About us
Our mission
To improve hand injury care in resource challenged settings in order to reduce disability, improve quality of life and increase chances of work for people with hand injuries and conditions
To provide accessible, relevant and captivating learning opportunities for generalist occupational therapists and physiotherapists that motivate ongoing development for hand-injury care
To invite hand therapists acquainted with the challenges faced in low to middle income countries to participate in strengthening hand injury care in these settings by sharing their expertise.
Our values
Our Team
Nicola Ehlers
Nicola started her career providing general occupational therapy services in community based clinics, before taking a post in a public regional hospital where she has worked for the last 12 years.
Here she discovered her love for hand therapy and went on to complete her postgraduate diploma in hand therapy in 2017.
Her passion for ensuring patients receive the best possible care in spite of limited resources and other contextual challenges continued to grow, culminating in the Open Hand Therapy Initiative.
Kirsty van Stormbroek
Kirsty started her career as an occupational therapist in 2006 in a rural region of South Africa. She later joined the team at the Martin Singer Hand Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Hand conditions often presented as a symptom of far greater social problems. Through this she came to appreciate the unique contribution that OT can make to the lives of individuals and communities.
Her Master’s dissertation sought to determine the extent to which novice therapists in South Africa are equipped to treat clients with hand injuries. Her PhD work developed guidelines for the support and development of generalist occupational therapists.
erica Conibear
Erica spent the first 3 years of her career working in rural Eastern Cape. Here she learned the importance of being able to make a plan with what you have available in order to be a therapist in a resource-constrained setting.
She then developed an interest in the field of Public Health as she saw the need to consider the ‘up-stream’ causes of illness and disability.
She moved back up to Gauteng and began her Masters in Public Health while working at Shonaquip Social Enterprise. Here she developed a passion for training, advocacy and system-thinking.
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