University Orthopedics offers same-day walk-in appointments at our three convenient OrthoDIRECT locations, East Greenwich, East Providence and Mansfield.
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Our hand therapy department provides specialized rehabilitation services for patients with upper extremity dysfunction due to trauma or medical conditions.
Services are provided by registered occupational therapists that have obtained specialized knowledge of the upper extremity through advanced training, continuing education courses, and independent study. Many of our therapists have also obtained the distinction of becoming certified as hand therapists (CHT) by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission.
A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an occupational therapist or physical therapist who has a minimum of three years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy. In addition, the Certified Hand Therapist has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation. Due to ever changing surgical and rehab strategies, every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five years.
UOI has 13 hand therapists, with 10 being Certified Hand Therapists. UOI’s CHT’s work closely with the referring physician to ensure the highest level of care is given.
Comprehensive care begins with an evaluation leading to the development of an individualized treatment program based on wound healing principles and injury specific criteria. The goal of therapy is to achieve the highest level of function at work, home, and with sports/leisure activities. For appointments call 401-443-5000
In an effort to provide a team approach to patient care, the hand therapists work closely with you and your physician. Using this approach we determine if a splint will be required to assist with your rehabilitation.
All splinting services are provided by Occupational Therapists who have comprehensive knowledge of the upper extremity. The splint we provide for you may be custom made or pre-fabricated depending on the need established by your physician/therapist team.
Splints are provided for a variety of diagnoses, including:
Splints may also assist in progressing your rehabilitation. They can:
Keri Blanchard is the Director of Hand Therapy for University Orthopedics. She received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Hampshire. Keri has been practicing since 1997, and has worked in a variety of settings including the ICU, acute care, outpatient and home care, prior to joining UOI. She obtained her CHT certification from HTCC in 2013.
Keri has presented at New England Hand Society and the New England Sports and Orthopedics Rehabilitation Summit. Most recently, she was a contributing author for a Journal of Hand Therapy, article in press, addressing the efficacy of a radial based thumb MCP stabilizing orthosis for protection of the thumb MP UCL.
Her clinical interests include soft tissue injuries, traumatic hand injuries and rehabilitation of the wrist and elbow.
Shelley works in the orthopedic hand therapy division at our Kettle Point and Middletown locations. She specializes in elbow, forearm & hand injuries and pathologies for the adult and pediatric population for both non-operative and post-operative conditions. Her special interests include orthotic fabrication for protective and faciliatory purposes, wound care, and sports injuries. Shelley started with University Orthopedics in 2012 and has over 20 years of experience in orthopedics. She attended the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburburg, South Africa obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, and obtained her Hand Therapy Certification from HTCC in 2011. She has previously worked in hospital and private settings in Burlington VT, Newport RI and Boston MA.
Karen Carney OT/L, CHT is the Clinical Specialist and Clinical Training Coordinator for the Hand Therapy Department at our Kettle Point location. In this role, she is responsible for the training of new staff as well as the ongoing clinical excellence of the hand therapy team/department. Karen has more than 30 years of experience in hand therapy. She graduated from Boston University with a BS in Occupational Therapy and began her career in Hand Therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where she developed her love of hand therapy, as well as clinical education. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 1992, and the following year started at University Orthopedics. She was the co-director of hand therapy for 12 years, then after a period of working part time, returned to full time patient care and her current role which allows her to focus on her passion of clinical education. Karen is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists as well as the New England Hand Society where she has served as a member of the board. She has co-authored chapters in orthopedic textbooks on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and on Rehabilitation Following Extensor Tendon Injury and Repair, as well as research on Dupuytren’s Contracture which was published in the Journal of Hand Surgery. Karen has spoken at numerous courses/conferences on topics including CMC arthritis, flexor tendon management, wound/scar management, UE Trauma, MP Arthroplasties, Lateral Epicondylitis, Rehabilitation of Nerve injuries, and Orthotics design and fabrication.
Kaitlynn is new to the UOI team and is at the Kettle Point office. She received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich, RI. Prior to joining UOI, Kaitlynn worked in outpatient, acute care, and mental health settings. She is very excited to be a part of the hand therapy team at UOI.
As a long- time Mansfield resident, Sara is thrilled for University Orthopedics to be joining the community.
Sara is a licensed Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist and is our Site Coordinator at our Mansfield office She has expertise treating a wide variety of orthopedic conditions and injuries of the upper extremity. She joined University Orthopedics in 2002 following the completion of a six-month hand and upper extremity specialty fellowship. She received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Hampshire School of Health and Human Services in 2000 and completed her post graduate fellowship at the Hand Rehabilitation Center in Metairie, Louisiana. Sara’s clinical interests include tendon and nerve injury, trauma, fractures and custom orthosis design and fabrication. She has also served as a presenter at the New England Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Summit in the topic of custom orthosis fabrication and participated as a discussion panelist at the annual meeting of the New England Hand Society. Her professional affiliations include the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Hand Therapy Certification Commission, American Society of Hand Therapists, and New England Hand Society.
Marylynn is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist at our Kettle Point office. She received her master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of New England in 2014 with clinical fieldwork specializing in upper extremity rehabilitation. She earned her Certified Hand Therapist credential in 2018 and has been with University Orthopedics since May of 2018. Her clinical interests include custom orthosis design/fabrication and post-operative management of the hand/upper extremity. Her previous work experience includes subacute rehabilitation and outpatient hand/upper extremity rehabilitation. Her professional affiliations include the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and the Hand Therapy Certification Commission
Susanna is a Hand Therapist at our Dudley location. In her role she is responsible for completing comprehensive evaluations on patients with both post-operative and conservatively managed upper extremity injuries, developing treatment plans, providing hands-on specialized upper extremity rehabilitation to patients of all ages, and custom fabrication of upper extremity orthoses. Susanna received her Bachelors Degrees in Occupational Therapy and Psychology from Worcester State University in 2000, and her Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Science in 2010. She received her Certified Hand Therapy specialization from the Hand Therapy Certification Commission in 2013. Susanna has spoken at various local and national hand therapy conferences and has been a contributing author to both on-line and in-print educational publications on hand therapy.
Nora holds a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University and has been with University Orthopedics since 2016. Clinical fieldworks were completed in acute rehabilitation, inpatient mental health and at UOI for specialty in upper extremity rehabilitation. Areas of interest include soft tissue injuries, traumatic injuries and post operative rehabilitation of the upper extremity.
Talia joined University Orthopedics in 2021. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Rhode Island in 2017 and her Master of Occupational Therapy from Bay Path University in 2020. Her clinical fieldworks were completed in outpatient upper extremity rehabilitation and pediatrics. Areas of interest include custom orthosis fabrication, traumatic injuries of elbow, wrist, and hand, and post operative rehabilitation of the upper extremity.
Michael is a hand therapist seeing patients at our East Greenwich, Kettle Point, and Middletown locations. He treats all upper extremity orthopedic conditions. Michael received his Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University and recently obtained his HTCC certification.
Site Coordinator of our East Greenwich office
Geraldine is a Hand Therapist and Site Coordinator of the East Greenwich Office. She specializes in the treatment of upper extremity injuries with focus on elbow to hand diagnosis. She treats a variety of injuries including multi-trauma, fractures, compression syndromes, tendon and nerve injuries and treats both surgical and non-surgical patients. Geraldine received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Keuka College in New York and completed clinicals at The Institute of Rehab and Research in Houston, Texas and from Long Island Jewish Hospital. Her professional affiliations include the American Society of Hand Therapy, the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, and the Hand Therapy Certification Commission.
Andrea is a licensed Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, and has been practicing with University Orthopedics since 2003. She currently sees patients at our Kettle Point and Mansfield locations. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University in 1999 and obtained her certification as a Hand Therapist from the Hand Therapy Certification Commission in 2006. Her areas of clinical interest include post-operative rehabilitation for traumatic injuries of the elbow, wrist, and hand. Currently, Andrea’s primary responsibilities include providing evaluation and treatment of orthopedic diagnosis involving upper extremity trauma and conservative management of disease. Patients are provided with a custom individualized treatment plan and home program based on the patient's needs. Andrea also provides custom orthotic fabrication for a variety of orthopedic needs based on diagnosis and treatment protocols. Her professional affiliations include the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Hand Therapy Certification Commission, American Society of Hand Therapists, and New England Hand Society.
Kassandra earned her Bachelors of Science in 2019 and her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Hampshire in 2020. She received her Certified Hand Therapy certification from the HTCC in 2024. Her clinical interests include soft tissue injuries, fractures, custom orthotic fabrication, and post-operative therapy.
Melissa has been with University Orthopedics since 2019. She earned her Bachelors of Science in 2017 and her Masters of Occupational Therapy in 2019 from Quinnipiac University prior to joining the UOI team. She is at our Kettle Point office 5 days a week. Clinical interests include custom orthosis fabrication and post-operative care.
1 Kettle Point Avenue
East Providence, RI 02914
1598 South County Trail
East Greenwich, RI 02818
2 Dudley Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02905
345 Valley Rd.
Middletown, RI 02842
10 Reservoir St., Unit A
Mansfield, MA 02048-3104
20 Roche Bros Way Unit #1
North Easton, Ma 02356
781.573.1686
675 Paramount Drive Suite #301
Raynham Ma, 02767
508.880.2417