With decades of clinical, academic, and consulting experience, Michael J. Gerg, DOT, MS, OTR/L, CHT, FAOTA, brings both depth and vision to Wilson’s new Doctor of Occupational Therapy program as both associate professor and program director. In April 2026, he was inducted into the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Roster of Fellows, recognizing his leadership in occupational therapy education and worker rehabilitation.

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University and Temple University, Gerg worked in mental health before expanding into a wide range of adult physical disability settings, including acute care, rehabilitation, and outpatient hand therapy. Today, he is a board-certified hand therapist, certified ergonomics evaluation specialist, and work capacity evaluator. He has also developed a successful ergonomic consulting and legal expert practice, advising organizations such as the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank, Kraft Foods, and the Philadelphia Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

As a medical legal expert, Gerg applies his clinical and academic expertise to evaluate standards of care in complex cases. “I also do some medical legal expert work, mainly in the world of ergonomics, but there are times when I’m asked to address whether standards of practice were followed in a case,” he says. “I’ve worked on cases where somebody’s being sued… and I have to look through the notes and see whether I can identify if a standard of practice was followed or not.”

Gerg was joined by Wilson OTD faculty for his induction ceremony for the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Roster of Fellows. Left to right: Douglas Rakoski, assistant professor, Melissa Green, associate professor and coordinator of admissions, Gerg, and Andrea Kessler, assistant professor and academic fieldwork coordinator.

Yet teaching has always been central to his path.

“I knew from early on that I wanted to teach,” Gerg says. “I come from a family of educators, and that’s always been part of who I am.”

Before joining Wilson, he held faculty and leadership roles at institutions including Harcum College, Creighton University, and Temple University, where he helped shape occupational therapy education for a new generation of practitioners.

His decision to lead Wilson’s OTD program was driven by both professional opportunity and personal connection.

“When I heard about this position, I knew it was the right fit,” he recalls. “I felt like I could bring together all of my experience—the clinical work, the teaching, the professional relationships—and build something meaningful.”

Originally from western Pennsylvania, Gerg spent much of his adult life in the Philadelphia region and Winchester, Virginia, where he built extensive professional networks. With Philadelphia recognized as one of the birthplace regions of occupational therapy education, he saw an opportunity to connect Wilson’s program to a rich professional and historical foundation.

“I was so excited because I thought that I could bring so much back because of all the connections I’ve made throughout my career in this area. And when they offered me the position I took it.”

That sense of purpose continues to guide his work as he leads Wilson’s new doctoral program.

“This is my legacy and I know that the development of these programs is also going to be part of the legacy of Wilson. So, to see it do well and succeed is something that I’m going to put everything into to see it happen.”

Read more about Wilson’s new Doctor of Occupational Therapy program here.