On this third and final episode of our student series, we are joined by Tabitha Franceschini, an occupational therapist who just a year ago transitioned from being an OT student to a clinician practicing in a hand therapy clinic. Tabitha shares with us how the classroom prepared her to be a student in a hand therapy clinic, how her clinical instructor facilitated her learning and supported her critical thinking skills and how she then made the transition to full-time clinician in a specialty field.Guest Bio: Tabitha Franceschini is an occupational therapist specializing in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation at Tufts Medical Center. She graduated from Tufts University with her Doctor of Occupational Therapy in 2025 and completed the Tufts Hand & Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Certificate. Tabitha is also involved with the American Society of Hand Therapists through the Student Outreach Committee. She is passionate about hand therapy, clinical reasoning, and continuing to grow as a clinician, while sharing what she learns with other students and new graduates navigating the transition into practice.-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 second episode of our student series, we are joined by Romina Astifidis, a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has educated many students in the clinic during her career and now coordinates clinical affiliations and rotations for her company. Romi shares with us how her clinics prepare to take students in hand therapy, how to support students who might need a little more guidance and how to nurture a student’s critical thinking skills in the clinic. Guest bio: Romina Astifidis is the Clinic Director at MedStar Curtis National Hand Center at Lutherville in Baltimore, Maryland. She earned her physical therapy degree at Loma Linda University and started exclusively treating hand and upper extremity 23 years ago. As part of MedStar hospital system’s Education and Mentoring Division, she has organized and lectured locally on a variety of topics including splinting, peripheral nerve injuries, CRPS, tendon injuries, and tendon transfers. Romina has served on many committees for ASHT and regularly presents for the Education Division. She also coordinates, as CCCE, all of the PT and OT students for the outpatient division of Medstar Health Physical Therapy.-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.
With this episode, we are kicking off a student series, highlighting the journey from the classroom to the clinic. On this episode, we are joined by Jaime Bergner, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who splits her time between academia and the clinic. Jamie shares with us the academic expectations for students and how they are prepared in the classroom to be successful in the clinic. She gives clinicians helpful tips on how to challenge our students to think critically when approaching patients with upper extremity conditions and support the development of their clinical skills.Guest bio: Jamie Bergner is the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator and a Full Professor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Cox College, as well as an occupational therapist of over 25 years, a certified hand therapist, and a certified orthopedic manual therapist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She earned her post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree with an education emphasis from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Dr. Bergner is passionate about preparing the next generation of occupational therapists through mentorship, fieldwork, and doctoral capstone education. She is the creator of the Bergner R.A.P.I.D.–M.A.P., a mentorship and advising framework designed to support student success through social-emotional learning and reflective practice. She is also a strong advocate for clinician-led research and evidence-informed practice, reflected in peer-reviewed publications, consulting, teaching continuing education courses, and course development with MedBridge. Active in professional service, Dr. Bergner volunteers with NBCOT, serves as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Hand Therapy, the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, the American Hand Therapy Foundation Grants Division, and contributes to the American Society of Hand Therapists through its Research and Outreach Divisions.-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.
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 Chair. Rachel is also a past president of ASHT. Rachel’s preferred pronouns are she/her/hers. She has presented on various topics in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation including arthritis, wrist instability, fractures, trauma, patient centered care, orthotics, anatomy of the wrist, gender affirming care for the upper body, and lymphedema management and prevention related to breast cancer related lymphedema.Guest Bio: Rob McClellan 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 Secretary/Treasurer, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. He is an active member of the American Association for Hand Surgery and is a past President of the Georgia Hand and Upper Extremity Special Interest Group. Rob is the Hand Program Coordinator for Physio/ Select Medical in Georgia-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.
Welcome to Hands in Motion’s 100th episode! For this special episode, we are so fortunate to be joined by Karen Prendergast Lauckhardt, one of ASHT’s founding members. Karen shares with us how a gathering of occupational and physical therapists in a coffee shop led to an organization dedicated to the hand and upper extremity therapy specialty. The persistence of this group of therapists who sought collaboration and education led to the formation of the American Society of Hand Therapists, and their mission continues today. Guest bio: Karen H. Prendergast Lauckhardt grew up in suburban Long Island, NY, and graduated from Berner High School in Massapequa before earning a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College in 1970.In 1973, Karen began working in New York City with hand surgeon Dr. Robert Beasley to establish the Hand Rehab Center on 30th Street. She is a founding member of the American Society of Hand Therapists and served in every volunteer office, including as ASHT President in 1977.Karen earned a master's degree in Ergonomics and Occupational Biomechanics from New York University in 1981. That same year, she joined the Medical College of Virginia, where she designed and founded the Hand Rehab Center Clinic and served as director of the master's program in hand therapy.In 1987, Karen married Chip Lauckhardt and moved north to practice at Lenox Hill Hospital. The following year, she established her private practice, Greenwich Hand Therapy. She retired to Bellingham, WA, in 2009 and is relocating to Exeter, NH, in the summer of 2026.-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.