On this episode, we are joined by Jason Albers, an occupational therapist and professional drummer with the band Flatland Cavalry. Jason was also born with a genetic limb difference – monodactyly. He shares with us his experience of growing up with a limb difference, what led him to the field of occupational therapy and how his career shifted to music when the opportunity arose.

Guest bio: Jason Albers is a recording artist and songwriter from Nashville, TN, and globally-touring drummer for the ACM-nominated country-Americana band Flatland Cavalry. His mission is to connect his world with yours through the shared experience of being both a patient and occupational therapist.

Born in Midland, TX with a rare genetic condition, monodactyly, which left him with single digits on all extremities, Jason has learned to adapt and thrive in both clinical and creative settings. He developed specialized techniques to support his drumming, and now shares those methods with others who have similar limb differences, helping them discover new ways to pursue their passions. After earning his Master's in Occupational Therapy from Texas Tech University, he became a licensed professional and went on to treat patients in Texas and Florida, all while performing more than 100 shows a year with Flatland Cavalry.

Beyond his clinical and performance work, Jason is deeply committed to giving back to the medical community. He has volunteered at hand clinics across Texas, regularly speaks with pediatric patients and their parents about living and thriving with limb differences, and has served as a guest speaker for occupational therapy and physical therapy students at Duke University and Texas Tech University.

Through both his music and his clinical practice, Jason connects with individuals of all abilities, particularly those with limb differences, encouraging them to break barriers and aim high. His lifelong commitment to understanding human potential bridges the worlds of healthcare, art, and personal empowerment, inspiring audiences to embrace what makes them different and use it as their greatest strength.

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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 Rachel Pigott, this year’s ASHT Annual Meeting Chair. Rachel gives us the inside scoop on what we can expect at this October’s Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We discuss the pre-conference offerings, the educational program and the various networking opportunities to connect with our hand and upper extremity therapy colleagues.

Guest bio: Rachel Pigott works as an occupational therapist and serves as the Director of the Hand Therapy Fellowship at Johns Hopkins. In 1999, she received her bachelor’s in occupational therapy from Towson State University and in 2016 she completed her Master’s in Public Health at The University of Massachusetts Amherst. Rachel is both a certified hand therapist and certified lymphedema therapist. She has served on a volunteer basis with the American Society of Hand Therapists since 2009 and currently serves on the ASHT DEI Committee, ASHT Independent Finance Committee and as the ASHT Annual Meeting Committee Chair. Rachel is also a past president of ASHT.

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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 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 Jyo Supnekar, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who recently traveled to Nepal to share her expertise with therapists and other healthcare workers. Jyo shares with us the work that the mission team did in delivering medical care to patients in the hospital, as well as the education that was provided to local therapists.

Jyo Supnekar, OTR/L, OTD, CHT, COMT, CLT is a Clinical Specialist at Johns Hopkins. She graduated in 1986 from the University of Mumbai, India, with a master’s in occupational therapy. She has practiced in the United States since 1989 and has worked as a Certified Hand Therapist since 1998. She has a Post Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy and a Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy- the UE track from IAOM-US. She has an NDT certification for adult hemiplegia, a Lymphedema Certification and a Certificate in Advance Study of Hand and Upper Quarter Rehabilitation from Drexel University. From 2017- 2023, she established and served as the founding director of the hand therapy fellowship at Johns Hopkins. She has been an educator for fieldwork students and hand therapy fellows for numerous years. She has presented numerous times nationally and a few times internationally. She serves as a board member for the AOTA Fellowship Programs Review Committee and is an instructor for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

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 Lisa Michael, the 2025 AAHS Vargas International Hand Therapist Teaching Award recipient. Lisa is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who traveled to St. Lucia to share her knowledge and skills in an underserved area. She shares with us what it was like evaluating and treating patients in St Lucia, how she provided education to the local staff and is able to stay connected with them from afar and how support from AAHS made this trip possible.

Lisa Michael (Cyr), OTD, OTR/L, CHT graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy, then returned to school in 2012 to attain her Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD). She has been a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) since 1996, and currently works in an outpatient satellite for Yale New Haven Health Services, helping to rehabilitate people who experience traumatic orthopedic related injuries to their hands, wrists, and elbows. She is adjunct faculty or SCSU.

Lisa is very active in the hand therapy community and is a member of AAHS, ASHT, and AOT. She has lectured both nationally and internationally on various hand therapy topics and has volunteered in 5 missions with the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation to help treat Guatemalan children with hand or arm injuries. She also participated in professional surgeon/ therapist conferences and assisted with community outreach and teaching local therapists various hand therapy techniques while there.

In 2025, Lisa travelled with the Hand Help team to St. Lucia as the recipient of the AAHS Vargas Award. She treated post-op patients and educated and co-treated patients with the local hospital physiotherapists. She also led an orthosis fabrication and kinisiotape lab for local therapists. Lisa has published a book chapter and authored/ co-authored several peer reviewed journal articles.

In her spare time, Lisa loves to hike with her dog, bike, kayak, and travel.

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"

On this episode, we are joined by Saba Kamal, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has taken a special interest in treating patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility. She shares with us how patients are diagnosed with EDS or hypermobility and how we as upper extremity therapists can educate these patients on joint protection, stability and lifelong management.  

Saba Kamal is an occupational therapist and a Certified Hand Therapist. She graduated from OT School in India and is currently certified to practice in the US, UK and Europe. Saba currently resides and practices as a healthcare entrepreneur and hand and upper extremity therapist in the US. She has over three decades of experience spanning clinical practice, healthcare education and professional leadership. She has delivered talks at national and international conferences, collaborating closely with surgeons and therapists to advance the field of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.

Saba’s contributions include leadership roles in professional societies (initiated and chaired HTA-CA conferences 2011-2019), the development of innovative treatment approaches, and dedicated mentorship to students and clinicians. Most recently, she sold her successful therapy practices and completed a Healthcare Leadership certificate at Johns Hopkins University. Saba has also written various articles and is the author of Treating Musicians as Athletes available on Amazon and B&N.

In addition to continuing to educate therapists through her Hand-On courses with Advanced Rehab Seminars, Saba is also working on several hand therapy-related inventions aimed at bringing innovative solutions to the market

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.

On this episode, we are joined by Jessie Perchaluk, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has taken a special interest in learning more about and implementing remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) into her practice. Jessie shares with us the various ways that we can utilize RTM as an adjunct to the care we currently provide and how we can stay connected to our patients.

Jessie Perchaluk, OTD, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CLT is an occupational therapist at NovaCare Rehabilitation (a division of Select Medical), and a core adjunct faculty member at Thomas Jefferson University in their hybrid MSOT program, as well as adjunct instructor at the Medical University of South Carolina’s hybrid OTD program. She is a board-certified hand therapist and lymphedema therapist specializing in upper extremity and oncological rehabilitation, balancing full-time clinical practice with graduate-level teaching in functional anatomy, clinical skills, and upper extremity rehabilitation.

With over eight years of experience, Jessie is passionate about delivering personalized, evidence and data informed care in order to restore function and improve quality of life. She is equally dedicated to advancing the profession through education, mentorship, and research. Jessie leads student fieldwork and capstone initiatives across Pennsylvania and Delaware for Select Medical, to which she has been nationally and locally recognized for her work.

Jessie also serves on AOTA’s Commission on Education as the fieldwork educator representative, contributing to national education policy and best practice initiatives. She combines her clinical knowledge and passion for furthering evidence and data informed care by continuing to be actively involved in ongoing research projects. Jessie is further advancing her knowledge in healthcare at Brown University in their Masters of Healthcare Leadership.

When she is not working, Jessie enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters. 

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.