MOJCA HERMAN, MA, OTR/L, CHT

 

Certified Hand Therapist

Member, American Society of Hand Therapists

Member, Hand Therapy Society of Greater Los Angeles

Member, American Occupational Therapy Association

Member, Occupational Therapy Association of California

 

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:

California Board of Occupational Therapy License, #OT17-Obtained May 1st, 2002- Expires Feb 28th, 2010

California Board of Occupational Therapy PAM and HTC- Obtained May 1 - Expires Feb 28th, 2010

Hand Therapy Certification, #1011100542- Obtained November 3rd, 2001 - Expires December 31st, 2011

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy certifying Occupational Therapist Registered OTR, #997128-Obtained February 23rd, 1995- Expires March 31st, 2011



EDUCATION:

Master of Arts, University of Southern California, Occupational Therapy, December 1996

Bachelor of Science, University of Southern California, Occupational Therapy, May 1994



SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES:

Slutsky, DJ, Herman M. Rehabilitation of Distal Radius Fractures: A Biomechanical Guide.  Hand Clinics: Distal Radius Fractures. Vol 21, No 3, August 2005, pp 455-468.

 

 

BOOK CHAPTERS:

Herman, M, Hopkins H. Rehabilitation Following Nerve Decompression. In Upper Extremity Nerve Repair – Tips and Techniques: A Master Skills Publication, ASSH.  Publication September 2008.

Herman, M, Hopkins, H, Slutsky, DJ. Rehabilitation After Distal Radius Fractures. In Fractures and Injuries of the Distal Radius and Carpus: The Cutting Edge.  Elsevier, Inc. Publication January 2009.

Herman, M, Hopkins, H, Slutsky, DJ. Rehabilitation of Distal Radius Fractures. In The Principles and Practice of Wrist Surgery.  Elsevier, Inc. Publication pending Jan 2010.



PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:

Guest Speaker, University of Southern California Graduate Occupational Therapy Program: Skills III Supervision, Management, and Program Development Course, January 28, 2004.
Guest Speaker, University of Southern California Graduate Occupational Therapy Program: Skills III Supervision, Management, and Program Development Course, January 10, 2005.
"Distal Radius Fractures: Surgical Decision-Making and Rehabilitation". Presented at the Joint Annual Meeting of American Society for Surgery of the Hand and American Society of Hand Therapists. San Antonio, TX., September 22-24, 2005.
Guest Speaker, University of Southern California Graduate Occupational Therapy Program: Skills/Theory I, July 26, 2006.
Guest Speaker, University of Southern California Graduate Occupational Therapy Program: Medical Lectures: "Hand Injuries and the Role of Occupational Therapy" October 20, 2006.
Guest Speaker, University of Southern California Graduate Occupational Therapy Program: Skills/Theory I, August 1, 2007.
"Distal Radius Fractures: A Systematic Approach to Rehabilitation". Presented at the Annual Meeting for the American Society of Hand Therapists. Phoenix, AZ., October 4-7, 2007.
"Distal Radius Fractures: A Procedure-Specific Approach to Rehabilitation and Splinting". Presented at the 2008 Electives in Hand Surgery Course in New Orleans, LA Feb. 8-9, 2008.
Guest Speaker, University of Southern California Graduate Occupational Therapy Program: Skills/Theory I: Introduction to OT and Task Analysis, July 31, 2008.
"Overcoming the Challenges of Private Practice", " Splinting the Wrist-What to Consider Postoperatively", and "EPL Ruptures Following Distal Radius Fractures". Presented at the Annual Teton Hand and Upper Extremity Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, January 6-10, 2009.

FACULTY:

Selected to serve on the committee for the accreditation process for the National Board of Accreditation for Orthotic Suppliers (NBAOS) 2008-current.

Part-time professor at University of Southern California Graduate Occupational Therapy Program:  OT 441 Foundations of Occupation: Neuroscience, January-May 2008.

Selected to serve as Pre-Conference Institutes Chair for the Annual Meeting for the American Society of Hand Therapists. Boston, MA. October 23-26, 2008.

Selected to serve as a surveyor for the National Board of Accreditation for Orthotic Suppliers (NBAOS) 2007-2009.

Selected for the Item Writer Committee for the Hand Therapy Certification Examination 2006-2008.

Appointed Voluntary Clinical Faculty at the University of Southern California, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy 2005-2008.



WORK EXPERIENCE:


Advanced Therapy Center, CA (12/01/03-current)

Owner of Upper Extremity Clinic



Physiotherapy Associates, Manhattan Beach, CA (01/02-11/21/03)

CHT responsible for establishing and growing a hand therapy program as an integral  component of an established outpatient physical therapy setting.

Marketing and program development for the hand therapy component.

Evaluation and treatment of various diagnoses of upper extremity and hand injuries.

Splint fabrication including static, static progressive and dynamic splints.

Mentoring of staff as needed.



Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA (10/00-01/02)

Level II therapist in outpatient hand therapy clinic.

Evaluation and treatment of various diagnoses of upper extremity and hand injuries, including orthopedic and repetitive strain injuries.

Splint fabrication including static, static progressive and dynamic splints.

Program development for outpatient hand clinic.

Supervision and mentoring of clinical staff, aides, students and volunteers.



Downey Regional Medical Center, Downey, CA (04/00-10/00)

Staff therapist in hand rehabilitation center.

Evaluation and treatment of various diagnoses of upper extremity and hand injuries.

Received extensive mentoring from staff CHT and valuable training from other experienced therapists.

Exposure to and fabrication of numerous splints including static, static progressive and dynamic.

Patient population ranges from pediatric to geriatric.

Mentored staff members on therapy for spinal cord injury and neurological impairment.



Private Outpatient Hand Clinic, Beverly Hills, CA (11/99 –04/00)

High volume outpatient hand therapy clinic.

Patient population consists of various diagnoses of upper extremity and hand injuries.

Responsibilities include evaluation, treatment and splinting when indicated.



Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Northridge, CA (01/95-02/99)

Senior Spinal Cord Injury therapist in acute rehabilitation clinic, with patient population ranging from pediatric to geriatric.

Senior position duties included: coordination and development of Spinal Cord Injury Program, development and implementation of department goals, updating policies and procedures, and providing clinic inservices.

Responsible for the supervision and training of staff, students and volunteers, including performance appraisals of assigned staff.

Other diagnoses treated include: stroke, head injury, chronic pain,  orthopedic injuries, and a variety of neurological disorders.



CONTINUING EDUCATION:

1/6-1/10/2009 The 6th Annual Teton Hand and Upper Extremity Conference
2/8-2/9/2008 Electives in Hand Surgery
11/03/2007 Hand Surgery Update II
10/04/07-10/07/07 ASHT's 30th Annual Meeting
04/27/06-04/29/06 E-1 Upper Extremity Evaluation and Manipulation
12/03/2005 Wound Care for the Hand Therapist
11/19/2005 Crucial Elements in Hand Surgery
09/22/05-09/24/05 Joint Annual Meeting of ASSH & ASHT
10/09/03-10/12/03 ASHT Annual Hand Therapy Conference
11/03/02 The Elbow Demystified
04/18/02-04/21/02 Basic Science Update for Experienced Hand Therapists
02/09/02-02/10/02 Flexor/Extensor Tendon Repair Seminar
03/30/01-03/31/01 Physical Agent Modalities for Upper Limb Rehabilitation
11/03/00-11/04/00 Essential Concepts in the Treatment of the Upper Extremity
02/26/00 - 02/27/00 Focus on Splinting
01/19/00 Use of Modalities for the Treatment of the Upper Extremity
10/12/98 - 10/14/98 HOSTED 20th Annual Regional SCI Centers OT/PT Supervisors' Meeting
03/03/98 - 03/07/98 AOTA Annual Conference; various courses attended
10/11/97 Intensive Introduction to Low Vision Rehabilitation
10/06/97 - 10/08/97 19th Annual Regional SCI Centers OT/PT Supervisors' Meeting
12/08/95 Clinical Instructor Training
10/19/95-10/21/95 Introduction to NDT for Adult Hemiplegia
08/12/95 Scapular Stability Seminar


PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

American Occupational Therapy Association

Occupational Therapy Association of California

Hand Therapy Society of Greater Los Angeles

American Society of Hand Therapists

 

 

OTHER SKILLS:

Fluent in Slovenien (dialect of Yugoslavia)

Rudimentary ability to communicate in French

 

ATHLETIC HONORS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

2008- Inducted into Ontario, Canada Aquatic Hall of Fame

1995- Completed Los Angeles Marathon

1992 -1994 Athletic Scholarship to USC Women’s Swim Team

1986 - 1992 Member of Canadian National Swim Team

1988 Canadian Olympian