MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Irving Street – Hand Center

Carly Bland attended Stony Brook University where she received a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Carly then completed a master's degree in occupational therapy at Thomas Jefferson University. Carly earned her hand therapist certification (CHT) in 2019. She specializes in the following areas:

Samantha Kolb received her bachelor’s degree in Occupational Science with a minor in Anthropology from Eastern Kentucky University, where she also completed her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She specializes in upper extremity rehabilitation including:

• Splinting and custom orthosis fabrication
• Post-fracture management
• Tendon and nerve injuries and repairs
• Degenerative changes and arthritis management
• Soft tissue injuries
• Post-surgical rehabilitation and scar management

Shannon Griffiths attended D'Youville College where she received a dual bachelor’s and master's degree in Occupational Therapy with a minor in Psychology. Shannon went on to finish a Hand Therapy Fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and earned her Hand Therapist Certification (CHT) in 2023, and she specializes in the following:

Emma Rosenthal completed her graduate studies in Occupational Therapy at Clarkson University in upstate New York and her undergraduate studies in Psychology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. She earned her CHT credential in 2022 given by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) which marks the culmination of 4,000 hours and 3 additional years of study beyond her master’s degree training. Emma recieved a fellowship training in diagnoses ranging from the hand to shoulder in 2022. Additionally, she carries the Certified Kinesio Tape Practicioner (CKTP credential) to utilize kinesiotape for pain relief, support, and edema reduction. She treats a variety of orthopedic conditions from shoulder to hand including:

Kaleigh Pikulsky received her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Kaleigh completed her doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh.

We specialize in rehabilitation for the hand, wrist, elbow and upper extremity, including traumatic injuries, post-surgical care, fractures, repetitive motion disorders (such as carpal tunnel and tennis elbow), arthritis, tendon/nerve injuries and orthotic/splint fabrication. Our certified hand therapists (CHT) provide tailored treatment plans in collaboration with your surgeon or referring doctor. We treat a broad spectrum of hand, wrist, forearm, elbow conditions, including fractures and dislocations, tendon or nerve injuries, arthritis, repetitive-motion disorders (e.g., de Quervain’s), post-operative rehab, overuse syndromes, sports-hand injuries, splinting needs, and more.

Many patients may begin outpatient hand therapy without a referral, depending on insurance and condition; however, it’s best to call ahead and verify with your insurance plan.

MedStar Health Physical Therapy at Irving Street - Hand Center is located at 106 Irving Street Northwest, in Suite 5000 in Washington, DC. The Hand Center is located in the physicians’ office building on the campus of MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Select the Request an Appointment button or call 240-788-2793.

Yes, MedStar Health accepts a wide range of insurance plans for physical therapy; check with your health insurance provider for details.

MedStar Health physical therapists at Irving Street Hand Center have specialized training in hand therapy, many with hand therapist certifications (CHT) and advanced degrees in occupational therapy.

Eat a balanced meal 1-2 hours prior to therapy. Drink about 2.5 cups of water prior to therapy. Take any prescribed pain medications at least 1 hour prior to therapy. Dress in T-shirts, athletic tops, sweatpants, shorts, yoga pants, or athletic leggings. Wear athletic/walking shoes and avoid open toed sandals, flip-flops, and high heels. Ensure proper access to the treatment area that allows movement of the affected limb/hand (e.g., short sleeves or easily rolled sleeves).