Hands In Motion

On this episode, we are joined by Scott Gould, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, to discuss a potpourri of topics related to the elbow. We discuss ligament injuries, tendon injuries, joint reconstruction and techniques to restore range of motion following traumatic injuries.Guest bio: Scott Gould is an occupational therapist, certified hand therapist and certified kinesio taping practitioner who has worked at the Indiana Hand To Shoulder Center for the past 15 years. The Indiana Hand To Shoulder Center is a private practice with 12 surgeons who specialize in upper extremity and 20 therapists. Scott is a member of ASHT and AAHS. He also instructs a two-day course titled introduction to hand therapy through therapy network seminars. Outside of work Scott has two boys, Grayson (age 13) and Eli (age 10). He is an assistant coach for Eli’s baseball team this spring. He also plays music as a “side hustle” both in a cover band covering 60s and 70s rock and soul and as a solo musician playing his own songs and a wide variety of covers.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

On this episode, we are joined by Juliana Larocerie to discuss Dupuytren’s disease. Juliana has been involved with researching this condition for many years and shares with us the changes in treatment strategies that have occurred most recently. Juliana Larocerie, OT, MSC, CHT, is a certified hand therapist at the Roth-McFarlane Hand & Upper Limb Centre in London, Ontario. She earned her Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy from the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil, in 2003, and completed a Master’s in Rehabilitation Sciences at Queen’s University, Kingston, in 2006. Passionate about teaching and inspiring excellence in patient care, Juliana has held several academic roles, including seasonal lecturer at Queen’s University and current guest lecturer and lab assistant at Western University’s School of Occupational Therapy, where she also teaches in the Upper Extremity Rehabilitation stream of the Advanced Health Care Practice program. She co-instructs the Chinchalkar Hand Therapy Fellowship Program and contributes to teaching rounds for surgical residents and fellows at the Roth McFarlane HULC. Juliana has delivered several instructional courses on various topics at ASHT, IFSHT, CSHT, ASPN, EFSHT, and the Latin American Brachial Plexus Congress. She developed the hand therapy arm of the Peripheral Nerve Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, establishing a unique interdisciplinary program that offers direct therapy services while supporting surgical and therapeutic decision-making for complex peripheral nerve injuries. She has authored many peer-reviewed papers and a book chapter and has been recognized with the Queen’s University Awards for Excellence in Research and Preceptorship, as well as three CSHT Best Scientific Session awards.She also serves as the current vice-president of the CSHT.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

On this episode, we are joined by Sarah Doerrer, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who is devoting most of her time these days to academia and research. She shares with us how she is connecting with clinicians in the community to collaborate on community-engaged research. We discuss the benefits to these collaborations, but also some of the barriers to clinical research and how to navigate those barriers. Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT graduated with her Masters in OT in 2001 from Misericordia University and her PhD in OT in 2019 from Nova Southeastern University. She is currently an assistant professor at George Washington University and worked in clinical practice for 22 years. She is a Certified Hand Therapist and Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Dr. Doerrer serves on the Research Division of the American Society of Hand Therapists and is the incoming Research Division chair and serves as the Education Chair for the Capital Hand Therapy Association. She has received two foundation grants for her dissertation research “The Impact of Shoulder Pathology on Individuals with Distal Radius Fracture” and received a grant from the American Hand Foundation for her clinical trial “Impact of Early ADL Participation on Functional Outcomes Post Distal Radius Fracture”. Dr. Doerrer has most recently been awarded the Hand in Hand Grant from AOTF-ASHT-AHTF and the Clinical Research Award from the American Hand Surgery Foundation for her work on post distal radius education. She is also a co-investigator on a Department of Education, Disability Innovation Fund grant. Dr. Doerrer has had multiple publications in the Journal of Hand Therapy and has published two book chapters. She is a reviewer for the Journal of Hand Therapy, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and OT Journal of Research.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed"

We are joined by Stephanie Hassler, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who is also a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Stephanie shares with us what lymphedema is and how she combined her background as a hand therapist to address the effects of lymphedema. We discuss early recognition and practical treatment strategies to integrate into practice.Stephanie Hassler, MS, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CHT works as an outpatient occupational therapist in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. She earned her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University in 2014. Stephanie began working in an outpatient orthopedic-based hand therapy setting following graduation. She went on to become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist in 2018, achieved Lymphology Association of North America certification in 2019, and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2020. She continues to practice in an outpatient therapy setting, treating a mixed caseload of upper and lower extremity lymphedema as well as upper extremity injuries. The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

We are excited to welcome our guest on this episode, Danielle Sparks. Danielle is our 2025-2026 ASHT president. During her incoming presidential address at the Annual Meeting, Danielle challenged us to consider how we can be advocates for our specialty and our patients. There are many challenges we face daily, but she shares with us how small, atomic changes can have a lasting effect.  Guest Bio:Danielle Sparks, DHS, MOT, OTR, CHT is a highly experienced occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with a strong clinical background in upper extremity rehabilitation. With over 15 years in the field, Danielle has spent her career at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, where she has served as the Director of Therapy since 2017. Danielle graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2007 with a Biology degree. She earned a Master of Occupational Therapy in 2009 and then post professionally a Doctorate of Health Science in 2017, both from the University of Indianapolis. Danielle earned her Certified Hand Therapist credential in 2015. Passionate about advocacy and legislative and regulatory aspects of practicing hand therapy, Danielle has been a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists since 2012 and has been a volunteer in the Practice Division since 2017, serving as the chair from 2020-2023 and currently is serving in the ASHT Presidential line 2023-2027. Currently, Danielle is the current President for ASHT. Danielle enjoys attending courses related to upper extremity rehabilitation and the opportunity to learn from and interact with colleagues. When not involved in work related activities, Danielle enjoys traveling, kayaking, hiking, golfing, and spending time with family and her two German Shepherds.  The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

On this episode, we are joined by Marty Walsh, Keri Landrieu and Karol Young to discuss the HTCC Practice Analysis. The examination to become a Certified Hand Therapist isn’t put together overnight. There is a lot of work that goes into developing the examination questions, ensuring they are testing knowledge and application of practice standards in hand therapy.  Marty, Keri and Karol share with us how HTCC develops the exam blueprint from feedback received from hand therapists, how questions are developed and evaluated for their rigor, accuracy and consistency, and how the examination is maintained year after year.  Guest Bios:Martin Walsh, OTR/L, CHT has been the Executive Director of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) since 2013. He joined the HTCC staff in 2004 as the Manager of Examination Services. He has been involved with HTCC as a volunteer since 1998, serving several terms as an item writer and then as an item writer mentor. Marty was appointed to the Examination Committee in 2002 and has been actively involved in all aspects of examination development. A Certified Hand Therapist since 1992, Marty received most of his training and experience in hand therapy at a regional trauma center in San Francisco working with patients with complex injuries to the hand. Marty has also volunteered his time working with patients and teaching therapists in South America. He has traveled to Colombia, Bolivia and Peru and has been active with the organization Resurge. In 2010 Marty received the Paul Brand Award of Professional Excellence from the American Society of Hand Therapists. Keri Landrieu, LOTR, CHT became an occupational therapist in 1989, leading her to a hand therapy fellowship and her Certified Hand Therapist certification in 1994.  Her experience in hand therapy includes working with her mentor surgeon in his practice and 15 years as a partner in a private hand therapy practice. Her dedication to the field extends to the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC), spanning nearly three decades, starting as an item writer in 1996, leading to a board membership six years later, and various leadership roles. For the past 14 years, Keri has directed HTCC’s exam operations, managing the item bank and exam processes. This year, she is honored to serve as HTCC's President.Karol S. Young, OTD, OTR/L, CHT has been an occupational therapist since 1990 and a Certified Hand Therapist since 1997. After working in a variety of outpatient settings, her passion for lifelong learning led her to the OT program at Thomas Jefferson University where she completed her doctoral degree in 2015. Karol has authored publications for the Hand Therapy Certification Committee and the American Society of Hand Therapists, contributed to several textbooks, and is an adjunct instructor and guest lecturer in several graduate level occupational therapy programs. Karol is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists and is a board member for the Hand Therapy Certification Commission, serving as the Chair of the Practice Analysis Committee. Karol currently is in private practice outside of Asheville, NC.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed"

On this episode, we are joined by Mike Mueller, an occupational therapist, Certified Hand Therapist and exercise scientist who has taken a special interest in treating female athletes across the lifespan. We discuss unique characteristics of female athletes, common injuries we are seeing in this population and how we as upper extremity specialists can help to return these athletes to their sport. Guest Bio: Mike Mueller, OTR, CHT is a staff hand therapist at Rothman Orthopaedics in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has over 30 years of experience in upper extremity rehabilitation in a variety of settings.  He is an occupational therapist, Certified Hand Therapist and an exercise scientist with extensive experience utilizing the kinetic chain approach and its application to upper extremity rehabilitation and performance. He has a special area of interest in the management of the athlete’s upper extremity injuries and has extensive experience with athletes from the youth to the professional levels. Mike has presented on multiple topics at state, national and international conferences.  He is a member of The American Society of Hand Therapists, American Occupational Therapy Association, American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and American Baseball Biomechanics Society.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed"

On this episode, we are joined by Kimberly Masker, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapy, and Tauni Bird, also an occupational therapist who have been researching and educating others on treating patients in the context of substance use.  They share with us what substance use disorder is, the stigma that surrounds these patients, and what we as hand therapists can do to mitigate that stigma and provide harm reduction.  Welcome to Hands in Motion, Kim and Tauni.Guest bio: Kimberly Masker, OTD, OTR/L, CHT received her undergraduate degree from ETSU in 1995, her Master’s in OT degree from Washington University in 2000, and received her post-professional doctorate in OT from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) in 2015. She earned her Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) specialty certification in 2007. She is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at East Tennessee State University. Kim’s clinical practice is as senior therapist at The Hand Center at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Tennessee. Her professional interests have focused on hypermobility, wound care, upper extremity multi-trauma, substance use disorders and stigma, and treatment of musicians. She enjoys writing for various hand therapy related publications and blogs. She serves as a consultant for Axogen on studies such as pain and peripheral nerve injuries. She currently serves as Secretary Treasurer of the Northeast District of the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association. She has volunteered for many years with the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT), is co-editor of the 4th edition of the CHT Test Prep Book and Clinical Reference (2022), and is the current President of ASHT.Tauni Bird, OTD, OTR/L (she/her) is an occupational therapist and hand and upper extremity therapist. She is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists, American Association for Hand Surgery, and American Occupational Therapy Association. She is interested in harm reduction and health equity. Her work on these topics includes conference presentations, non-research articles, and special grant projects. The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

On this episode of Hands in Motion, we are joined by Thomas Berger — the recipient of the 2024 American Association for Hand Surgery Vargas International Hand Therapy Teaching Award. As a recipient of this prestigious award, Thomas traveled to Guatemala to provide hand therapy services, as well as educate local occupational and physical therapists on upper extremity rehabilitation. Thomas shares with us his experience serving in Guatemala and the support he received from AAHS. Guest Bio: Thomas Berger, DPT, CHT, is a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. He works at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL in the hand and upper limb clinic collaborating with a team of physicians and advanced practice providers. Thomas also serves as faculty for the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at Mayo Clinic Florida, where he delivers annual education focused on the upper extremity. Thomas has shared his expertise at both national and international forums, including the annual meetings of American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS) and American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT). Thomas is the recipient of the AAHS 2023 Vargas Award, which he was honored to use for a medical mission trip withGuatemala Healing Hands Foundation. He presently holds positions on the ASHT Nominations Committee and the AAHS Vargas Committee.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

In this episode, we are joined by Stacey Doyon, President-Elect of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy. Stacey shares with us information about IFSHT, their mission and how they are connecting upper extremity therapists across the globe. We also briefly discuss the upcoming IFSSH-IFSHT Triennial Congress being held March 24-28, 2025, in Washington, DC.  Silent Auction Link: https://ifsht.org/awards_grants/silent-auction/Guest Bio: I have served on the board of the American Society of Hand Therapists from 1999-2008 which includes the following positions: Past president (2008), President (2007), President Elect (2006), Vice President (2005), Director of Advocacy (2004), Secretary/Treasurer (2003), Secretary/Treasurer elect (2002), Division Director of Alliances (2001), Division Director of Member Services (2000) and Board Member at Large (1999-2000).  From 2008-2010 I was the Chairperson for the 2010 International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy, for the American Society of Hand Therapists. In 2011 I became a board member for the Hand Therapy certification Commission holding the position of Treasurer in 2017-2024.  I was a committee member since from 2006-2024. I have also served on several committees for IFSHT which include the finance committee for 2007, 2018-2019, Abstract review committee for 2013 and 2016 and then the nominations committee in 2016. In 2019-2022 I was Treasurer for IFSHT and in 2022-present I became President-Elect. I will go on to be President of IFSHT at the end of the Triennial congress in Washington DC 2025.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Alex Kelsheimer, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in upper extremity surgery, to discuss injuries that many of us find difficulty treating — PIP joint injuries. He shares his approach to addressing injuries at the PIP joint and how surgeons and therapists can collaborate with the patient to achieve an optimal outcome.Guest Bio: Dr. Kelsheimer is a hand & upper extremity orthopedic surgeon with Shoreline Orthopaedics in Holland, Michigan. Prior to practicing in Holland, he was practicing in St. Louis, Missouri for three years. He received his medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. His post-graduate orthopedic residency training was completed at St. Luke’s Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He then completed his hand and upper extremity fellowship at the prestigious Florida Orthopaedic Institute in partnership with Tampa General Hospital.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

On this episode, we are joined by Ben Mortenson and Janet Craik, both occupational therapists in Canada who have done extensive work on sustainability in healthcare. They share with us the pillars of sustainability and how we as therapists can do our part to ensure economic, social and environmental sustainability. Guest Bios: Janet Craik holds a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy from Queen's University and a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Toronto. Her involvement as an occupational therapist includes many years as a front-line practitioner, manager, author, educator, and former Executive Director for the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. She is deeply interested in exploring how to improve health systems in Canada to be more sustainable. As an instructor at the University of Toronto, she is involved with an interprofessional education elective on climate change and teaches an elective on sustainable health in occupational therapy to ensure students have knowledge and resources needed to identify climate change-related risks and take equitable, evidence-based action to promote health, well-being, and occupational participation. In addition to instructing at the University of Toronto, she is the Rehabilitation Lead for CASCADES (www.cascadescanada.ca) and the Executive Director for the International Cognitive Approaches Network (www.icancoop.org).Ben Mortenson has been an occupational therapist since 1991. He is Professor and Head of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia. He held a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2016-2021).  He is a principal investigator at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Program and International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries. He is an experienced mixed-methods researcher with over 200 peer-reviewed publications and he has over $7M in funding as a principal investigator or co-PI and almost $50M as co-investigator. He has had over 300, peer reviewed abstracts accepted at national and international conferences. He has provided research supervision to over 130 trainees. His work is centered on four main populations: assistive technology users, informal and formal caregivers, individuals with spinal cord injury, and residents in long-term care. His research focuses on four overlapping areas: assistive technology, social participation, accessibility and sustainability. He was the 2021 recipient of the Award for Innovative Practice from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT). In 2022 he was inducted as a CAOT Fellow.The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Paul Sibley to discuss wide-awake surgical procedures in the upper extremity. He shares with us the various procedures he is performing, the benefits of wide-awake surgery and what we as hand therapists can expect when patients are referred to us following these procedures.Guest Bio: Dr. Paul A. Sibley is an orthopedist in Allentown, Penn. and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and Lehigh Valley Health Network-Highland Avenue. He received his medical degree from A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and received his post-graduate training at Ohio University-Grandview Medical Center in Dayton, OH. He has many published research publications and has co-written chapters in Wide Awake Hand Surgery, Volumes 1 and 2. The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.