UE Institute - An Online Study Group for the Novice Practitioner

Description:
A ten-month case study series of hand and upper extremity topics, UE Institute is an online study tool developed to provide structure and support for new hand and upper extremity therapists, expand clinical reasoning, and to help mentoring pairs organize format and content. This program is free to ASHT members.

  • The program is targeted to therapists with 0-3 years experience, as well as change of career therapists
  • The next semester will launch September 2025 and will include one online lesson per month (with rotating instructors) from September 2025 to June 2026. The format will consist of case-based studies and cover various topics
  • More information will become available soon!

Note: Recorded sessions of the UE Institute from 2018 thru 2024 may be accessed under the Course Recordings section at the bottom of this webpage. Each session offers 1 continuing education hour/0.1 CEU.


Learning Objectives:
At the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify one method of assessment for each topic in the syllabus
  2. Determine appropriate therapy interventions utilizing basic tissue healing principles
  3. Identify appropriate orthosis interventions for various topics in the syllabus

Continuing Education:

Attendees earn 1.25 continuing education hour/0.125 CEUs for each monthly session attended.


Q&A Period: Attendees may submit questions during the live course session via the Question Box. Questions will be answered after the live session on the UE Institute e-Community.

Instructions on how to access UE Institute e-Community


Registration:
Free for ASHT members, but registration is required for each live monthly session.


UE Institute Q&A Document:
For further information about this program, kindly access the UE Institute Q&A Document


Course Recordings

Select a Module Module Details Review Materials Take Quiz Evaluate Module Print Certificate
Description:

Session Title:  2024 May UE Institute - Case Study Series: Focus on Ligament/Capsule - Rotator Cuff Tear/Repair and Shoulder Instability

Presenters:  Laurie Humiston MS, OTR/L, CHT and Heather Weesner OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Alyssa…

Description:

Session Title:  2024 April UE Institute - Case Study Series: Focus on Bone (Part 2) - Humeral Fracture/Radial Nerve Palsy Injuries and Terrible Triad Elbow Injuries

Presenters:  Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT & Heather Weesner OTR/L, CHT

Description:

Session Title:   2024 March UE Institute - Case Study Series: Focus on Bone - Hand Fractures and Distal Radius Fractures

Presenters:  Jill Yanick, OTR/L, CHT and Stephanie Strouse OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Heather Weesner, OTR/L…

Description:

Session Title:  2024 February UE Institute - Case Study Series: Focus on Soft Tissue (Part 2) - Wounds and Dupuytren’s Contracture

Presenters:  Nora Barrett MS, OTR/L, CHT, WCC and Kathleen Albert MS, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Tara…

Description:

Session Title:  2024 January UE Institute - Case Study Series: Focus on Soft Tissue/Tendon - TFCC Injuries and Carpal Instability

Presenters:  Jill Yanick, OTR/L, CHT and Kathleen Albert, MS, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Heather Weesner…

Description:

Session Title:  2023 December UE Institute - Case Study Series: Focus on Tendon (Part 2) - Extensor Tendon Injuries and Flexor Tendon Injuries

Presenters:  Elise Rochford, MOT, OTR/L, CHT and Kerry Demers, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  …

Description:

Session Title:  2023 November UE Institute - Case Study Series: Focus on Tendon - Lateral Epicondylitis and Trigger Finger

Presenters:  Kerry Demers, OTR/L, CHT and Heather Weesner OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Susanne Higgins, OTD, OTR/L…

Description:

Session Title:  2023 October UE Institute - Case Study Series: Focus on Nerve - Pediatric Brachial Plexus Injuries and Radial Nerve Palsy Injuries

Presenters:  Cara Smith, PT, DPT, CHT and Kerry Demers, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  …

Description:

Session Title:  2023 September UE Institute - Case Studey Series: Focus on Chronic Pain

Presenters:  Alyssa Phillips CScD, MOT, OTR/L & Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT

Moderator:  Kerry Demers, OTR/L, CHT

Learning…

Description:

Presenters:  Heather Weesner, OTR/L CHT & Stephanie Ye, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CMOT, CSCS

Moderator:  Hannah Gift, OTR/L, CHT, COMT UE, CEAS

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Description:

Presenters:  Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT; Stephanie Ye, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CMOT, CSCS; and Cara Smth, PT, DPT, CHT

Moderator:  Tara Ruppert, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants…

Description:

Presenters:  Jill Yanick, OTR/L, CHT and Alessia DGennaro Kerner, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Susanne Higgins, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify one…
Description:

Presenters:  Susanne Higgins, OTD, OTR/L, CHT; Kerry Demers, OTR/L, CHT; Alessia DGennaro Kerner, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Heather Weesner, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be…

Description:

Presenters:  Jodi Moore, OTD, OT/L, CHT and Alessia DiGennaro Kerner, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Susanne Higgins, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify one…
Description:

Presenters:  Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT; Jill Yanick, OTR/L, CHT; Kerry Demers, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Michelle McMurray, MOT OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:…

Description:

Presenters:  Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT & Heather Weesner, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Mary Barnes, MOT, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify one method of…
Description:

Presenters:  Alessia DiGennaro Kerner, OTR/L, CHT; Jodi Moore, OTD, OT/L, CHT; Heather Weesner, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Tara Ruppert, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be…

Description:

Presenters:  Stephanie Ye, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CMOT, CSCS;  Kerry Demers, OTR/L, CHT;  Tara Ruppert, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Moderator:  Mary Barnes, MOT, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able…

Description:

Presenter:
Jill Yanick, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify one method of assessment for each topic in the syllabus Determine appropriate therapy interventions utilizing…
Description:

Presenter:
Kim Kraft, PT, DPT, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify four purposes for orthoses Differentiate between pathology of OA versus RA Identify two patterns of thumb…
Description:

Presenter:
Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify the anatomy of the flexor tendons and extensor tendons from origin to insertion and describe function of…
Description:

Presenter:
Susanne Higgins, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Correctly identify nerve innervations for upper extremity musculature. Identify classification of nerve injuries…
Description:

Presenter:
Jill Yanick, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify common and uncommon fractures of the wrist and their potential complications. Define carpal instability patterns…
Description:

Presenter:
Karol Young, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify and understand fracture classification. Understand the phases of fracture healing. Differentiate between…
Description:

Presenter:
Jodi Moore, OTD, OT/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Apply the principle of modalities when developing therapeutic interventions. Understand the short and long term…
Description:

Presenter:
Hannah Gift, OTR/L, CHT, COMT UE, CEAS
(* The material for this course was provided by Alessia DiGennaro Kerner, OTR/L, CHT)

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Perform a…
Description:

Presenter:
Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

Correctly identify the structures and understand the biomechanics of the shoulder.  Identify necessary components of…
Description:

Presenter:
Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

Identify the structures and understand the biomechanics of the elbow joint. Identify necessary components of assessment for…
Description:

Presenter:
Jodi Moore, OTD, OTL, CHT

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, participants will:

Identify the anatomical hand and wrist structures Determine the functional plane of motion of each joint and the structures…
Description:

Presented by Kim Kraft, Pt, DPT, CHT

Learning Objectives
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify different characteristics of orthotic material. Identify safety precautions when fabricating orthotics. Identify the…
Description:

Presented by Susanne Higgins, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Correctly identify nerve innervations for upper extremity musculature. Identify classification of nerve injuries.…
Description:

Presented by Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify the anatomy of the flexor tendons and extensor tendons from origin to insertion and describe function of each…
Description:

Presented by Jill Yanick, OTRL, CHT
Learning Objectives
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify key intrinsic and extrinsic ligaments of the wrist. Define carpal instability patterns of DISI, VISI, and midcarpal…
Description:

Presented by Alessia DiGennaro Kerner, OTR/L, CHT and Karol Spraggs-Young, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify different characteristics of orthotic material. Identify safety…
Description:

Presented by Jodi Moore, OTD, OT/L, CHT

Learning Objectives
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Apply the principle of modalities when developing therapeutic interventions. Understand the short and long term effects of…
Description:

Presented by Alessia DiGennaro Kerner, OTR/L, CHT & Karol Spraggs-Young, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Perform a systematic examination of the hand and wrist for thorough…
Description:

Presented by Romina Astifidis, MS, PT, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify the structures and understand the biomechanics of the shoulder and elbow joints. Identify necessary components…
Description:

Presented by Kim Kraft, PT, DPT, CHT and Jodi Moore, OTD, OT/L, CHT

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify the anatomical hand and wrist structures Determine the functional plane of motion of…