ASHT’s International Committee is very pleased to announce the International Visitor Grant recipient for 2019 is Ms. Rosella Vargas from Mexico. The ASHT Annual Meeting is designed to enhance the clinical and scientific knowledge base of its members and provide networking opportunities through the exchange of opinions and evidence-based practice strategies in hand therapy. Both national and international experts attend the conference; however, therapists from developing nations historically have not been able to attend due to a variety of factors, namely the high cost inherent in international travel. The International Committee offers an annual scholarship designed to allow a hand therapist from a developing country to attend the annual meeting, a mutually enriching experience for not only the sponsored therapist, but for all involved participants. We very enthusiastically welcome Ms. Vargas to Washington, DC!
If you will be in attendance at the Annual Meeting next week, please consider joining the International Committee for our Lunchtime Lecture Series, “International Experiences in Hand Therapy Service”. This session will explore the opportunities, challenges and outcomes of developing hand and upper extremity therapy programs across the globe. Featured panelists will relate the stories of their service trips and share lessons learned. Attendees will learn about the process for selecting and preparing for a clinical service trip through collaborative and sustainable practices.
Please join us Saturday, October 5, from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at the Marriott Wardman Park, in room Thurgood Marshall Southwest. This opportunity is included in your general meeting registration although space is limited and timely arrival is encouraged.
ASHT's International Committee is committed to the mission of advancing the specialty of hand therapy through communication, education, and the establishment of clinical standards throughout the international community. In addition to our many other projects, the International Committee facilitates the Companion Clinic Program in which a U.S. hand therapist is matched with an individual in a developing country, providing a unique opportunity to create relationships between therapists practicing under a diverse set of circumstances. Through regular communication, members pursue collaboration, clinical education and professional growth while promoting best practice in the field of hand therapy around the world. The Companion Clinic Program also offers members networking opportunities, the development of new skills and the satisfaction of actively assisting in the standardization of hand therapy practice on a global scale. Participating U.S. therapists may also earn CEUs to be used toward CHT recertification under the Hand Therapy Certification Commission's Category E, similar to ASHT's Mentorship Program.
For more information, please visit the International Committee web page.