WVU ’ s hand therapy program grows , increases care capacity and educational perks
A specialized program at the WVU School of Medicine that helps patients restore , adapt , or recover use of their hands is growing with the addition of new a new faculty member .
Brandon “ Seth ” Powers , MOT , OTR / L , CHT , joins Carol Waggy , PT , PhD , CHT , as a certified hand therapist in the program , increasing the overall capacity to see more patients , improve quality of care , and offer more training opportunities for students enrolled in the occupational therapy program and the orthopedic residency program in physical therapy .
The program ’ s expansion comes at an opportune time — Waggy noted an influx of orthopedic and plastic surgeons at WVU Medicine who specialize in treatment of the hand and wrist , which ensures the program is in demand .
Traditionally , the hand therapy program closely works with postoperative patients from all over the state who undergo surgery at J . W . Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for traumatic hand injuries involving fractures or soft tissue injuries and following surgical intervention for arthritic conditions of the hand and wrist .
The wide variety of patients with complex cases not only keeps the hand therapy team sharp but also allows students to learn from broader experiences presented in the classroom .
According to Waggy , one of the strengths of the program is the fact hand therapy is multidisciplinary — physical therapists and occupational therapists can both become certified hand therapists .
Adding another certified hand therapist to the staff not only adds to greater patient capacity but also an additional training background to draw upon .
“ Traditionally physical therapists deal more with restorative function , whereas occupational therapists focus on adapting and helping people overcome limitations ,” Waggy said . “ Our program can utilize both approaches to help a wider variety of patients — it ’ s not just limited to orthopedic surgeries . We can see patients referred by family medicine and internal medicine for hand and wrist issues , rheumatologists for treatment of common osteoarthritis , and more . It ’ s an extremely rewarding career . Mixing patient care with teaching lets you witness the best moments of both . There are patients that follow up and update you on their recovery and are thankful to gain function back . On the other side , I get to inspire the next generation of professionals who find the insight , experience , and education valuable .”
Bringing Powers , who also teaches , to the program is also a benefit for students in the WVU School of Medicine .
“ Our students receive a multidisciplinary approach to therapies and the theories behind what can help a patient have a breakthrough in any given scenario ,” said Mary Beth Mandich , PhD , PT , vice dean of professional and undergraduate programs and chairperson of physical therapy . “ Carol and Seth have already established a professional rapport , and we ’ re looking forward to seeing this program become more robust to meet a bigger demand for their services from providers and students alike .”
Waggy , who emphasized her pride in being loyal to WVU , received both her undergraduate degree in physical therapy and her doctorate degree in anatomy from WVU . She has been a certified hand therapist since 1993 . Powers received his certified hand therapist credential in 2014 and attended WVU for his undergraduate and graduate degrees .
Image : Seth Powers works with a client in the OT / PT Clinic at the WVU School of Medicine .
West Virginia Medical Journal • June 2021 • 41