American Society of Hand Therapists - ASHT

02/27/2026

Save your seat for this FREE thermoplastics webinar, sponsored by Orfit Industries: https://ow.ly/1Mnt50Y5wve.

Can't watch live? Registrants will have access to the recording to watch on their own time.

02/27/2026

We are very appreciative of Rina Chawla for donating a very generous gift to support the American Hand Therapy Foundation’s mission and expand opportunities for international participation in hand therapy education. The goals include funding attendance at virtual or in-person annual meetings or clinical educational programs presented by The American Society of Hand Therapists, additional funding for one of AHTF’s existing research grants and AHTF mission operations, and other opportunities that support expanding upper extremity education access for international therapists with limited resources. Thank you, Rina, for your extremely generous gift!.
Meet Rina Chawla, visit our website: www.ahtf.org
If you are interested in making a legacy donation to support a grant or a scholarship, please email gsolomon@ahtf.org

02/27/2026

Time is ticking! ⏲️ Session proposals for our 2026 Annual Meeting and Pediatric Specialty Day are due TODAY (Friday).

Don't miss your chance to make your mark on our specialty: https://ow.ly/SFWB50YhL4c.

02/26/2026

ASHT's Research Division offers monthly research summaries to increase awareness of emerging research in the field of hand and upper extremity therapy.

🔎 February 2026 Research Update: https://ow.ly/O8U250Xpxbb
Readability of the Most Commonly Used Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Hand Surgery

Summary provided by Sophie Goloff, MS, OTR/L, CHT.

02/26/2026

Just a few days left to apply for this year's Mary Kasch Hand Therapy Certification Scholarship!

This scholarship provides funding for professional development opportunities to an OT/PT interested in pursuing certification in hand and upper extremity therapy: https://ow.ly/qo4n50Qnh5y.

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2026.

Please note: The candidate for this year's scholarship must be planning to sit for the November 2025 or May 2026 examination.

This award was proudly established by the Hand Therapy Tri-Alliance of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission, the American Hand Therapy Foundation and ASHT in honor and recognition of Mary Kasch, OTR/L, CHT, FAOTA.

02/25/2026

A new episode of ASHT's "From OT Student to Hand Therapy" vlog is now available 👉 https://youtu.be/z3Z-31siUpY.

𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗗𝗘 3️⃣
Tabitha shares a challenging wrist fracture case that pushed her clinically and shifted how she approaches difficult or unknown diagnoses as a new therapist. She talks about navigating a complex distal radius fracture, starting over after hardware removal, setting realistic expectations with patients and managing impostor syndrome when you do not feel like you have all the answers.

If you are a student or new grad who has ever felt unsure, overwhelmed or like you should know more than you do, this episode is for you.

🌟 ICYMI: This vlog features Tabitha Franceschini, OTD, OTR/L — a recent OT graduate navigating the world of hand and upper extremity therapy. Whether you’re a student, new grad or currently practicing and curious about transitioning into the specialty, this episode (and series) is for you!

Be sure to subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss an episode!

02/25/2026

Actress Melissa McCarthy revealed on a recent episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert that she accidentally fractured her finger while poking fun at her dad for fracturing his own finger.

Melissa McCarthy has revealed that she fractured her finger while poking fun at her dad for doing the exact same thing and fracturing his own finger: 'I think I broke it.'

02/24/2026

Join the ranks of dedicated professionals shaping the future of hand and upper extremity therapy!

We are looking for passionate members to make a difference by serving on the ASHT board. Your expertise and commitment can drive meaningful change in patient care and advance our specialty.

If you are interested in running for board service, please review all qualifications, competencies and responsibilities, then complete the 2026 Board Nominations form: https://ow.ly/GBru50YkNY9.

The deadline to apply is March 24.

02/24/2026

Tip of the Week Tuesday!

We have a group Journal Club OneDrive folder where we organize articles and resources from courses we have taken on the current topic. All the therapists at our various locations log on to a Teams video meeting once a month and share treatment approaches to common diagnoses. From there, we use the group consensus to create EMR inserts/templates for the topic and patient education resources that correlate. It has been a great way to appreciate the skills of our colleagues and feel like we are all important members of the department!

— Kim Kraft, PT, DPT, CHT

Have a tip to share? DM us or email asht@asht.org.

02/24/2026

Congratulations to Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT on receiving the inaugural AOTF-ASHT-AHTF Hand in Hand Research Grant!

American Occupational Therapy Foundation
American Hand Therapy Foundation

Announcing the recipient of the inaugural AOTF-ASHT-AHTF Hand in Hand Research Grant: Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, Assistant Professor at The George Washington University!

Her innovative project, "Más Fuerte (Stronger): Exploring the Role of Spanish-Language Video Education in Distal Radius Fracture Recovery," will advance community engagement and evidence-based practice in hand and upper extremity therapy.

This $50,000 grant, made possible with our partners at the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and the American Hand Therapy Foundation (AHTF), supports early-stage research that empowers both clinicians and patients.

Join us in celebrating Dr. Doerrer’s commitment to inclusive rehabilitation and advancing OT science! Learn more: https://www.aotf.org/Grants/AOTF-ASHT-AHTFs-Hand-in-Hand-Grant

GW Occupational Therapy Program

02/23/2026

✨ Meet the Board Monday ✨

This week's feature highlights one of our Board Members-at-Large — Stephanie Strouse, OTD, OTR/L, CHT! From professional experience to fun facts, this series is all about helping members get to know our ASHT leaders on a more personal level.

Say hello to Steph in the comments below!

02/23/2026

Take your orthotic fabrication skills to the next level with one of our upcoming Hands-on Orthotics workshops!

📍Simi Valley, CA | February 28
📍College Park, MD | March 14
📍Draper, UT | April 25
📍Charlotte, NC | June 6

Learn more: https://ow.ly/4sIh50YioI4