During the first week of June, ATI recognizes Hand Therapy Week, celebrating the physical therapists and occupational therapists who practice this unique specialty. While PT focuses on building physical strength and OT emphasizes function and independent daily living, the two converge, combining specialized expertise to restore upper extremity function after injury, surgery, or overuse.

At ATI, we focus on creating an environment where our clinicians can thrive, offering mentorship and opportunities to create the practice and career they want. Our Certified Hand Therapists serve our patients in the clinics, supporting patients through vulnerable moments so they can return to the activities they need and want to do.

“I chose ATI because of its strong commitment to growing the field of hand therapy,” Emmanuel Acheampong, Occupational Therapist, said. “As a new graduate, it’s exciting to see a major organization actively investing in this specialty, and I look forward to growing alongside it while continuing to develop my clinical skills.”

Additionally, some of our providers pursue clinical research opportunities alongside their daily clinical duties by serving as Research Fellows for the Institute of Musculoskeletal Advancement (iMSKA), an organization ATI is proud to work with.

“The mentorship [I’ve received while working at iMSKA] has been transformative,” Joseph Sharya, Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, said. “When I shared a research idea, leadership did not just support it. Rather, they enabled me to launch a system review, allowing me to work on a project I truly believe will impact people living with upper extremity pain.”

Fellow Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist Chiao-Ming Tsai added: “I enjoy working in the clinic… and working with iMSKA continuously pushes me to learn deeper about diseases and updates about the latest research and techniques to assist my patients.”

At ATI, our Certified Hand Therapists help our patients restore function and engage with their environment in meaningful ways. Their dedication does not stop there; they are also continually working to advance research and findings to help patients live and move better. It’s all a part of ATI’s dedication to its providers and patients in achieving our purpose and making every life an active life.