On this episode we are joined by Alex Mackenzie, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist. We discuss flexor tendon rehabilitation, how things have changed over the years to optimize outcomes for our patients, how to progress patients through their rehabilitation, and important factors to consider when treating these injuries. Guest Bio: Alexandra MacKenzie OTR/L, CHT is the Clinical Lead at Hospital For Special Surgery and she serves on the board of the American Hand Therapy Foundation. Her clinical passions are brachial plexus/ nerve injuries, flexor tendon rehabilitation, and mentorship. She helped develop an AOTA-accredited hand therapy fellowship program at HSS and enjoys being the clinical mentor for that program. She has written chapters and presented nationally on a variety of hand therapy related topics. Global health and global healthcare education are interests of hers and she has participated in short-term medical missions to Guatemala, Honduras and Fiji.

This is a special two-for-one episode as we are joined by four guests to discuss the ASHT Leadership Committee and the Leadership Development Program. Juliet Steffe and Theresa Hallenen - the chair and vice chair of the Leadership Development Committee, respectively - share with us the work the committee is focused on and how the Leadership Development Program was designed and carried out to support emerging leaders in the field of hand and upper extremity therapy. We also have the opportunity to talk with Brooke Ochoa and Laura Carlos who were members of the first cohort of the Leadership Development Program. They share their experience participating in the program and how they plan to use the knowledge and experience they gained to work toward achieving their personal and professional goals. Guests:Laura L Carlos, MOT, OTR/L, CHT, CEAS I, is a bilingual Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist. Laura has been practicing since 2018. Laura currently works as a Level II therapist at UChicago Medicine hospital in the outpatient orthopedic clinic. Laura has been serving the southside of Chicago a little over a year and a half. Laura previously worked at Schwab Rehabilitation hospital in the outpatient setting with a mix caseload of neurological and orthopedic conditions. Laura helped co-create the DEI Media Literacy Committee at Schwab which looked to review and assess different types of media sources and hold discussions on how it impacts our roles/interactions with our fellow co-workers and the patients we serve. Laura is also a co-founder of DiversOTy Chicago Collective which is a local organization looking to support potential OT students/current OT students and practitioners of diverse backgrounds, increase awareness of the OT profession, and support Chicagoland communities. Laura is also an active member of the DEI committee at UChicago Medicine, and is serving on the community engagement subcommittee. Theresa Hallenen, DHSc, MS, OTR/L, CHT, is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with over 10-years of experience. She works for the Duke University Health System as a senior OT and co-director of the Duke Hand Therapy Fellowship program. Theresa has worked with colleagues in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery to establish a center of excellence dedicated to traumatic nerve injury. Besides her clinical work, Theresa is an instructor for the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. She has volunteered with ASHT and the leadership committee since 2020.Brooke Ochoa, OTR/L, CHT, works for Benchmark Physical Therapy in northeast Georgia. She is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists serving as Advocacy Committee chair of the Practice Division, presenting at the Atlanta Hand Therapy Review Course, and participating in the inaugural cohort of the Leadership Development Program. In addition to service with ASHT, Brooke enjoys mentoring students and new graduate occupational therapists. Her passions include promoting the specialty of hand therapy in her community and empowering occupational therapy students to pursue careers in hand therapy. In her free time, Brooke enjoys hiking, reading, and finding local restaurants to enjoy.Juliet Steffe, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, is the Director of Academic Fieldwork and Assistant Professor at the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy at Spalding University.  She also works as a hand therapist with Louisville Orthopedic Clinic.  She graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1995 with a Master of Occupational Therapy.  She worked for Shriners Hospitals for Children early in her career, gaining interest and experience in pediatric hand therapy. After moving to Atlanta, GA, in 2000, Juliet continued to build her pediatric hand therapy skills with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.  While

On this episode, we are joined by Lindsey Williams, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist. This is Lindsey’s second time on the Hands in Motion podcast. On this episode, we discuss distal radius epiphysitis, commonly known as gymnast’s wrist. Lindsey describes how this condition is diagnosed, initially treated, and what the return to sport rehabilitation looks like. Guest bio: Lindsey Williams OT, CHT is a pediatric occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist specializing in treatment of pediatric upper limb conditions including congenital anomalies, orthopedic conditions, and sports related injuries at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, TX. She received her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Murray State University in 2005 and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2008 from Spalding University. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2015. Prior to joining the Scottish Rite team, Lindsey began her career at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where she worked with a multidisciplinary team to serve hand, rheumatology, and brachial plexus clinics.

On this episode, we are joined by Amy Lindsey, a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has lived the experience of being a patient in a hand therapy clinic.  When she was a teenager, Amy was involved in an accident that left her with significant injuries to both of her hands. She spent extensive time working to regain functional use of her upper extremities and was inspired by her therapists to become a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist.Guest bio: Amy Lindsey, PT, CHT is a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who works closely with patients with various upper extremity orthopedic injuries.  She realized her dream of becoming a therapist in 1993 after being in a severe MVA and losing the use of both hands. Through a year of physical therapy and 13+ orthopedic and cosmetic surgeries to regain use of her hands, she developed a great understanding and empathy for the people who have gone through a traumatic injury.  Amy received a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in 1999 and Masters of Physical Therapy in 2001 from Saint Louis University and has been working as a physical therapist specializing in the treatment of upper extremity injuries.  She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2007 and truly became a hand therapist with “first hand” experience.  She decided to broaden her scope of practice and return to treatment of lower extremity injuries in 2015 after moving to Houston, TX while growing the hand therapy program in the Northeast Region for Memorial Hermann. Amy currently lives in Kingwood, TX and is a wife to husband of 23 years and mother to her 2 boys, ages 21 & 18.  In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, lifting weights, walking/hiking, various outdoor activities and spending time with her family.

On this episode, we are joined by Corey McGee, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has dedicated a significant portion of his career researching first CMC osteoarthritis. He shares with us some of the latest therapy interventions and thought paradigms when addressing thumb osteoarthritis as well as what is on the horizon.  Guest bio: Corey McGee, PhD, MS, OTR/L, CHT is an Associate Professor and Research Chair in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Minnesota. There he studies hand therapy assessments and interventions for persons with hand osteoarthritis; teaches courses in orthotic fabrication, hand therapy practice, and anatomy and kinesiology; and mentors post-docs and PhD and OTD students. There he also serves as the academic coordinator for the MHealth-University of MN Hand Therapy Fellowship. Beyond this, Corey is an invited international speaker, the 2019 Nathalie Barr Lectureship Awardee, has received ASHT awards for best poster, best presentation, and best surgeon-therapist collaborative research project, and has been recognized as the Minnesota OT Association’s “OT of the Year” and “Researcher of the Year”. Corey has served as an editorial board member of the Journal of Hand Therapy; an ASHT research division member; a grant reviewer for the American Hand Therapy Foundation; and a peer-reviewer for numerous rehabilitation, engineering, and surgery journals.

On this episode, we are joined by Peggy Faussett and Lindsey Williams, both occupational therapists and Certified Hand Therapists who are serving as the co-chairs for a new ASHT offering at this year’s annual meeting - the Pediatric Specialty Day.  They share with us what we can expect from this new offering, how the day will be set up, the educational content, and the networking opportunities.Guest bio: Mary “Peggy” Faussett, OTR, CHT received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Creighton University in Omaha, NE in 1999 and her Masters of Occupational Therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2001.  She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2012.  She works at Children's Hospital Colorado (CHCO) as the Pediatric Hand Therapy Program Coordinator and Fellowship Coordinator in the department of Occupational Therapy.  She and her team of eight CHTs and four pediatric OTs work with patients from new babies to young adults with upper extremity congenital, traumatic, and systemic conditions. Together, they provide hand therapy services in the NICU, in-patient, emergency room, operating room, out-patient clinics, and multidisciplinary clinics at multiple CHCO locations across Colorado. She has presented on topics related to pediatric hand therapy nationally and internationally. She serves locally on the board for the Denver Hand SIG and nationally for ASHT Education Division Pediatric Committee.Lindsey Williams, OT, CHT is a pediatric occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist specializing in the treatment of pediatric upper limb conditions including congenital anomalies, orthopedic conditions, and sports-related injuries at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, TX. She received her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Murray State University in 2005 and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2008 from Spalding University. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2015. Prior to joining the Scottish Rite team, Lindsey began her career at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where she worked with a multidisciplinary team to serve hand, rheumatology, and brachial plexus clinics.

On this episode, we are joined by Brocha Stern, the 2024 ASHT Annual Meeting Committee Chair. She shares with us what we can expect at this year’s annual meeting that will be held September 26-29 in St. Louis, Missouri.Guest bio: Brocha Z. Stern, PhD, OTR, CHT is the Chair of the 2024 ASHT Annual Meeting Committee. She is a Certified Hand Therapist who currently works as an orthopedic health services researcher at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She is an active volunteer with multiple national societies.

On this episode, we are joined by Zack Sutton, a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who is utilizing artificial intelligence in his clinical practice to increase efficiencies. He shares with us a variety of ways to implement AI in hand therapy and the various benefits of using AI in clinical practice.Guest bio: Zach Sutton, PT, DPT, MS, MBA, ATC, CHT is co-owner of McMinnville Physical Therapy, PLLC.  Zach’s current practice focuses on sports medicine with an emphasis on the upper extremity in an outpatient practice in McMinnville, TN. Zach is adjunct faculty at South College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and contributed to the chapter on the hand in Hertling and Kessler’s 5th edition of Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorders. At the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hand Therapists, Zach presented on Current Concepts with Lateral Epicondylalgia. Most recently, at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Tennessee Chapter this Spring, Zach presented “Merging Minds - Clinical Mastery Meets AI Advancements.”

On this episode of Hands in Motion, we are joined by Nora Barrett and Stephanie Kannas who are both hands therapists who are current Affiliate Directors on the board of the American Association for Hand Surgery. They share with us how therapists can become involved in AAHS and give us the inside scoop on the upcoming meeting that will be held in Hawaii in January 2025.  Guest bio: Nora Barrett, OTR/L, CHT, WCCNora has been a practicing occupational therapist since 1998 and a Certified Hand Therapist since 2006. She spent her early career as an inpatient therapist at rehabilitation centers, acute care hospitals and burn units in Boston, MA and Washington, DC before focusing in outpatient hands in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD and Bend, OR. Nora moved to Charlottesville, VA in 2021 and joined the Hand Therapy Team at the University of Virginia Physicians Group where she works in the Hand Center and in an outpatient hand therapy practice. She received her Wound Care Certification in 2020 and is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS). She lectures routinely in wound care, burn therapy, trauma and peripheral nerve injury for ASHT, AAHS and various universities across the country.Guest bio: Stephanie Kannas, OTD, OTR/L, CHTStephanie is the Director of the Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program, Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy Hand Fellowship Program and clinical lead occupational therapist in hand therapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She is an assistant professor for the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Stephanie serves on the AO North America Hand Education Committee and holds an Affiliate Member At Large position for the American Society of Hand Surgery. She received her baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy in 2000 from the University of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2016, she earned her post-professional doctoral degree in occupational therapy and successfully completed the hand therapy elective track from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah. She is a Certified Hand Therapist. She has over 21 years of experience at the Mayo Clinic. The majority of her time has been focused on hand injuries varying from complex trauma cases while patients are hospitalized for outpatient therapy needs.

Welcome back to another episode of Hands in Motion. On this episode, we are joined by Kim Pace, an occupational therapist who specializes in industrial rehabilitation. Kim shares with us what her role is in returning clients back to their jobs after injury. We discuss how she evaluates clients and ensures that they are ready to return to their job, if modifications are necessary, or if another job might be more suitable based on their functional abilities. Welcome to Hands in Motion, Kim.Guest bio: Kimberly graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan in 1982. She spent eight years practicing in psychiatric occupational therapy and then for the last 34 years she has been involved in a variety of aspects of industrial rehabilitation. Kim performs Functional Capacity Evaluations, work evaluations, job site visits, job site videos, job coaching, and pre-employment testing. Kim has been at her current job for 22 years and has the privilege of working with 15 hand and orthopedic specialists which are on-site at all clinics where therapy is provided. Kim is very involved with the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association and was appointed by the governor to serve on the State of Michigan Occupational Therapy Board for six years. Kim's passion is to make sure clients receive therapy that will help them achieve their goals so they can resume their previous level of activity.

On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Bryan Loeffler, an orthopedic surgeon who devotes a significant amount of his practice to treating patients who have experienced limb loss. He discusses with us the use of targeted muscle reinnervation, its indications, and how it has transformed care for patients to prevent pain and improve function.  Guest bio:Dr. Loeffler specializes in the entire spectrum of hand and upper extremity disorders from the fingertips to the shoulder. He has a special interest in complex elbow conditions and peripheral nerve injuries. Dr. Loeffler has been awarded multiple research grants to fund various clinical studies as well as a basic science study on biologic solutions to improve rotator cuff healing. He has authored numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from forearm injuries to shoulder and elbow replacement. Academic honors and achievements range from excellence in surgery to resident teaching award. He has also participated in two international medical missions, providing orthopaedic surgical care in underserved areas. Dr. Loeffler is a former NCAA Division I wrestler at the University of Maryland, and he remains active by running and spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children.

On this episode, we are joined by Emily Hartnett, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who has turned her hobby of rock climbing into a specialty area of practice.  She shares with us common injuries sustained by rock climbers and unique aspects of caring for this patient population.  Guest bio:Emily Hartnett, OTD, MOTR/L, CHT graduated with her Bachelors of Health Science in 2017, her Masters of Occupational Therapy in 2019, and her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy with a focus on rock-climbers' injuries in 2022 from Quinnipiac University.  Emily is an avid rock climber herself and has been specializing in treatment of the upper extremity since she received her OT license in February of 2019. Emily has combined her hobby and career to treat rock climbers; she has developed effective return to climb protocols and effective strategies, such as PRO (Pulley Ring Orthotic, patent pending) fabrication and application, to allow climbers to continue to climb while rehabilitating from injury.

On this episode, we are joined by Rob McClellan, our current ASHT Board Member at Large.  Rob shares with us all of the benefits of being an ASHT member and a variety of ways to get involved in the organization.  Welcome to Hands in Motion, Rob.Guest bio:Rob McClellan, OTR/L, CHT, COMT-UL has 23 years of experience working in hand and upper limb rehabilitation. He is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists serving on the Board of Directors as Board Member at Large, the Leadership Committee, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. He is an active member of the American Association for Hand Surgery and is the Immediate Past President of the Georgia Hand and Upper Extremity Special Interest Group. He has had the opportunity to speak at previous ASHT Annual Conferences and the IFSSH/ IFSHT Triennial Congress in London. Rob is the Hand Program Coordinator for Physio/ Select Medical in Georgia

We are joined by Dr Brad Grunert, a psychologist who has worked for many years with patients who have sustained traumatic injuries to their upper extremity. He shares with the techniques that we can utilize in our hand therapy sessions to support the psychological needs of our patients and help them cope with their injury.Guest bio:Dr. Grunert is a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Medical College of Wisconsin. His areas of specialty include working with traumatically hand-injured patients, and he has published extensively in this area. He also has interests in psychogenic hand disorders and chronic pain disorders of the upper extremity. He is in his 47th year of practice and still enjoys the opportunity to assist patients in coping with the psychological residuals of hand injuries and their accompanying disability. Dr. Grunert is a fellow of Wisconsin Psychological Association and a member of the American Psychological Association.

On this episode, we are joined by Yeiddy Ferreira, an occupational therapist who is spending three months volunteering as a hand therapist with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, Africa. Yeiddy shares with us what life is like living on the ship and caring for patients who have undergone surgery to their upper extremity.  Guest bio:Yeiddy L. Ferreira, OTR/L is originally from the Dominican Republic. She graduated from Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, New York with a Masters in Occupational Therapy. She has always had a passion for hand therapy and began working in the field after she graduated in 2021. In 2022, she went on her first medical mission trip as a hand therapist in the Dominican Republic. After this experience, her passion for serving and helping others grew further. This is when she came across Mercy Ships and accepted a three-month commitment to serve as a hand therapist in Sierra Leone, Africa. When not taking care of patients on the ship, Yeiddy spends her time studying for the CHT Xxam which she plans to take in November 2024.

On this episode, we are joined by Ann Lucado, a physical therapist and Certified HandTherapist who led a team of clinicians to develop the clinical practice guideline, “LateralElbow Pain and Muscle Function Impairments.” Ann shares with us what a clinicalpractice guideline is and how they are developed, as well as the results of this guidelineand how therapists treating patients with lateral elbow pain can best utilize theevidence.Guest bio:Ann Lucado, PT, PhD, CHTAnn Lucado is a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has specialized inupper extremity and orthopedic rehabilitation for the past 30 years. She is an activemember of the APTA’s Academy of Orthopedic Physical therapy and is currently servingas the Chair of the Research Committee and Coordinator of Clinical Practice GuidelineDevelopment for the Academy of Hand and Upper Extremity Physical Therapy. Shereceived her Master of Science in Community Health Education and Physical Therapyand received her PhD in research methodology and design in Physical Therapy. Dr.Lucado is currently an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Programat Mercer University located in Atlanta, Georgia. She has conducted numerousinstructional seminars and is the author of several research articles related to elbowtendinopathies. She headed the Guideline Development group for the recentlypublished Clinical Practice Guideline related to Lateral Elbow Pain and Muscle FunctionImpairments in the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy.https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-lucado-6a656520/https://instagram.com/annlucado?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D&utm_sour

On this episode are joined by Alyssa Phillips, an occupational therapist who has spent a large majority of her clinical practice and research on how patients perceive pain and the relationship between psychological factors and pain. On this episode, she shares with us the importance of recognizing how psychological factors can have an effect on our patient’s recovery. She also shares strategies for maximizing our patient’s functional outcomes while addressing their pain.  Guest bio:Alyssa L. Phillips, CScD, MOT, OTR/LAlyssa graduated from Saint Francis University with her Masters of Occupational therapy and later with her Doctorate in Clinical Science from the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on adolescent pain management. Alyssa brings a unique background with an undergraduate degree in psychology to her practice as an occupational therapist. For the last six years, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings including: upper extremity, chronic pain, neurological, work & industry, and pediatrics. Currently, Alyssa is the Clinical Education Coordinator and an assistant professor at Pacific University.

On this episode we are joined by our first repeat guest, Jim Wagner. Jim is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who also has a background in strength training and conditioning. He shares with us how to implement strength and conditioning in our hand therapy practices and why it’s important for our patients.    Jim Wagner OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCSDr. Wagner is an occupational therapist/Certified Hand Therapist with 28 years of clinical experience working in the upper extremity orthopedic setting. He received his post professional clinical doctorate from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with a specialty in hand therapy. Dr. Wagner is credentialed in physical agent modalities and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Jim is currently the team leader of the Guthrie Hand Center and is an adjunct professor at both Keuka and Ithaca College occupational therapy programs. Jim has been involved in competitive powerlifting/bodybuilding for 35 year and has been in 28 competitions. He has traveled extensively teaching on topics such as kinesiology taping, cupping, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobility, orthotic fabrication and blood flow restriction training. Jim is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists. He has been published in the practice forum section of the Journal of Hand Therapy and serves on the Education Division of the ASHT.Article Links:Comparison of blood flow restriction devices and their effect on quadriceps muscle activation.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.02.005Practical Blood Flow Restriction Training Increases Acute Determinants of Hypertrophy Without Increasing Indices of Muscle Damage.https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2013/11000/Practical_Blood_Flow_Restriction_Training.20.aspxBlood Flow Restriction Training: Implementation into Clinical Practice.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5609669/Differences in the limb blood flow between two types of blood flow restriction cuffs: A pilot study. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.931270/full

On this episode we are joined by Julianne Howell, a physical therapist and certified hand therapist who has contributed significantly to the field of hand and upper extremity therapy through publications and teaching of the use of relative motion orthoses. We discuss the concept of relative motion and how this was initially used in treating extensor tendon repairs but now is being utilized for protection, assessment, exercise, and adaptive techniques. We also explore a variety of diagnoses and instances where patients might benefit from a relative motion extension or flexion orthosis.  Guest: Julianne W Howell, PT, MS, CHTJulie has enjoyed being a physical therapist, with more than 40 years of her career dedicated to the management of the upper limb and hand. Practice sites have varied from the Midwest and to the west to east coasts in acute hospitals, an adult burn center, as owner of a private hand therapy practice, development of two corporate hand centers and as a private consultant. She has had the great fortune to work side by side with hand surgeons and therapists who have influenced her approach to patient care as well as the science of hand surgery and hand therapy.   Julie has strived to be a lifetime learner, provide valued patient care, and to be a good mentor and colleague. Early in her career, she set a personal goal to routinely contribute to the science of hand therapy. She now has over 20 peer-reviewed publications and 15 book chapters and articles.  Julie has participated in countless professional seminars and is proud of her service to AAHS, ASHT, IFSHT, Journal of Hand Therapy, Hand, and Techniques in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. She has been honored to receive the AAHS Vargas Teaching Award, ASHT RL Petzoldt Award for best innovative research, ASHT Best Clinical Research paper, the Journal of Physical Therapy Jack Walker Award for best clinical practice manuscript and most downloaded IFSHT presentation. She has had the great honor to be awarded Philadelphia’s Honored Professorship and Invited Speaker for the New Zealand, Dutch, Canadian and Malaysian Hand Therapy Societies. Co-editing the 2023 Journal of Hand Therapy relative motion special issue was also a very satisfying achievement for Julie!Julie feels very fortunate to have collaborated with many colleagues over the years, especially Wyndell Merritt, MD, FACS and Melissa Hirth, BOT, MSc, PhD. Together they have made an evidence-based global impact concerning the relative motion concept and orthoses.

We are just weeks away from gathering in San Antonio, Texas for the 46th ASHT Annual Meeting. If you haven’t signed up yet to attend either in person or virtually, this episode might give you the little push you need to register.  We are joined by Missy Thurlow, this year’s annual meeting chair.  She shares with us what we can expect at the meeting during the plenary sessions, the concurrent sessions, and of course the social and networking opportunities.  Guest bio:Missy Cathcart Thurlow, MBA, OTR/L, CHT works in Atlanta, Georgia for Peachtree Orthopedics.   She has been an occupational therapist for 42 years and graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas in 1981.    Missy is currently the ASHT Annual Meeting Chair and also works closely with the Georgia Hand and Upper Extremity Special Interest Group.   Previously, she has given many years to serving on the ASHT board of directors and loves working with other therapists by providing great education.   Missy is a fieldwork instructor and loves to teach students about hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.