AN INTERVIEW WITH FRAN BERGER KAHN

• What led you to a career in hand therapy?
  
  Simply put, I want to help people who have upper extremity problems get better and be fully functional again. I worked for many years in general rehabilitation, which was very rewarding, but when I was exposed to hand therapy, I knew I'd found my true calling.
  
  
• How has your practice grown and what does the future hold?
  
  I am very proud of the way the practice has grown and I hope to continue meeting the hand therapy needs of the markets in which we do business. Considering that I started out in rental space at a general therapist's office with a TV table and a file box, I am very grateful for all the patients and staff who have helped us run three successful offices in Northern Virginia. I still keep that old file box around to remind me where I came from.
  
  
• What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
  
  There is nothing more satisfying than seeing our hard work pay off and people get better. The real reward is the gratitude of our patients and their loved ones.
  
  
• What is the most common misconception about what you do?
  
  Many people don't realize we specialize in the entire upper extremity, from shoulder to fingertips, not just the hand.
  
  
• How have you seen hand therapy change lives?
  
  We have had patients who had lost hope of ever using their hand/arm again; we've had other patients who were resigned to living in some degree of pain. Restoring use of that hand/arm or alleviating that pain cannot help but have a profound effect on that person and his/her loved ones.
  
  
• How do you feel your practice stands out from other hand therapy practices?
  
  Many things set Hand Therapy Specialists apart, but first and foremost is the skill and care of our staff. We are all experienced and still continue to receive ongoing training.
  
  Our team approach means you receive the benefit of our 100+ years of combined experience to help best plan and facilitate your recovery.
  
  We have heard from physicians that our communication with them is another area in which we stand out from other hand therapists. We recognize the importance of helping doctors and general therapists to best help their patients with injury or illness in the upper extremities.