulfilling.
Research Publications
Novak, L. S., Jewell, V. D., Gerg, M., & Thinnes, A. (2023). Education and perceptions of post-therapy maintenance programs in long-term care: A mixed methods exploratory study. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 11(2). Retrieved from
Gerg, M. J., Hazak, K. M., Carrie, B, Melendez, N., & Jewell, V. D. (2022). Non-physical factors that impact return to work in individuals with upper extremity injuries: A scoping review. WORK, 73(1).
Kietrys, D. M., Gerg, M. J., Dropkin, J., & Gold, J. E., (2015). Mobile input device type, texting style, and screen size influence upper extremity and trapezius muscle activity, and cervical posture while texting. Applied Ergonomics, 50, p. 98-104.
Book Chapters and Other Publications
Gerg, M & Radziak, J. (2021). The injured worker. In K. Masker & H. Gift (Eds.), Test prep for the CHT exam: Study outline & clinical reference (4th ed., pp. 399-410). American Society of Hand Therapists.
Gerg, M. J. & Kaskutas, V. (2020). Work performance: clinic-based assessment and interventions. In T. M. Skirven, A. L. Osterman, et al. (eds.), Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity(7th edition, pp. 1729-1752). Elsevier.
Gerg, M. J. & Morgan, M. (2012). Cumulative trauma disorders: Carpal tunnel syndrome. In: D. Weiss, M. Morgan, & M. Kinnealey, A Practitioners Guide to Clinical Occupational Therapy. Dallas, TX: Pro-Ed.
Gerg, M. J., Raptosh, D., Dorsey, J., Fick, F., & Kaskutas, V. (2012). AOTA Fact Sheet: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Functional Capacity Evaluation. Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.
Kaskutas, V., Gerg, M. J., Fick, F., & Dorsey, J. (2012). AOTA Fact Sheet: Occupational Therapy Services in the Workplace: Transitional Return to Work Programs. Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.
Fick, F., Dorsey, J., Gerg, M. J., & Kaskutas, V. (2012). AOTA Fact Sheet: Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Ergonomics. Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.
Dorsey, J., Fick, F., Gerg, M. J., & Kaskutas, V. (2012). AOTA Fact Sheet: Work Rehabilitation. Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.
Gerg, M. (2011). Addressing work in the hand clinic. Special Interest Section Quarterly: Work and Industry, 25(3), Bethesda, MD: AOTA, Inc.
Asher, A., Carassco, R., & Gerg, M. (2010). AOTA Fact Sheet: Role of occupational therapy across the lifespan in facilitating employment of individual with developmental disabilities. Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.
Contributing Author - Administrative Training Module (2009): AOTA Fieldwork Educators Certificate Workshop. Bethesda, MD: AOTA.
Gerg, M. J., & Smith, S. (2008) Training the “Industrial Athlete”: developing job-specific exercise programs to reduce injuries. OT Practice, 13(7), CE-1-8.