The mission of the Hand Therapy Association of California is charitable, educational and scientific. It includes but is not limited to the promotion of education, research, and advancement of science in the field of hand therapy. The California Chapter intends to fulfill its mission through communication, education, research and the establishment of clinical standards.
True Meaning of
Rehabilitation:
To join with my patients in
the task of restoring the
dignity of a broken spirit.
- Dr. Paul Brand
Become a member
- A receptive audience to present your ideas and issues to which could potentially lead to presentations, travel, notoriety, maybe even a book.
- Opportunities to apply for research grants and to participate in research projects.
Education Calendar
Saturday, February 22, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Balancing Care and Comfort: Ergonomics for TherapistsPacific Time
Duration: 1 Hour
CEU: Credit: 1
Presenter: Speaker: Denice Nielson MOTR/L, CHT, CEAS
Description:
Adjust is a must. Don’t let your workstation force you into uncomfortable positions. Move the equipment to support you and add comfort to your workday. Join me to learn some ergonomic basics, how to self-adjust your equipment and workstation for best fit, and how to incorporate these principles into treatment sessions to enhance the outcome of your therapy.
Specific Objectives:
At the conclusion, participants should be able to:
- Learn basic principles of ergonomics
- Learn basic adjustments you can make
- Learn how to incorporate these principles into treatment sessions to enhance the outcome of your therapy
Speaker Bio
Denice studied Human Development and Music at U.C.Davis. It was there that she discovered her passion for Occupational Therapy. After working as an aide in a hand clinic for four years she returned to school and earned her Master’s of Occupational Therapy degree from Samuel Merritt University in 1999. In 2000 she began working at ValleyCare, now Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley. In 2007, Denice became a Certified Hand Therapist and has continued to work in the outpatient hand clinic. She has trained students and mentored new therapists working toward advanced certifications for nearly 20 years. During this time, she found her interest in ergonomics and helping to prevent injury within our hospital and for outside companies. She became a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist to further pursue this area of interest.
In September 2024 Denice joined the Occupational Health team at Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley to focus on ergonomics to improve employees’ comfort in their workstations, decrease risk of injury for the staff, and spread the word that adjust is a must.
When Denice is not healing hands or working on ergonomics, she enjoys coffee, music, games, sewing, crafting, baking, hanging with family and pets, and watching movies.
HTACA webinar policy (effective 01-01-2025)
Unless otherwise specified, HTA-CA webinar video recordings will be available for 30 days from the date of the corresponding webinar to encourage members to attend or watch the webinar in a timely manner. During this 30-day period, members may watch the webinar if they did not attend the session live and complete the CEU quiz with a passing score of 80% to obtain credit.
In order to receive your CEU certificate, members must fulfill the following requirements:
- Maintain an active HTA-CA membership: Ensure that the contact information and credentials entered in the registration and quiz match your HTA-CA membership information.
- If attending the live Zoom webinar, remain logged in for at least 85% of the session.
- Complete the post-webinar CEU quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
Not a member? Check out the Benefits and Join HTA-CA Here!
More DetailsSaturday, March 15, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Healthy notions of pain for a physically active lifestylePacific Time
Duration: 1 Hour
CEU: Credit: 1
Presenter: Benjamin Boyd, PT, DPTSc (Author of Bodily Relearning)
Description:
In this presentation, we aim to explore how we personally understand pain and how that influences our engagement in the physical activities of our lives. Specifically, what are healthy notions about pain and what are common misconceptions and pitfalls that can lead us astray. This talk will focus on how our thoughts about pain influence how we navigate an active lifestyle. A fundamental premise of this talk is that our beliefs and understandings about pain influence how we move. Through reflections on how we individually understand pain, we can reinforce healthy beliefs that help us optimally navigate leading physically active lives.
Specific Objectives:
- TBD
Speaker Bio
Ben graduated from the joint program at the University of California, San Francisco and San Francisco State University (UCSF/SFSU) with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy in 2002, returning in 2008 to earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy Science degree. He received certification as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist through the American Physical Therapy Association in 2008. Ben teaches in the entry-level Physical Therapy program at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California and teaches continuing education courses internationally for rehabilitation professionals through the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (NOI). He has been researching and teaching about nerve and musculoskeletal injuries since 2004 with a particular interest in understanding and treating pain. His clinical focus is on helping people who are suffering with ongoing, persistent pain.
Ben is an advocate of a holistic, biopsychosocial approach for helping those suffering from ongoing pain. He is also interested in how we as individuals construct our own understandings about pain and how that influences our own experiences. Ben grew up in the East Bay and continues to enjoy the rich diversity of cultures, foods, events, and outdoor recreational activities that the Bay Area has to offer.
HTACA webinar policy (effective 01-01-2025)
Unless otherwise specified, HTA-CA webinar video recordings will be available for 30 days from the date of the corresponding webinar to encourage members to attend or watch the webinar in a timely manner. During this 30-day period, members may watch the webinar if they did not attend the session live and complete the CEU quiz with a passing score of 80% to obtain credit.
In order to receive your CEU certificate, members must fulfill the following requirements:
-
Be a current HTA-CA member.
-
If attending live on Zoom, be logged into the Zoom webinar for at least 85% of the run time.
-
Complete the quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
-
Please ensure sure that the correct contact information and credentials are entered in the registration and quiz, matching your membership information.
Not a member? Check out the Benefits and Join HTA-CA Here!
More DetailsSaturday, May 3, 2025 - Sunday, May 4, 2025 @ All Day
14th Annual HTACA Conference - From Research to Practice
Join Us for the 14th Annual Hand Therapy Conference – LIVE!
The Hand Therapy Association of California proudly presents its 14th Annual Conference, “From Research to Practice,” happening LIVE! This premier event brings together leading experts in hand therapy and hand surgery to share the latest research, techniques, and clinical innovations shaping the field.
Stay tuned as we update this page with more exciting details!
Register now
What to Expect:
✅ 18+ Expert Speakers – Gain insights from top professionals in hand therapy
✅ Podium Presentations – Explore groundbreaking research and clinical case studies
✅ Engaging Sessions – Enhance your skills with practical applications and evidence-based approaches
Featured Speakers:
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Renowned surgeon and therapist faculty from Stanford, UCSF, UC Davis, the Buncke Clinic, and more
- Shrikant Chinchalkar OT, CHT – President of Advanced Clinical Education Inc. Canada
- Cory McGee, PhD, MS, OTR/L, CHT – Associate Professor – University of Minnesota, Program in Occupational Therapy
- Kristin Valdes OTD, OT, CHT – Associate professor at Touro University in Nevada
See all Speakers (PDF)» See Full Schedule (PDF)»
Therapists! We would love to feature your work
The Hand Therapy Association of California is delighted to introduce an exciting new feature at our annual conference: 5-minute podium talks presented by our talented members. These brief presentations offer an opportunity to share innovative ideas, personal experiences, and strategies that enhance the field of hand therapy. While the content doesn’t need to be overly academic, it should provide meaningful insights and inspire professional growth.
Examples of potential topics include:
- A novel approach to treating a specific diagnosis or impactful techniques you’ve developed.
- Experiences working in remote clinics or other countries.
- Lessons learned from starting a private practice.
- Integrating skills from related fields to improve the quality of care in hand therapy.
- Highlights from your doctoral capstone project.
- A 5-minute reflection on a long and rewarding career in hand therapy.
- Transitioning from clinical practice to academia.
We look forward to hearing your unique perspectives and contributions!
To apply for a 5-minute podium presentation, please submit a brief description of your topic (approximately 200 words). Your submission should highlight the main points of your presentation and its relevance to advancing the field of hand therapy. We look forward to receiving your innovative ideas and unique perspectives! Please email your submission to secretary@hta-ca.org
Want to Sponsor and Exhibit at this live conference?
CEU:
- Pending approval from CBOT and CPTA ~ 13 Contact Hours
When:
- May 3 and 4, 2025
- Saturday and Sunday
Where:
- Grand Bay Hotel San Francisco
- 223 Twin Dolphin Drive
- Redwood City, CA 94065
- A Room Block is available for conference attendees – Click here
- Phone: 650-598-9000
- Hotel Website
- Google Map Directions
- 20 Minutes from SFO – 30 Minutes from SJC Airports
Cost:
- Early Bird Pricing until midnight February 15 – $450 for all, members and non-members
- Membership in HTA-CA not required or included
2025 14th Annual HTA-CA Hand Conference Enrollment
Enrollment for the 14th Annual Conference – From Research to Practice
More Details2025 14th Annual HTA-CA Hand Conference Enrollment
Enrollment for the 14th Annual Conference – From Research to Practice
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