Cara graduated from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center with a Master of Physical Therapy in 2007. She completed the Evelyn J. Mackin Hand Therapy Fellowship in 2010 and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2013. In 2020, she earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Arcadia University.
Cara is the Hand Therapy Program Coordinator at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The majority of her clinical practice has been in pediatric orthopedics, working alongside orthopedic surgeons in multidisciplinary clinics taking care of children with congenital and acquired conditions, as well as traumatic injuries.
Stephanie has been practicing occupational therapy for over 28 years with the majority of her practice dedicated to the treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries. She graduated in 1992 with an associates degree in Applied Science and progressed to earn her bachelors degree in 2002 and doctoral degree in 2015. In 2016, she earned the designation of Certified Hand Therapist and has continued to practice in an outpatient setting.
Stephanie is actively involved in the Education Division for the American Society of Hand Therapists since 2015 and served as an ASHT board intern in 2018. Stephanie is also a mother of three children and owns her own yoga studio and enjoys boating, hiking, crafting and spending down time with her family.
Join "Hands in Motion" hosts Cara Smith, PT, DPT, CHT and Stephanie Strouse, OTD, OTR/L, CHT as they recap the 2021 ASHT Annual Meeting in a special bonus podcast episode! This year’s meeting in St. Louis, MO was the society's first hybrid model offering both a live and virtual option for attendees, which proved to be a success. On this episode, Cara and Stephanie speak with a variety of course attendees including students, seasoned presenters, ASHT board members and ASHT staff members on a variety of topics. Listen to the attendees’ thoughts on the meeting content, the unveiling of the new ASHT logo and more!
